Why stop at contributions, when one could refocus resources just the same transacting with a corporation or partnership, or investing or loaning as well as donating?
And at the level of local politics (which in many cases has a greater impact on our day-to-day lives than national politics) you can become a high school or politician's largest donor for less than the cost of a house or high-end car.
And of course you wouldn't want large donors to disguise large donations by making them as many small, indirect donations!
Shouldn't we make everyone's finances totally public?
I think it's perfectly fine for interested citizens and journalists to investigate those cases, too. There is quite a bit of investigative journalism like that that happens at the local level, at least in some places. For example, if a previously unknown company suddenly starts buying up a lot of local land, it's natural that residents would want to look into what this company is and where their money comes from. Is it a front for another company? Who are its investors? Does it have ties to politicians?
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Why stop at contributions, when one could refocus resources just the same transacting with a corporation or partnership, or investing or loaning as well as donating?
And at the level of local politics (which in many cases has a greater impact on our day-to-day lives than national politics) you can become a high school or politician's largest donor for less than the cost of a house or high-end car.
And of course you wouldn't want large donors to disguise large donations by making them as many small, indirect donations!
Shouldn't we make everyone's finances totally public?
I think it's perfectly fine for interested citizens and journalists to investigate those cases, too. There is quite a bit of investigative journalism like that that happens at the local level, at least in some places. For example, if a previously unknown company suddenly starts buying up a lot of local land, it's natural that residents would want to look into what this company is and where their money comes from. Is it a front for another company? Who are its investors? Does it have ties to politicians?