I receive many (too many) emails from both political parties every day in this election cycle. The message is the same regardless of the party: we need your donation in order to win the election. If I send $1000 to both parties, is the net effect 0? If I send $0 to both parties, is the net effect also 0?
Where does this money go? Both parties use a portion of the money for polling which is then used to generate emails soliciting more donations. Some of the money is used to generate attack advertisements in what passes for “news” outlets. The question also to be considered is the money donated from sources outside of the election’s boundaries. The Texas knockdown between Ted and Beto will become one of the most expensive elections in history. Beto has raised $70 million in his election bid: the most raised in our nation’s history for a senate race. $52 million of O’Rourke’s funding came from ActBlue instead of constituents.
If elections are won (or lost) based on the amount of money raised, the obvious conclusion is that elections are bought instead of won on merit and/or experience. The message is usually the same: vote for me because my opponent is (fill in the blank). I believe our founders gave us a system in which the better qualified candidate would win the election. The process has degraded into one in which the voters are given a choice between the lesser of two evils who must repay their donors in order to stay in office.
So how much should I donate?
David DeGerolamo
Donate to the candidate with a flamethrower who promises to torch the incumbents and their existing agencies, bases, and clients.
How about we don’t vote for anyone who will take money from one person and give it to another person . A better solution to the problem. Also why should a moral and just person have to decide which lesser evil they are willing to suport.