a joe biden and imposing these sanctions on russia has destroyed the american economy of michigan, blueberry. ah, 3 and fair election are the cornerstone of democracy, giving citizens a voice in their government in the most fundamental way. but our elections today truly free and fair, or have they evolved into a game of money politics, as parties grow increasingly divisive. i'm christy, and you're watching the cost of everything where today we're going to be taking a look at election. how much does it cost or countries to host elections? what is all the money spent on and are they truly free and fair? ah,

political spending in the us 2020 election total 14400000000 dollars, which is more than doubled the total cost of the previous record breaking 2016 election cycle. so where does all that money go? well, over half of it goes to media, an advertising on television, radio news outlets, web ads and social media. about 15 percent of that goes towards fundraising efforts to bring in more donors and sponsors. 20 percent then goes towards administrative costs and salaries for the campaign. managers and consultants. and the last 12 percent goes towards a campaign expenses such as consulting events, surveys. so in 2020, there was a total of $8500000000.00 spent on over $9300000.00 tv as radio and digital media. now, one can argue that this chunk of money was completely wasted as the us easily outspend every other country in the world. but without producing an election,

that is in any way more fair or free a lot of spending, but very little substance as the exceptional amount of time and money does not produce an engaging democratic process. the u. s. rank near the bottom in terms of voter participation when compared with others developed nations. now, in comparison, india's last general election cost $7000000000.00 with most of the project going towards social media as and travel. now when the relative population of both countries are taken into account 300000000 in the u. s. versus $1300000000.00 and india, the per capita spending is way out of line with that of the world's largest democracy . now, in germany, campaigns only last 6 weeks, so while there is no limit on campaign contributions, there simply isn't enough time to run up a huge bill. parties are given air time on to public television networks and

usually makes just 192nd ad to convey their message during those slots. meanwhile, and the u. k. election spending is strictly limited and each party cannot spend more than $30000000.00 pounds in the year before the election. now in the u. s, a big portion of this outrageous budget comes from dark money, which is contributions from donors that remain hidden from the public. the amount of dark money, the u. s. spent in an off year was almost 3 times as much as the $30000000.00 pounds great britain spent and far more. let's bring in professor chara, taurus, spell a, c author, and law professor at stetson law. so 1st, stop, how do you as election campaigns spend their money? so there are 2 ways of thinking about the cost of elections. one is the cost to administer elections and the estimated to be about $2000000000.00 for

a general election. and the united states. cost of the federal action was over $14000000000.00. and why are elections so expensive and efficient and which countries hello better model. ah, the united states has expensive election administration because we have so many different entities that are administering elections. so we have a level of federal oversight which is actually quite small. most of election administration is administered at a hyper, a local level. so one way to think of the american election is that it's not just one election, it's really 10000 different elections running simultaneously. now it looks like there's been a decline in load or turn out in the us. what caused this and why are some voter

turnout so much higher in other countries like singapore, with 95 percent out. so voter turnout was actually up in 2020. that was a very unique election. one of the things that res, turned out in the 2020 election is states to rely voting rules to accommodate voters during the pandemic. but what states have done in the last 2 years is many of the same states that relaxed their rules in 2020 of tighten them again. now we saw an unprecedented level of political ad spending in 2020. do you think this was an effective use of funds and does it set a precedent for future campaigns going forward? so in the area of campaign finance, nearly action has been more expensive than the previous presidential action.

and we definitely saw that pattern in 2020, which was the most expensive federal election the united states has ever seen. so the trend of american elections costing more and more in terms of campaign finance is a trend that's continuing. it's hard to know how you measure efficiency in this context. i mean, you can look at the amount of money that is spent per vote. and the, the candidates, you end up spending the most per voter are the vanity candidates. so for example, when connie west ran for president in 2020, he had one of the highest cost per voter because very few people ended up voting for him. even though he and his team had spent millions of dollars. but it's difficult to think of elections in terms of that type of efficiency because there

are other values at stake including democratic values. so one of the reasons that we have such high spending in us elections is our supreme court thinks of money equalling speech. and under our 1st amendment, the supreme court has been unwilling to regulate in a very serious way the, the expenditures that are made in our elections. and not all elections are fair. there are many cases of electoral fraud voters oppression, unbalanced campaign finance rules and invalid access to media in what country or countries do we see the most of that? so one of the, i think really pernicious myths that persists about american elections, which was perpetuated by ex president trump while he was president,

is that there's ramp and voter fraud. this is a myth. and unfortunately millions of his followers believe the smith on. and so for example, after the 2020 election, there were only over 60 law suits that challenge boats in swing states in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election. and the accusation was often that there was voter fraud. but in these court cases, they could not prove any voter fraud and voter fraud in reality is a really rare occurrence. you know, every now and then you will get someone who's not qualified to vote voting. and occasionally you get some knuckleheads somewhere who tries to vote twice the people who try to vote twice. and people who vote when they are not qualified, usually get caught after the fact and prosecuted. but those prosecutions are more

rare than being struck by lightning. so it's not a real problem in the united states, but the rhetoric around it would lead many americans to believe it is. and what exactly constitutes as voter fraud? well, so for example, in my state in florida, and we are very strict rules on ex felons getting their voting rights back. and so if you are an ex felon, and you haven't done all of the steps to get your voting rights restored, and you vote than that's in a legal vote. and so that is one of the examples of what could be prosecuted after the fact. but if someone votes when they're not allowed to vote and, and then again, there have been examples here in florida. there's this place called the villages.

