Comments on: Presidential Campaign Finance and Donations. Why?

By: shawna

shawna — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:19:24 +0000

I gave money to Hillary’s campaign a couple of months ago before the Ohio primary. Why? I feel like I have a lot to lose (as someone that is gay, without healthcare coverage and a woman) if she does not get the nomination. And after hearing that she had to loan her campaign money I wanted to help to make sure her message got out here in Ohio. And for the record, this is the first election that I have ever made a donation.

By: SavingDiva

SavingDiva — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:33:05 +0000

I guess people donate money to campaigns they believe in, not because the candidate will get voted in, but because the candidate is spreading their beliefs on issues…

By: mrsmicah

mrsmicah — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:08:37 +0000

@Ron, I don’t understand gum either. But at least it’s more guaranteed to give pleasure!

By: Ron@TheWisdomJournal

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:00:12 +0000

People get worked up over how much is spent on campaigns…until you realize that we spend more on chewing gum per year (source: Freakonomics).

The main thing I hate about politics is that at its core, it says that a group of people have the right to take away your money and use it any way they wish and if you don’t pay, jail.

Sounds more like organized crime and “protection money.”

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:52:20 +0000

Hi Mrs M – This is a good point. I was amazed when I read about the cost of some of these campaigns and I’m guessing a lot of cash must be donated.

I too don’t understand the people who donate when there is no chance of the candidate being elected. Mind you, I don’t understand the people who donated money to the Bush campaign either, but there must have been many.

By: James

James — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:22:27 +0000

Ultimately dollars spent funding campaigns are statements about one’s political beliefs. Most candidates loose. Therefore for most individuals a contribution to a candidate is not viewed as an investment with an expected dollar return, rather it is seen as an expression of support for a particular candidate or that candidates ideas.

By: Mark Krusen

Mark Krusen — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:29:44 +0000

It is rather hard to get excited about our choices this year. We need to decide what degree of lying we are willing to tolerate. Oh yeah I guess we need to decide if what they are lying about is important too.

If they had to rely on me for money to run the campaign they would be in trouble. Throwing good money after bad just never made sense to me.

By: plonkee

plonkee — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:35:00 +0000

I think this is an interesting topic. In the UK a lot less money is contributed to politics by grassroots people than in the US. But then most people aren’t members of a political party, and getting over enthusiastic about a candidate isn’t very, British .

By: Aaron Stroud

Aaron Stroud — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:49:57 +0000

Odd couple huh? I’ve never understood how couples could hold strongly conflicting opinions on something important like politics. If you ever feel like expanding on that, I’d find the post highly fascinating!