Comments on: Campbell Brown: McCain, Obama, Buy Food Not Ads

By: Wasted Money: Blame the People, not the Politicians « The Sovereign Mind

Wasted Money: Blame the People, not the Politicians « The Sovereign Mind — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:58:08 +0000

[...] to conclude that the campaigns are being irresponsible by wasting money on their own ambitions. Some argue that the money would be better spent on charity. I agree, although I would remind people that wealth is not created nor destroyed–it is only [...]

By: Royce Penstinger

Royce Penstinger — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:04:16 +0000

Though I admit to being shocked at the amount of money being spent in this election, that is not the point. Citizens DONATED that money to their candidate of choice to spend getting elected, not to feed the less fortunate in foreign countries. America is the most generous nation in the world when it comes to charity, but sadly the world is never satisfied, almosts trying to guilt us into doing more…well, here is a wake up call. Right now, America is hurting, and it is time that WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN…my advice, is that other countries need to start tightening their own belts, wake up to the reality that the charity wagon train from America is about to pull into the barn.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:43:12 +0000

c3, I guess it is somewhat similar. The main different though, it that campaign contributions are voluntary, and given for the specific purpose of a campaign. Taxes are given because it is the law, and with the understanding that it is at the sole discretion of the government to decide how to use it.

Anyway, really I wouldn’t be upset if the campaigns gave their money to charity, even if I had given money to them. But I am curious to know if it would even be legal. And my main point is that we all blame the candidates for wasting so much money, but they are just spending what the people are giving them.

By: c3

c3 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:14:48 +0000

Mike;
This argument sounds strangely similar to one I heard recently regarding taxation (i.e. “Its my money to redistribute, not yours”)

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:40:57 +0000

This is going to sound cold. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love it if we spent more money on charity and less on politics, but…

They were given the money by private citizens specifically to use for their campaign. I wonder if it is even legal for them to use it for other purposes other than their campaign. Someone more familiar with campaign finance law will have to inform me. But even if it’s not illegal, it seems a bit over the line. If the people wanted to give the money to charity, they should have given it to charity (which I, by all means, encourage) instead of the politician.

Don’t blame the politicians for spending so much money–it’s us who are giving it to them!

By: Michael van der Galien

Michael van der Galien — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:55:45 +0000

Well, I think you could certainly call it “disingenuous” to a degree but… I also earn money with political analysis and, yes, especially catfights or mudslinging drive in hits. Nonetheless, I don’t think it’s dishonest or hypocritical to say ‘yeah, that’s a good idea.’ If they would do what Brown suggested, I would most certainly cover it, and I think many more would applaud them for taking this initiative.

By: c3

c3 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:36:23 +0000

As much as I decry the enormous spending on political ads, isn’t it a little disingenous to be a media persona who’s job is to generate heat and discussion around the political campaigns then to say “Oh what a shame we spend so much on these ads” How about CNN donating a half hour to the hungry and donate that ad revenue that does to that half hour.

By: jrc

jrc — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:57:03 +0000

I completely agree with this article. $30 million is alot of money, they spend so much money on ads that give them 30 seconds to attack eachother. But as far as im concerned this doesnt help anybody. They say they care, and that they want what is best for the people. Well i say that eating cercaintly wouldnt hurt.
If they gave some money to charities, the news would deffinetly be talking about it, and i don’t see better publicity than that.
Of course, charities should’t be about getting political points. What else can we expect… they’re politicians.

By: Jay_C

Jay_C — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:39:29 +0000

I say why cant they have both? Whichever campaign does this first ontheir own will get the political points and support a worthy cause? The only problem is that whoever does this second will be able to “one up” the other guy. McCain seems to have the upper hand when thinking of these things, (like the bracelet, wishing Nancy Reagan and Senator Kennedy well when in the hospital etc)