|
|
Post by grammadee on Aug 13, 2024 14:14:17 GMT
As a person who lives in a country whose election cycle is 8 to 12 weeks, I am always amazed at the time, effort and MONEY that goes into US elections. In the past couple of weeks, the Harris campaign has raised millions of dollars. And almost every message from the other side that I see copied & pasted here has a tag line to click and donate.
Where is all that money spent? Paying for venue rentals and security and travel I get. Developing ads and having them played on networks, okay. But how do you spend that many millions of dollars? And who ends up with it? Seems to answer the question about why "main stream" media are covering statements by either side, no matter how rediculous a statement may be. If they keep making this a close race, the ad money comes rolling in?
|
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Aug 13, 2024 14:25:15 GMT
It's a great question.
I'd like to see all media refuse to air/print/post obvious falsehoods.
|
|
Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,887 
|
Post by Just T on Aug 13, 2024 14:31:40 GMT
That is a great question. I hate our election cycle/process. All I can think about is all the GOOD things that could be done with the money that is spend just on getting elected. It's sickening. I also hate how we have to spend so long listening to it.
|
|
pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,291
|
Post by pantsonfire on Aug 13, 2024 14:35:44 GMT
|
|
pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,291
|
Post by pantsonfire on Aug 13, 2024 14:36:38 GMT
There is another gov site but it is a PDF and I can't link it
It goes over everything that the money can be used on and things you can't use the money on.
|
|
pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,291
|
Post by pantsonfire on Aug 13, 2024 14:39:01 GMT
Politicians cannot keep any campaign funds for themselves. Contributions must be used during the campaign to pay for related expenses. They are not intended for personal use. Any money that is left over after a candidate drops out or once the election is over must be used to pay off debts. Funds can also be used for other purposes. For instance, a candidate may donate an unlimited amount to a federal, state, or local political committee, or they may be refunded to donors.
|
|
|
|
Post by Scrapper100 on Aug 13, 2024 15:12:11 GMT
Politicians cannot keep any campaign funds for themselves. Contributions must be used during the campaign to pay for related expenses. They are not intended for personal use. Any money that is left over after a candidate drops out or once the election is over must be used to pay off debts. Funds can also be used for other purposes. For instance, a candidate may donate an unlimited amount to a federal, state, or local political committee, or they may be refunded to donors. And yet if you are TFG you somehow get to use it and misuse it without consequences and yet not pay your bills. |
|
|
|
Post by grammadee on Aug 13, 2024 15:14:11 GMT
Politicians cannot keep any campaign funds for themselves. Contributions must be used during the campaign to pay for related expenses. They are not intended for personal use. Any money that is left over after a candidate drops out or once the election is over must be used to pay off debts. Funds can also be used for other purposes. For instance, a candidate may donate an unlimited amount to a federal, state, or local political committee, or they may be refunded to donors. I understand this. And I imagine the debts paid are supposed to be for things within the guidelines. It just seems like a lot of money overall, and was thinking about what activities by NON politicians are driven by running after the $$$...
And there are so many variables in things like "travel". In the old days, presidential candidates traveled by bus or by train. Now one of them has a private plane. And owns venues that can be "rented" for the rallies. Lots of expenses can be buried in that.
|
|
|
|
Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 13, 2024 15:15:04 GMT
TFG pays all his legal bills or at least some. Oh he pays witnesses against him in court cases too.
|
|
|
|
Post by aj2hall on Aug 13, 2024 15:34:33 GMT
A significant amount goes into TV ads. And that's just the campaigns. The PACs spend millions, possibly billions more and the expenses are much more hidden. The former guy excels at getting free press and not having to pay for it. When the attention shifts away from him, he does or says something outrageous to get the attention back on him. Open secrets breaks some of the expenses down, but there's a big chunk that's unclassified expenditures. www.opensecrets.org/campaign-expendituresMedia $1,352,174,150 30.32% Fundraising $747,656,515 1 6.77% Unclassifiable $624,733,678 14.01% Administrative $599,480,055 13.44% Salaries $554,309,178 12.43% Campaign Expenses $290,622,569 6.51% Strategy & Research $289,644,003 6.49% |
|
|
|
Post by revirdsuba99 on Aug 13, 2024 15:37:53 GMT
Harris/Walz have proven we could do far shorter election cycles as do other countries!!
