Outdated formality waste of money, resources 
An estimated 45,000 people, descended onto the flooded streets of Tampa, Fla., this week for the commencement of the 2012 Republican National Convention. With no fewer than 70 speakers, this four-day rally around Republican nominee Mitt Romney is being seen by approximately 22.3 million viewers nationwide so far. Of that audience, nearly 15 million are over age 55.
Though likely due in part to the younger generation's preference for obtaining information via the Internet, one can't help but wonder if the elaborate and expensive tradition of national conventions is becoming obsolete in the age of short attention spans and shallow pockets. In the past, national conventions were held to announce the Republican and Democratic nominees. But now, thanks to a change to the voting system back in the '70s, nominees are revealed long before the event, draining much of the interest, excitement and necessity.
Though the huge platform and relentless coverage provides candidates with an opportunity to make an impression and define themselves to a nation so desperately in need of solid leadership, the costs and efforts are getting increasingly hard to justify.
This year, taxpayers will spend more than $136 million on the Republican and Democratic conventions combined, $100 million of that coming directly from Congress to cover security expenses. These numbers do not even include the gargantuan amounts of money donated by supportive taxpayers in the era of the Super PAC. This raises the question of whether a convention, when our nation is carrying the burden of such colossal debt, is even worth it.
Speaker of the House John Boehner doesn't think so. "I think these are very expensive propositions to put on ... Given as much news as people get today and the way they get their news, I'm not sure having a four-day convention in the future makes a lot of sense." And he's right. Cutting the conventions down to one or two dynamic nights could drastically cut costs while still perpetuating democratic tradition and effectively reaching out to voters.
Some are even calling for the complete abolition of the entire event. Dan Schnur, the director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics and former communications director for John McCain's 2000 campaign suggests, "Maybe we should set aside the money and use it for a post-election gathering, where the leaders of both parties can get together and finally begin serious conversations on how to address the nation's looming debt crisis and fiscal meltdown."
The reality is, conventions have become more of a superfluous formality than the monumental occasions they once were. Much is said but little is learned or decided upon, an unfortunate trend in present-day US politics. Much like in Congress, it would be beneficial for all if politicians were less about the presentation and more about the progress.