it's very conservative. and a number of individuals in the villages were prosecuted for voting twice. and that is the type of voter frog we get, but that was essentially 3 individuals in the villages getting caught doing that out of millions of votes in the state of florida. thank you so much, professor char taurus, spell a c for your time today. now what about african election, how much does it cost to run an election and some of the african nation and is the cost higher? we'll have more after the break with ah . is it time to talk? it would seem so the west rhetoric is at odds with hard realities on the ground in

ukraine. the chinese are presented to proposal and it is believe you pay france and germany or cobbling together applying for zalinski. but are they willing to talk to russia? ah, o i a ah with

ah with with ah ah ah

ah welcome back. african electrons are also remarkably expensive to run and yet they are very contested. between $22018.00, it is estimated that africa spend approximately $44000000000.00 on holding elections. countries in africa spend on average $4.50 per capita on their elections compared to the world average of $2.10 per person. now while the u. s. is cost is high due to ramp and spending on ads and no limits from campaigned owners, africa elections are expensive for a very different reason. lack of trust. the cost of running elections in africa has been pushed up by low levels of trust in the electoral process to manage miss trust

. some have turn to foreign companies to print out balance with expensive security features like those used on bank notes. others have procured costly electronic voting machines to minimize fraud, setting the taxpayer back. but unfortunately, the votes were still contested. kenya's 2022 election for instance, cost the state $370000000.00 to run, yet was still contested at the supreme court with the losing candidate alleging criminality. the countries, previous election in 2017 cost $500000000.00 and saw the presidential results nullified due to quote various irregularities. so while countries in africa started opening up to democracy 3 decades ago, the region is still characterized by weak institutions, manipulation of electoral law. and serious limitations of civil and political rights. all of that contributes to low level of trust in

a fair and free election. if voters and candidates do not believe in the institutions, processes and structures behind an election, then there is little that a new high tech, innovative boni machines that can do to help. and for more or less bring in reginald strasser, king journalist, and senior producer at sierra early on broadcasting corporation. so reginald, what is the cost of elections and other countries and how does that compare with that of the us? why do you see in our system what we do? these are to be out a general elections which includes the presidential elections on a mentor elections. the look of kind of for the elections. and so is a combined connections for all of these other representatives. and then in for you in our last general election presentation of generations cost of. busy $28000000.00 an average of $20000000.00 and done the government the. busy

government contribution was about a $1000000.00 and the rest in front of the international community here. and you see that kind of murder. i don't know whether you guys because you're simply in america as compared to australian. ria you are, we are on class of his lectures rather than having a single presidential election at one time. now, how our elections run in other countries to keep on getting days off and what kind of laws either surrounding election days. let me rephrase my answer to that question that our nurtured system is governed by the 1st for the constitution, and then the various inventory laws on the one up to the judge commissioner for i knew which superintendents or supervisors the election which overseas the

elections now coming to representation, we are going to cut all over over the candidates for the elections for the presidential problem entry us one of the counselors and regional believe. and electra. electra electra is a to teach all what he's going to teach is she come from religious groups all from tribe? no, we don't believe that. but we believe in how the dish is based on the membership drug project or somebody be getting ready. you are going probably in the us, you all the republicans and democrats, and then on to say a feeling can on the last time she brought to reach linda, what happened to work? but here we are more than tang political parties,

but this to strongest ah, the audit because got rid of the, a, b, c under the s and p o box, which is the side of the group. decided it was part. these are the 2 strongest projects here. of course in recent times have been challenged by a peer to see like the and all the rest of it. what sounds like maybe the kind of same goes a boost proxy fell on st godson. ah, she was suffering from a resolution and now there is a growing we're calling to prohibit machine loading and mission counting ballots and feature elections. and instead revert back to hands counting. what do you make of these concerns and i, they valid? well, i leo and the lectures commission is by hazardous with writing

the lectures. and we have lectures, observers ah, form from the internet from. busy i can look a little as well as in the international community as well. remember, i told you that we have a blank on the open, you know, the british government to the american government. you know, the did, it was an electron represent, electron observer, united nation is this an electron zach to see, to monitor the lectures. but again, on whether these electrons are monitored through the 80, when it auto renews, that up to the last continent, the declaration of the reserves that they are. that's rather responsibility finishes. but then, and sometimes you are put to lecture,

