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Shrek

(3,970 posts)
Wed May 1, 2019, 10:31 AM May 2019

'Democracy Dollars': Gillibrand's plan to give every voter $600 to donate to campaigns

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/democracy-dollars-gillibrand-s-plan-give-every-voter-600-donate-n1000381

WASHINGTON — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., unveiled a plan on Wednesday to give every voter up to $600 in what she calls "Democracy Dollars" that they can donate to federal candidates for office.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News to discuss the roll out of her first major 2020 policy initiative, Gillibrand said her "Clean Elections Plan" would help reduce the influence of big money in politics.

"If you want to accomplish anything that the American people want us to accomplish — whether it's healthcare as a right, better public schools, better economy — you have to take on the greed and corruption that determine everything in Washington," she said.

Under Gillibrand's plan, every eligible voter could register for vouchers to donate up to $100 in a primary election and $100 in a general election each cycle, either all at once or in $10 increments to one or more candidates over time. Each participant would get a separate $200 pool for House, Senate and presidential contests for a total maximum donation of $600 for those federal offices.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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'Democracy Dollars': Gillibrand's plan to give every voter $600 to donate to campaigns (Original Post) Shrek May 2019 OP
Desparation? crazytown May 2019 #1
And the gop. Chin music May 2019 #2
"Tax cuts converted to campaign donations." (!!!) Hortensis May 2019 #6
Ty. Chin music May 2019 #7
Let's get rid of Citizens United for a few years before that is considered. Delmette2.0 May 2019 #3
We have no practical way to do that. marybourg May 2019 #4
Supreme Court JI7 May 2019 #10
There you go. Delmette2.0 May 2019 #12
200,000,000 registered voters flooding elections with $12,000,000,000? Hortensis May 2019 #5
Now THAT is a post I wish I could save. Chin music May 2019 #8
Math says 120 billion genxlib May 2019 #9
Whoop. I've noticed a billion just doesn't sound like Hortensis May 2019 #11
 

crazytown

(7,277 posts)
1. Desparation?
Wed May 1, 2019, 10:33 AM
May 2019

Politician gives money to voters to spend on politicians? Sounds like a winner.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Chin music

(23,002 posts)
2. And the gop.
Wed May 1, 2019, 10:35 AM
May 2019

Ala tax cuts converted to campaign donations.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
6. "Tax cuts converted to campaign donations." (!!!)
Wed May 1, 2019, 11:26 AM
May 2019

Excellent additional way to view it. Wonder where she got this astonishingly bad idea?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Delmette2.0

(4,143 posts)
3. Let's get rid of Citizens United for a few years before that is considered.
Wed May 1, 2019, 10:38 AM
May 2019

I think the campaigns would do just fine without all the massive secret support.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

marybourg

(12,540 posts)
4. We have no practical way to do that.
Wed May 1, 2019, 10:44 AM
May 2019

That’s why creative solutions are required.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Delmette2.0

(4,143 posts)
12. There you go.
Wed May 1, 2019, 12:22 PM
May 2019

There must be examples of abuse of Citizens United that can be brought up through the court system.

Perhaps no one in the Senate or House wants to make it go away.

I just can't see how $600 from individual doners makes a any difference against millions in Super PACS.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
5. 200,000,000 registered voters flooding elections with $12,000,000,000?
Wed May 1, 2019, 11:10 AM
May 2019

Much of that $12 trillion vulnerable to propaganda hijackings? Such as $7 trillion sent to Trump to stop the Democrats' imminent fascist takeover? An explosion in the number and power of professional legislature and court packers?

Don't think so!

We need much, much, much less money in elections than now, not far more, and a better informed electorate. We need something like the old Fairness Doctrine the Republicans needed to get rid of to assure a period of honest and significant news every day. That could also include taxpayer provided candidate and debate time.

Campaign seasons also need to be much shorter, as they once were, long enough for candidates to become known to electorates but much too short and monetarily lean to support a permanent election industry. And end to unending 2-year-long election segments and to the large numbers in the media corrupted by spending their lives associating/socializing with the people they cover.

And we need to do something about the use of modern media to subvert the understanding of entire electorates.

None of this would be served by flooding more money into the process.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Chin music

(23,002 posts)
8. Now THAT is a post I wish I could save.
Wed May 1, 2019, 11:40 AM
May 2019

Flood money back to taxpayer services, and infrastructure. imho.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

genxlib

(5,508 posts)
9. Math says 120 billion
Wed May 1, 2019, 11:58 AM
May 2019

But I agree with your point wholeheartedly.

This would just be a windfall for media companies because they would end up getting the loot in the end.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
11. Whoop. I've noticed a billion just doesn't sound like
Wed May 1, 2019, 12:17 PM
May 2019

that much any more. And here I go. Of course, when they came after us with the Tax Heist, they didn't bother with just billions either. Nothing but trillions would do.

Yes, windfall for media companies, election hacks and pimps, and the wealthy. Chin Music's right. Wealthy donors would "donate" through manipulable taxpayers, just another, but very large, shift of the costs of their poison Kool-Aid onto the shoulders of the target classes.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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