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querying the hive mind
Why donate after the Election?
Apologies for the bitterness. I was just inspired to ask this by seeing yet another email begging for donations, and I don't understand why?
I donated around $200 to the Harris campaign over this election season, and at the time I thought this was money well spent. Now that the actual voting is over, I feel kind of baffled that they are still asking for money, albeit at a less breakneck pace.
I feel like I was happy to donate at the time because I felt like the money was going to a good cause, but now that we're done I feel disillusioned and frustrated, as I'm sure do many of us. Can anyone explain why I should care? I want to help but I feel a bit trapped.
posted by Alensin on Nov 14, 2024 at 5:20 PM
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You shouldn't. You're not buying good, you're shoveling money into the maw of power.
posted by so fucking future at 5:32 PM
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There are unconfirmed reports that the Harris campaign is in debt, so that's one potential reason. I would be surprised if the Harris campaign's debt aren't backed broadly by the Democratic Party. If the debt isn't covered, I suspect the Democratic Party will need to cough up $20M, which will have negative impacts on near-term liberal causes.
posted by saeculorum at 5:35 PM
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I mean the emails I get from them all say the money is to fund legal challenges related to house and senate races. Who knows if that's true. They ain't getting a dime from this guy.
posted by kbanas at 6:13 PM
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Maybe this is cynical, but basically, political fundraising is a never-ending thing. If they don't need money to win an election, pay down debt, or fund legal challenges, they will claim it's urgently needed for some other reason (defending democracy, countering the other guys, etc.). The need for money is ever-present, the only real question is what's the reason du jour. They will never stop asking you. The only thing you can control is whether you feel good about donating or not. It sounds like you wouldn't feel good about it now, so don't.
posted by axiom at 6:18 PM
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I don't recall this happening in any previous election. Sure, there are a few "help us retire our debt" emails. But this feels different. It feels like Harris is planning for the future, and raising money with that in mind.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 7:10 PM
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I don't remember it happening in the past either. I wonder if Trump's neverending campaigning when he was in office just kind of destroyed a norm that you don't do this.
posted by eirias at 8:02 PM
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My wife gave the Democrats some money a few years ago, and the mail has been constant ever since. Once you give money to anyone, they figure you'll give more.
Our system has important elections every two years, so the need never quite goes away. But if you have money to donate, there are probably better uses right now, like Trump's likely victims.
posted by zompist at 8:18 PM
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It's so exhausting, but the fact is, there was always going to be more work to do whichever way this one race went. It never stops.
Personally I try to make most of my political donations as recurring contributions to longer-lived organizations (like the national party) on the theory that my money goes farther when there's the option of spending it on infrastructure for organizing, and not just more last-minute ads.
Also I try really hard to ignore those last-minute appeals. (And agressive unsubscribing is more effective than you might expect, even if it never eliminates them permanently.)
posted by bfields at 5:45 AM
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Thank you for posting this. I contributed about the same and feel the same about the continued emails. I am ignoring them right now. I know there are lots of good people out there, and they will need contributions the next time they run, and I'll probably wait for that.
posted by Glinn at 6:53 AM
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If $1 billion didn't do the trick, donating after the fact to pay down debt seems like something only someone with A LOT of disposable money should do.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:04 AM
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Consider spending any money on causes that will actively help people in the next four years. E.g. the ACLU, or the Southern Poverty Law Center, or the local food bank etc.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:46 AM
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They are definitely hoping to mount some sort of defense against the next 4 years, but I personally feel we've seen the last gasp of the Democratic Party in its current form and I won't be donating. They need to be starved of cash to realize they are missing the current media game. A good 2028 candidate can make a YouTube channel for free with a couple of volunteers and go hold some low tech rallies for very little. That's what MAGA is doing. How much does Joe Rogan need someone to donate so he can share his TBI musings with us ? Zero. Dems need to get lean and mean. As above give to people who really need it.
posted by caviar2d2 at 6:32 PM
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It is very common for certain campaign positions to be paid a percentage of donations, so the people in those positions have a strong incentive to continue fundraising for as long as people continue donating.
Once all campaign debts are paid off, the candidate can keep surplus funds for their next campaign, transfer it to their party, donate it to other candidates, or create a new PAC.
posted by Jacqueline at 11:58 PM
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