I know it must be expensive traveling around to states and paying staff, but with social media and the internet as a whole, the general public doesn’t need to see the candidates to know their policies. So unless it’s just for favorable policy down the line, why do they donate so much? Are there other expenses besides logistics, pr, and payroll?
In: Economics
They donate so later they can say “remember how much I gave you for your campaign? Mind if you help us out with some legislation?”
Basic lobbying
Leverage to get what they want. They’re attempting to buy their will, or ensure the party that will help make them more rich is elected.
Politicians need donations in order to stay in power, at least in the US. So corporations can use donations to either party as the carrot to encourage some lobbying favor.
Beyond the classic bribery scenario, most of the time the candidates are already planning to do something the company wants, and the donation will help them win so they can do it. An oil company doesn’t need to get something explicit in return for helping an anti green energy politician get elected because their priorities are already in line.
Congress makes laws. Big Companies make money. If Big companies have no laws affecting them they get to do whatever makes them the most money.
People have needs and want to be safe, healthy and secure. If people ask congress for these things and Big companies stay out of it eventually congress will have to give them these things. These things directly conflict with company trying to make the most money. Taxes cost companies money. Laws for fair wages and anti-slavery cost companies money. Safety regulations both for the consumer and the workers cost the company money. Trade regulations cost them money etc and so on. Now if congress doesn’t pass some laws people catch on that they aren’t doing anything and pick new congress people. So instead it’s better for company to make friend with congress people so they can help write the laws and minimize the damage
Done or point it elsewhere
Are we not hiding the massive flow of money from corporates to actors/influencers to politicians ?
If individuals weren’t earning so much it would change the landscape quite significantly.
The 2020 US federal elections, for example, were estimated to have used $14 billion USD for campaigning.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/election-us-2020-54696386
That’s a lot of money. Elections are just giant ad campaigns, and ads cost money. It’s not just flying the candidate and the immediate staff around to go to free events and post on twitter for free. There’s TV ads. Internet ads. Billboards. Campaign signs all over roads.
Now, could you run without a giant advertising budget? Yes, but you’ll probably lose to someone spending billions. But what if it’s a 2 party system, surely the people already know without ads? Sure, but people already know what Coke is. Do you think Coke spends money on ads because for the fun of it? No, it works. Even if people already know who you are.
Now, do any candidates have the money to fund this ad campaign themselves? Well, sure, some might. But most don’t, most can only run (competively in the ad arms race) on donations. And companies have deep pockets to donate to candidates or parties they like the plans of, and hope they turn into policies. And there’s definitely no wink wink going on, the donations clearly have NO bribe based impact on the policies themselves. And when they hedge their bet with support to all sides, it’s just because they love democracy.
they think the candidate is better for whoever they care about, which ranges from everyone in the world, to their country, to people of their narrow class, race and background, to just themselves; or they expect to get something in return.
Easy form of money laundering. You give a lot of money to politicians. They then write appropriation bills to pay you for services to the government.
You mistakenly assume people care about policy….. I mean people say they do, but not really. They hear a 3 second soundbite on the news.
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