Great overview of this history, but I especially appreciate your argument about the way that small-donor fund-raising has contributed to the nationalization of politics and a turning away from engagement in meaningful local races and struggles. Such an important point. But we're left with a puzzle: that Republicans, despite their engagement with the small-donor economy, have nonetheless maintained a laser focus on getting people elected local offices, giving them a big advantage over Democrats who've tended, until recently, to disregard such petty struggles.
This is just an excellent explainer and analysis. I have come to loathe these emails and texts, even as I support the platforms of all of the candidates they're on behalf of. I am RIGOROUS about unsusbscribing from each and every one, but I'm baffled that they don't see how much harm they're doing to allegiance.
You are a thousand percent correct. This kind of predatory fundraising does more to drive good people away from politics than any other factor, in my view. And, as a professional translator who is asked in EVERY ELECTION CYCLE to translate documents to appeal to Hispanic voters for free, I can tell you none of that cash is "trickling down" to yours truly.
Great overview of this history, but I especially appreciate your argument about the way that small-donor fund-raising has contributed to the nationalization of politics and a turning away from engagement in meaningful local races and struggles. Such an important point. But we're left with a puzzle: that Republicans, despite their engagement with the small-donor economy, have nonetheless maintained a laser focus on getting people elected local offices, giving them a big advantage over Democrats who've tended, until recently, to disregard such petty struggles.
This is just an excellent explainer and analysis. I have come to loathe these emails and texts, even as I support the platforms of all of the candidates they're on behalf of. I am RIGOROUS about unsusbscribing from each and every one, but I'm baffled that they don't see how much harm they're doing to allegiance.
You are a thousand percent correct. This kind of predatory fundraising does more to drive good people away from politics than any other factor, in my view. And, as a professional translator who is asked in EVERY ELECTION CYCLE to translate documents to appeal to Hispanic voters for free, I can tell you none of that cash is "trickling down" to yours truly.