|
|
|
|
Post by ntsf on Aug 13, 2024 16:03:03 GMT
well.. candidates have large territory to cover..often so they open a lot of campaign offices. and they make phone calls to get out the vote, send postcards, signs, billboards, and so much more. yes, it probably is too long, but most don't pay attention to the very end. just in california alone.. you are trying to reach 40 million people.. in multiple languages.
|
|
|
|
Post by chaosisapony on Aug 13, 2024 16:06:44 GMT
That is a great question. I hate our election cycle/process. All I can think about is all the GOOD things that could be done with the money that is spend just on getting elected. It's sickening. I also hate how we have to spend so long listening to it. I couldn't agree more. I wish private donations to candidates weren't allowed and each candidate was only allowed to spend the amount they get from the federal election fund. I want a shorter election cycle focused on issues. And no negative ads against your opponent either. |
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Aug 13, 2024 16:13:23 GMT
The election cycle in the USA is 24/7 forever and ever. There is literally no break. It is an industry that operates every day, year round, year after year.
The more money that feeds into it, the bigger it grows and the more money a campaign needs to pay for consultants, PR firms, media relations, etc. People in the industry just shift from one campaign to the next and maybe into the private sector of the industry they helped develop.
|
|
|
|
Post by aj2hall on Aug 13, 2024 17:05:19 GMT
John McCain was right when he tried to pass campaign finance reform. Regrettably, it's only gotten worse since the Citizens United decision. Let's make everything more transparent, disclose all money spent, severely limit corporate contributions, regulate PACs like regular campaign funds and limit foreign influence with stronger disclosure laws.
And yes to a much shorter election cycle. Let's move up the dates of the presidential primaries.
|
|
|
|
Post by disneypal on Aug 13, 2024 18:23:09 GMT
Where is all that money spent? Paying for venue rentals and security and travel I get. Developing ads and having them played on networks, okay. But how do you spend that many millions of dollars? As you said, the majority goes to travel, venue rentals, perhaps even guest speakers at some of the rallies or conferences, security, advertising (very, very expensive). Advertising is not just TV, radio and print. It is also printing signs for people to hold at rallies, signs for people to put in their yard, paying non-volunteer campaign workers, it's amazing how expensive all that stuff is. |
|
|
|
Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 13, 2024 18:56:59 GMT
It's a great question. I'd like to see all media refuse to air/print/post obvious falsehoods. On one hand I agree. But on the other, people need to know when lies are being told. But I guess a lot don’t really care anyway. |
|
Gem Girl
Pearl Clutcher
......
Posts: 2,686
Jun 29, 2014 19:29:52 GMT
|
Post by Gem Girl on Aug 13, 2024 21:10:36 GMT
I also hate how we have to spend so long listening to it. Especially long this year, since "one of the candidates" announced almost a year ahead of time in order to seek special considerations during his many pending trials.... |
|
snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,346
Location: Colorado
|
Post by snyder on Aug 13, 2024 21:22:53 GMT
I cringe when i see the money raised and always say to myself, my gosh, just think how much help to the underprivileged that money could provide. Our election process is messed up for sure. And most all advertising is smear ads, not much promoting what the candidates will do to better the country and how they will accomplish it. That's the stuff I want to hear, not that Harris can't make up what race she is or Trump is a criminal.
|
|
|
|
Post by AussieMeg on Aug 14, 2024 3:57:58 GMT
As a person who lives in a country whose election cycle is 8 to 12 weeks, I am always amazed at the time, effort and MONEY that goes into US elections. As someone who lives in a country where people lose their minds if the election cycle stretches out to FIVE weeks, I share your amazement and befuddlement. The amount of money being spent is truly obscene! It really does make me feel sick when I think what that money could be used for. |
|
|
|
Post by papersilly on Aug 14, 2024 17:17:14 GMT
Where is all that money spent? Paying for venue rentals and security and travel I get. Developing ads and having them played on networks, okay. But how do you spend that many millions of dollars? And who ends up with it?
i think a campaign's spending reach is very very long. there staff salaries and many many many highly paid political strategists to advise the campaign. like you said, there are media ads and marketing. business expenses can add up---events to wine and dine donors are not cheap. it takes money to bring in money. Tim Walz was here in California yesterday. people ask, why does he even have to come to California? it's not a swing state. it is solid blue. BUT, California is a money state. lots of donors and money to be had. the campaign spent a lot of money in order for the campaign to get even more money. sure he spoke of their campaign but the primary reason for the visit was $$$. campaigns are a huge business industry in and of themselves. jobs are created, money is paid to vendors. those billions spent support local economies. |
|
