Do you donate to political campaigns?

[scfr]

Have you ever donated to a political campaign? Why did you do it, and were you glad later on that you had done so? Did you feel your donation made a difference?

I have never donated before, but I am seriously considering it, having a hard time making up my mind whether to do it or not, and would love to hear your thoughts.

[PauletteGoddard]

I started giving last year to a political campaign, and volunteering. I did this because I had felt very disenfranchised and alienated over the past few years--the country's political climate had shifted to a point where I could no longer understand it, and worse, among my university-educated, high-IQ friends, none of them could give me a sufficient explanation to help me understand: they just shrugged or said "I'm just as confused as you, if not more disappointed." So much for playing the alien card.

When I saw that one of the Senators representing my state in Washington eschewed taking a car back to the Capitol when returning from lunch, preferring to walk instead, and after I had read the late Senator Paul Simon's Fifty-Two Simple Ways to Make a Difference (a nonpartisan book, by the way), I realized that by "dropping out" or playing the "disenfranchised victim" card, I wasn't helping to make a difference. I understood I was being too idealistic, and that the best I could do was help the political pendulum swing back to a point I could deal with and live with.

[disneysteve]

Never have. Probably never will. I prefer to give my money to charity where I know it is actually doing some good. The amount of waste in government at all levels is so incredibly outrageous that I don't want to contribute even a dollar to it. If the day comes that I see our elected officials are leading frugal lives and bringing frugality to their positions, I might be inclined to lend my support, but until that day, I'll save my money for better things.

[gackle]

Couldn't have said it better myself, Steve. I prefer to attempt to influence politics by voting, contacting my representatives, and participating in discussions. Maybe I haven't been aggravated enough yet to be involved more, but my governor in TX is working at it.

[tabbycat31]

I donated $20 to a political campaign in 2004. The amount of mail and annoying phone calls I've received have more than cost the party $20.

If I make another political donation, I am not leaving an address this time.

[disneysteve]

I donated $20 to a political campaign in 2004. The amount of mail and annoying phone calls I've received have more than cost the party $20.

If I make another political donation, I am not leaving an address this time.

This is so true, and not just with politics. A number of years ago we had a small house fire. The fire department was terrific and when they had a fund raising campaign, my wife insisted we make a donation. What a mistake that was. Seven years later, we still get frequent mail and regular phone calls from a dozen different police and fire related charities, thanking us for our past support and soliciting donations. Never again.

[Daylily]

DisneySteve...watch out for those police, fire, and highway patrol charities. A lot of times the contribution is not tax deductible which means the organization is not a non-profit. In those cases you really have no idea how much of your money is actually going to the cause whether it be a bullet-proof vest for the dog or a fund for the families of reserve officers killed in duty. A lot of times its not even the police station or the fire department calling you but some other agency.

As for the political contributions... YES. I firmly believe in my political party and I donate money to the local, state and national campaigns to assist my chosen candidates in getting elected.

[Ima saver]

I have to agree with disneysteve!

[scfr]

I'm a big critic of government waste and high taxes myself (have even blogged about it), but the fact remains that SOMEONE is going to be elected, whether I donate or not. One candidate stands out to me as different from the same old business as usual, which is why I am thinking about donating to their campaign ... maybe it's as much a monetary vote against the other guys as it is for this one particular candidate! I'm leaning towards doing it, but I will definitely opt to keep my address off of the mailing lists! [Good point tabbycat31 ... thanks.]

[tabbycat31]

I supported the candidate I donated to in 2004 (presidential candidate), and I also felt that my donation was a monetary vote against the opponent.

I will probably donate again for the 2008 election cycle, but only AFTER I have made up my mind about who will get my vote (if I change my registration for primaries).

[PRICEPLUS]

I not only donate money but I spend a great deal of my time on campaigns and involved with party politics. People need to exercise the franchise and stay involved in their own governance. Freedom is not free and the garden of democracy needs attention and nuturing. If not you then who?If not now then when?

[GoodBuyGirl]

I think that it really doesn't matter if you donate. When it comes down to it.
The big business that sponsers TV programs are the ones running the show. The media will always make their canidate look like the best choice out of fear of losing their sponsers if they don't.
The best thing you can do is to not support business' that stand behind canidates with platforms that are against your beliefs.

[bigsaver]

I never have donated a nickel to a political campaign and never will after the amount of tax I pay. I do vote though since I belive it is important.

[corns]

I've never donated and never will. The parties already have big corps financially supporting them "behind the scenes".

[Fern]

it wouldn't be my first choice.

giving $$ to a political candidate is basically just contributing to someone else's personal ambitions. Wehther it actually does any good or not remains to be seen.