slowbern wrote:
And we're worried about the big bad corporations giving too much to the Republicans???
Am I missing something here? I am honestly shocked at these numbers. I consider myself a fiscal conservative (liberal on some social policies). But I really expected to see corporations donating big dollars to republicans...but most seem to donate to both parties. While Unions...primarily give to Dems. Obviously I follow my Union's politics closer than most. I know that the IAFF in the past 8 years has been more of a 60/40 split Dem/Rep in donations. This was brought about with changes to our FIREPAC which is how we actually donate money politically now. In fact, I'm not even sure that the IAFF can donate directly to a politician or at least it is limited to hard money...or something. The FIREPAC is where the money goes through and I get an annual statement (because I am a direct donor to the FIREPAC) for how that money is spent. In terms of my Union, I understand precisely why and who we donate money to. Every candidate who wants a donation goes through a screening process that involves a questionairre which guages their support of fire fighter issues regardless of political party. If they support our issues, we support them...period. I also know where the IAFF gets their money from. They get it from me...a taxpayer, a citizen, a worker, a fire fighter, a constituent. What is a corporation? Why should I, or anybody, trust a corporation? Is a corporation a citizen? Does a corporation have rights (like I supposedly do) in the Constitution? Or is a corporation simply a legal entity constructed to shield a group of people (or sometimes 1 person) from paying exhorbitant taxes and possible legal entanglements? Bernie
It isnt any different in my view.
My surprise was at the amount of money given by unions.
I don't like it that corps can give huge amounts...but I can defend that to a point because those businesses are using their profits to do so. Corporations always do what is in their own best interests. I think that much harsher limits should be in place as far as political donations and spending goes...but that's another topic.
Public Sector Unions (In Wisc) take dues from the membership which comes directly from the tax payer. Those are not profits they are taking from a business...they comes straight from the membership even if the member doesn't agree with who gets the money. Sure the member can find another job...but not all public sector jobs exist in the private sector. --fire fighter being one of those.
The distinction I draw isn't with why they are donating...I get that. Both entitities are doing what they feel is best for their interests. Fine.
What I don't like is that those union dues are typically mandatory in the public sector (often times in the private sector too) and that individuals have no say in those donations. As those union dues are automatically deducted...tax payers are directly funding political candidates. That just rubs me the wrong way.
That coupled with the fact that all my life I've heard that the republicans have all the big business donors locked up only to see this and find the unions are the biggest business of them all with regards to political donations. To me, that was very surprising.
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