3 ms·

This is a very American point of view, in the rest of the western world we consider buying off politicians to be be immoral, a corrosive thing inimical with dem

This is a very American point of view, in the rest of the western world we consider buying off politicians to be be immoral, a corrosive thing inimical with democracy

jjeaff 9y ago
So the wealthy don't donate to politicians in the rest of the western world?
- jacobush 9y ago
  Actually there are many holdouts were this is frowned upon.
  - em3rgent0rdr 9y ago
    Frounded upon. Sounds like they still do it.
- seren 9y ago
  Actually in Europe, it depends of the country but it is pretty heavily regulated. Parties are paid with a mix of public funding (propotional to the number of vote at the last elections, or number of elected public figures) and private donations. Then for private donation (individual or corporation) there are really low limits. For example in Ireland, the maximum donation for a party per year is about 6,000€. So sure wealthy people can pay up to that amount, but you cannot really be "bought" for that price. I don't think it is comparable to US campaign finance. The system is not perfect either because public funding heavily favours existing parties and so, it is harder to run as an independent.
  - timthelion 9y ago
    Andrej Babiš a Czech Billionaire, payed for the political campaign that put his party, ANO, into power out of pocket. It is certainly not true that all European countries have strict regulations.
- jmkni 9y ago
  As far as I'm aware, in the UK, no. Wealthy individuals can donate to political parties, but not to individual politicians, and that is tightly regulated. If an individual politician was accepting donations from a wealthy individual or company, it would be a scandal.
  - DanBC 9y ago
    You can donate to individual politicians. Here's one list: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/political-parties-campaigning-and-donations/donations-and-loans-to-other-individuals-and-organisations/regulated-individuals https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-s... Here's some more information: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/political-parties-campaigning-and-donations/donations-and-loans-to-other-individuals-and-organisations https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-s...
    - jmkni 9y ago
      I stand corrected, thanks!

This is a very American point of view, in the rest of the western world we consider buying off politicians to be be immoral, a corrosive thing inimical with democracy

jjeaff 9y ago

So the wealthy don't donate to politicians in the rest of the western world?

jacobush 9y ago
Actually there are many holdouts were this is frowned upon.
- em3rgent0rdr 9y ago
  Frounded upon. Sounds like they still do it.
seren 9y ago
Actually in Europe, it depends of the country but it is pretty heavily regulated. Parties are paid with a mix of public funding (propotional to the number of vote at the last elections, or number of elected public figures) and private donations. Then for private donation (individual or corporation) there are really low limits. For example in Ireland, the maximum donation for a party per year is about 6,000€. So sure wealthy people can pay up to that amount, but you cannot really be "bought" for that price. I don't think it is comparable to US campaign finance. The system is not perfect either because public funding heavily favours existing parties and so, it is harder to run as an independent.
- timthelion 9y ago
  Andrej Babiš a Czech Billionaire, payed for the political campaign that put his party, ANO, into power out of pocket. It is certainly not true that all European countries have strict regulations.
jmkni 9y ago
As far as I'm aware, in the UK, no. Wealthy individuals can donate to political parties, but not to individual politicians, and that is tightly regulated. If an individual politician was accepting donations from a wealthy individual or company, it would be a scandal.
- DanBC 9y ago
  You can donate to individual politicians. Here's one list: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/political-parties-campaigning-and-donations/donations-and-loans-to-other-individuals-and-organisations/regulated-individuals https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-s... Here's some more information: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/political-parties-campaigning-and-donations/donations-and-loans-to-other-individuals-and-organisations https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-s...
  - jmkni 9y ago
    I stand corrected, thanks!