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I'm skeptical of elected officials sending money to constituents right before elections.

by influx 4y ago

danjoredd 4y ago
Very wise. No matter who it is, everything in politics is about image and voter influence. Im grateful for the help when it is offered to me, but I don't ignore the real purpose behind it all either.
sidewndr46 4y ago
I guess I'm just waiting till they point where they tie to either party registration or previous voting records. Buying votes is illegal basically everywhere I think. Paying for prior votes, probably not illegal?
- tablespoon 4y ago
  > Buying votes is illegal basically everywhere I think. Paying for prior votes, probably not illegal? What's the difference? If you're buying someone's vote, you're almost certainly going to pay after they've voted.
tablespoon 4y ago
> I'm skeptical of elected officials sending money to constituents right before elections. There seems to have been a lot of very suspiciously-timed policy announcements like that recently. Of the top of my head: the student loan forgiveness plan, the Federal marijuana possession pardons, and now this.
- influx 4y ago
  “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.” ― Alexander Fraser Tytler
koheripbal 4y ago
I also find it ethically questionable to not return a tax surplus to the people who paid the most in taxes. This is effectively a forced wealth re-distribution. The gov't should spend our tax money on the common good. Not just to literally tax money from my family and turn around and hand it directly to our neighbors. I'm glad I moved out of California. They don't even hide forced wealth redistributions anymore.
- Ekaros 4y ago
  I see two better ways to use this money. Either pay off some of the debt. Be it state level or lower. Or then cut taxes next year with this money. Both would be fairer and more sensible solutions.

I'm skeptical of elected officials sending money to constituents right before elections.

by influx 4y ago

I'm skeptical of elected officials sending money to constituents right before elections.

Very wise. No matter who it is, everything in politics is about image and voter influence. Im grateful for the help when it is offered to me, but I don't ignore the real purpose behind it all either.

sidewndr46 4y ago

I guess I'm just waiting till they point where they tie to either party registration or previous voting records. Buying votes is illegal basically everywhere I think. Paying for prior votes, probably not illegal?

tablespoon 4y ago
> Buying votes is illegal basically everywhere I think. Paying for prior votes, probably not illegal? What's the difference? If you're buying someone's vote, you're almost certainly going to pay after they've voted.

tablespoon 4y ago

> I'm skeptical of elected officials sending money to constituents right before elections. There seems to have been a lot of very suspiciously-timed policy announcements like that recently. Of the top of my head: the student loan forgiveness plan, the Federal marijuana possession pardons, and now this.

influx 4y ago
“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.” ― Alexander Fraser Tytler

koheripbal 4y ago

I also find it ethically questionable to not return a tax surplus to the people who paid the most in taxes. This is effectively a forced wealth re-distribution. The gov't should spend our tax money on the common good. Not just to literally tax money from my family and turn around and hand it directly to our neighbors. I'm glad I moved out of California. They don't even hide forced wealth redistributions anymore.

Ekaros 4y ago
I see two better ways to use this money. Either pay off some of the debt. Be it state level or lower. Or then cut taxes next year with this money. Both would be fairer and more sensible solutions.