But I have to say that with all the money being raised, and spent, on races for Governor, Governor's Council, and State Senate this year, I think it's just shameful that New Hampshire politics has come to this. Governors races in the past ten years have far surpassed the one, two, and three million dollar mark on a regular basis.

A decade ago, a $50,000 campaign for State Senate or Governor's Council would have been pretty high; now the mark to meet is well over $100,000, with a couple of candidates nearing $200,000. In ten years it will likely be much, much worse, because of the lust for money in campaigns, and the payoffs from registered lobbyists and political action committees.

At least what Democrats and Republicans could do is a little less cheerleading and bragging about it. Instead of being so happy they raise enormous sums, they could show a little mutual disgust that money has become so a part of the process.

Unfortunately, I see no end to the upward fundraising and spending cycle. The more you raise, the more you spend. When you win, you want to raise more so you can win again. But come on - - putting on a State Senate or Governor's Council campaign where an office holder has to raise an average of $1,000 weekly for the duration of a term ($1,000 x 104 weeks: $104,000)?

Candidates of both parties have learned that more flashy, splashy, and fluffy campaigns can be run with more money, and consultants have learned that there are lush and ripe spending fields of green in those campaigns.

Elections are being bought and paid for now, rather than earned on substance, ideas, and message-making. That doesn't bode well for the future of democracy. There must be a way to turn it around, and the "clean elections" concept promoted by John Rauh and Granny D is something we need to look more closely at.

But until then, it might be nicer to be a little more humble about all that money in politics. Let's shake our heads in sadness that it has to be, rather than smile and cheer like gamblers sitting around the roulette wheel.