disagree. yeah, i'm dad was goofy lushly. does a sacrifice on the observers back of your bags and leave the his boss if it's so in class, when you decide to take the bottle to the court for a legal room. if be cut off because of a. busy busy dime, samantha, back to live these renewable so it's invariably ameson balance. but today, i guess downtown that mindset of change and elections have gone more and more polarized and recent years. it was very evident in the recent us election and is also now the brazilian election. why hasn't gone so polarized and contentious? well, i guess i didn't know whether this gender on the world

dressed because i'm going to watch the american stream to jump in and both on on sunday. and then you're looking at the 6 rounds of copying on what our reviews supporters. david john, very, very republican supporters. in general, i don't think we're going to go to let. let me thank you so much. reginald strauser king journalist and senior producer as sierra leon broadcasting corporation for coming on today. it's easy to see who wins and inexpensive election cycle. the party with the bigger check as big money and super pack, dominate the u. s. political campaigns. it starts to drown out the voices of

ordinary americans. in a democracy, politicians are expected to represent each person equally, regardless of their financial status. the principle of one person, one vote means that no matter who we are regardless of education, housing, or financial status that they will be heard. however, money and politics complicates this idealistic system. when organizations donate a large contribution to the campaigns, that politician is more inclined to be responsive to that organizations means. now this puts the voices of everyday citizens at a disadvantage. the same is true in africa where money talks, but citizens are aware of this unfair disadvantage and they do not trust the voting system. increasingly, economic and political inequalities are interlaced, leaving many americans poor and voiceless. the u. s. now has some of the lowest

rates of upward mobility in any developed country in the world. so while the us as a self appointed champion of democracy, maybe it is time for it to learn from other countries on how to run a truly free and fair election. solutions would include hyder limits on contributions. candidates can directly receive greater transparency of who pays for political ads and disclosing all donors and stopping the flow of dark money. i'm christy, i. thanks for watching. and we'll see you right back here next time on the cost of everything with ah, ah, ah

ah ah, i look forward to talking to you all. that technology should work for people. a robot must obey the orders given by human beings, accept where such order that conflict with the 1st law show your identification. we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. and the point obviously is to rate truck rather than fear a job with artificial intelligence. real summoning with

a robot most protective phone existence with with only one main thing, is important for knox, ism internationally speaking, that is, that nation's allowed to do anything, all the mazda races, and then you have the minor nations who are the slaves. americans, proc obama and others have had a concept of american exceptionalism. international law exist as long as it serves american interest. if it doesn't, it doesn't exist by turning those russians into this. danger is boy, man that wants to take over the world. that was a culture strategy. so some of it on your own, i not leashed off. tim zebulon and tablet block. nato said it's ours. we move east. the reason us, hey jim, it is so dangerous, is it?

the law is the sovereignty of all the countries. the exceptionalism that america uses and its international war planning is one of the greatest threats to the populations of different nations. if nato, what is founded shareholders in the united states and elsewhere in large obs companies would lose millions and millions or is business and business is good. and that is the reality of what we're facing. which is fashion a, do you live? most schools, if you look on the initial, be one of club, not

a dealer post on a diaz can use to put value a new one or 2. but you also to with the done those up either louis a . what i see the senior policies though, group you lation, says diesel tutorial, gumbo sub ah . with hello and welcome to cross talk. we're all things are considered. i'm peter lavelle is a time to talk. it would seem so the west rhetoric is at odds with hard realities on

the ground in ukraine. the chinese have presented a proposal and it is believed the u. k. france and germany are cobbling together a plan for zalinski. but are they willing to talk to russia ah cross talking piece proposals, i'm joined by my guest mangan in beijing. he's a senior fellow at the t. i hate institute as well as chairman of asia narratives in paris. we have shouts up here. he is professor emeritus at the school for advanced studies at social sciences and in new mexico. we have been home and he is a professor of east asian and global history at new mexico state university. our a gentleman crossed sack rose and the fact that means you can jump any time you want. and i always appreciate. i want to talk about the european proposal here and i want to talk about the chinese one. i'm for the european one jack. i'm going to go to you 1st in paris. so we have the u. k. france and germany talking to ukraine . about a possible, a settlement. i essentially boils down to,

i get as much land as you possibly can by summer, early fall, and will fill you up as much arms as you can carry. i don't understand how that is any kind of proposal at all, but that's what the media is telling us here. it doesn't make any sense and it is us and bring peace to europe, but that's what we're told they're pushing. does it make any sense to you? go ahead in paris. well, i'm actually not actually enough, or are we new zat as a french government? or of course ad always said zat. only negotiations who's and he swore bird. he also said that negotiation and add to be decided by a ukrainian side and her so far. we are seeing absolutely new or new sign her from keith is that the ukranian want to go to a negotiation, or at least if they want to go to a negotiation,

it's only on the easiest off a complete withdrawal of freshen forces. and this is not, of course, a solution. now what we can say is zed or this is, or it's mounting a, grew wing fatigue of the war in europe, and mostly in barry's. or maybe landon a certainly in bell lane and all so acknowledgement is that the military forces are off for european or nato members, or are no more less exhausted. and we had a civil speeches made by high ranking and military officers are bought in berlin and in london. seeing that as their own armies.