If the US is so far in debt, how is it we manage to spend so much on elections?

[Johnny_Ray_Wilson]

An honest question. Can anyone, regardless of which party you support, answer the thread title question?

Again. "If the US is so far in debt, how is it we manage to spend so much on elections?"

 

[ChinaBandit]

Super PAC's, an unlimited source of private equity for politicians. I am not upset about them. If people want to spend their own money this way, let them.

Why there is any federal funding at all has always been beyond me. It's a box that's never ticked on my tax return. I suppose it was the brainchild of someone who wanted to try and equalize the system. Faulty even then if you dislike the fact that it's benefactors are the two main parties only.

 

[pete]

its the same answer for "how does the gov't spend so much money on (insert abject program here) ?"

they just go further into debt, then they raise the debt ceiling and go even further into debt

 

[CHNOPS]

Jizz!

 

[ChinaBandit]

Jizz!

Helpless, that's probably all we can do.

My vote on anything is that insignificant.

 

[CHNOPS]

Helpless, that's probably all we can do.

My vote on anything is that insignificant.

Voting is not an act of coercion. It's an act of expression. People forget that.

Campaigns are coercion. Voting is expression. In that light, your vote is supremely significant.

In other news, there appear to be people in this thread who think election campaigns are federal programs. This is funny to me.

 

[ChinaBandit]

Voting is not an act of coercion. It's an act of expression. People forget that.

Campaigns are coercion. Voting is expression. In that light, your vote is supremely significant.

In other news, there appear to be people in this thread who think election campaigns are federal programs. This is funny to me.

I don't agree.

Campaigns are annoying propaganda but I don't find them the least bit coercive.

I find my voter expression relatively meaningless though. I may not even bother.

I suppose there are some tax dollars at work to support the bureaucracy of the FEC but clearly presidential contributions only come from the tax check off. I refuse to participate it that.

 

[off2bed]

Campaigns are generally funded by private money, it's the government that's in debt.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Political donations are the tickets to influence and patronage from pols. Increased donations means the competition for gubmint goodies is intense.

 

[ChinaBandit]

Political donations are the tickets to influence and patronage from pols. Increased donations means the competition for gubmint goodies is intense.

I just wonder what BIG MONEY INTEREST is looking out for me. Wait, that would be none. See why I feel disconected from the whole process. If I voted for Mickey Mouse what would it matter...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I just wonder what BIG MONEY INTEREST is looking out for me. Wait, that would be none. See why I feel disconected from the whole process. If I voted for Mickey Mouse what would it matter...

There you go!

The pols have it all figured out. But what they cant control are the fortunes of each peasant. Diaper loads of cash are the gasoline of politics, but people do the voting and express their angst at the polls.

 

[KingOrfeo]

The government is in debt -- the government is always in debt (and there's not necessarily anything wrong with that, but that's another discussion) -- but practically all election funding/spending comes from non-governmental sources.

 

[miles]

Campaigns are generally funded by private money, it's the government that's in debt.

Except for Obama's union support, which is partially funded by taxpayers.

 

[phrodeau]

It's the Republican's solution to high unemployment. It gives all the unemployed Republicans jobs. Then they all quit just before the election, so the numbers can look bad.

 

[miles]

It's the Republican's solution to high unemployment. It gives all the unemployed Republicans jobs. Then they all quit just before the election, so the numbers can look bad.

You obviously haven't seen May's job report. They suck, but that's the fault of Bush and Fox News.
...............................
Jobs Report May 2012: U.S. Employers Added 69,000 Jobs In May As The Unemployment Rate Rose To 8.2 Percent

The U.S. economy suddenly looks a lot weaker.

U.S. employers created only 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year, and the unemployment rate ticked up.

The dismal jobs data will fan fears that the economy is sputtering. It could also damage President Barack Obama's re-election prospects. And it could lead the Federal Reserve to take further steps to help the economy.

The Labor Department also said Friday that the economy created far fewer jobs in the previous two months than first thought. It revised those figures down to show 49,000 fewer jobs created. The unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent in April, the first increase in 11 months.

Dow Jones industrial average futures, which were already down 100 points before the report, fell an additional 100 points within minutes of its release.

The yield on the benchmark on the 10-year Treasury note plunged to 1.46 percent, the lowest on record. It suggested that investors are flocking to the safety of U.S. government bonds.

The price of gold, which was trading at about $1,550 an ounce before the report, shot up $30. Investors have seen gold as a safe place to put their money during turbulent economic times.

Josh Feinman, global chief economist with DB Advisors, said Friday's report raises the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will do more – perhaps start another round of bond purchases to further lower long-term interest rates.

Still, he noted that the rate on 10-year Treasury notes is already at a record low 1.46 percent.

 

[phrodeau]

You obviously haven't seen May's job report. They suck, but that's the fault of Bush and Fox News.
...............................
Jobs Report May 2012: U.S. Employers Added 69,000 Jobs In May As The Unemployment Rate Rose To 8.2 Percent

The U.S. economy suddenly looks a lot weaker.

U.S. employers created only 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year, and the unemployment rate ticked up.

The dismal jobs data will fan fears that the economy is sputtering. It could also damage President Barack Obama's re-election prospects. And it could lead the Federal Reserve to take further steps to help the economy.

The Labor Department also said Friday that the economy created far fewer jobs in the previous two months than first thought. It revised those figures down to show 49,000 fewer jobs created. The unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent in April, the first increase in 11 months.

Dow Jones industrial average futures, which were already down 100 points before the report, fell an additional 100 points within minutes of its release.

The yield on the benchmark on the 10-year Treasury note plunged to 1.46 percent, the lowest on record. It suggested that investors are flocking to the safety of U.S. government bonds.

The price of gold, which was trading at about $1,550 an ounce before the report, shot up $30. Investors have seen gold as a safe place to put their money during turbulent economic times.

Josh Feinman, global chief economist with DB Advisors, said Friday's report raises the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will do more – perhaps start another round of bond purchases to further lower long-term interest rates.

Still, he noted that the rate on 10-year Treasury notes is already at a record low 1.46 percent.

I saw it, and I saw lots of Republicans crowing about how good it was to see an increase in unemployment. Bastards, all.

 

[Wrong Element]

An honest question. Can anyone, regardless of which party you support, answer the thread title question?

Again. "If the US is so far in debt, how is it we manage to spend so much on elections?"

The people who spend on elections are doing just fine. And they want to be doing even finer...hence the amount they spend on elections.

But it's to benefit all of us, honest!

 

[BoyNextDoor]

An honest question. Can anyone, regardless of which party you support, answer the thread title question?

Again. "If the US is so far in debt, how is it we manage to spend so much on elections?"

Because in the US elections are not publicly financed. They are privately financed and there is a lot of disposable income is the economy right now flowing into the 'super PACs' made possible by the SC ruling in the Citizens United case.