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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ilaine who wrote (44714)	9/17/2002 7:43:29 AM
From: arun gera	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

When the money goes into a politician's election fund, does it essentially become the politician's personal property? >The ONLY legal favors that can be given to a US politician are small gifts of less than $50 in value, and a contribution to the politician's election fund.>

To: Ilaine who wrote (44714)	9/17/2002 8:11:49 AM
From: KyrosL	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Hi CB. I think for many people, especially from outside the US, campaign contributions sound very much like bribes. After all they help satisfy the power hunger of the politicians receiving them, which for some people is just as important as other hungers. And of course some politicians are able to convert their political careers to personal wealth for themselves and their relatives. The $1000 contribution limit is moot when you have organized rich constituencies that pool their resources and are able to target their enemies and swing elections, even though they are small minorities. Most people will be very hard pressed to give $1000 to all of their favorite politicians. So those that can afford this wield enormous political power relative to those that can't. Kyros