The bipartisan agency OpenSecrets estimated that the total spending of the U.S. presidential election campaign is projected to exceed the previous record, with a total cost of at least $15.9 billion in spending. Election campaign spending has been skyrocketing in recent years. Whether in this year's presidential race or the 2022 midterms – the costliest midterm election ever – each demonstrates that the road to Washington is paved with gold.

The rising costs are primarily driven by the escalating partisan conflict. In recent years, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have clashed over a growing number of issues, such as border control, abortion rights, gun control and climate change, deepening the political divide. Politicians usually exploit social divisions to gain votes, spending hugely on partisan agendas. Candidates frequently resort to slander and parties continually scheme against each other, all of which adds to the expense. This dynamic has transformed U.S. political elections into a costly, "money-burning" contest.

In the U.S., power and money are already deeply intertwined. For example, a major reason that drug abuse and gun violence continue to plague American society is the entrenched influence of powerful interest groups. Capital is embedded in political institutions, deeply shaping society. Although camouflaged as democracy, these elections amount to little more than a cash game benefiting the privileged.

(To submit cartoons and share story ideas or feedback on our cartoon page, please contact us at cartoon_opinions@cgtn.com)