Millionaires Vying for Presidency

The Washington Post is carrying the story of how the 2008 presidential candidates are largely a wealthy group of people.

Running for president is a pursuit for the wealthy, according to personal financial disclosure forms released yesterday that show that at least 10 of the major party candidates are millionaires and, collectively, the field of contenders is worth at least a quarter-billion dollars.

Of course all the press on this matter seems to indicate that because they are rich, or rather too rich, that there is something wrong with this state of affairs.

On the contrary I see this as at least something of a good. Those who are financially successful are typically driven individuals who have worked hard to get their money. People who are financial failures are necessarily unqualified to be President, but it would make me wonder if they are ready.

On a different note, having candidates with money also means they have not spent their entire career in government service, but have spent some time in the private sector. That too has benefits.