Candidacy: Make Informed Choice

A map of the counties won by each candidate in... 

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There’s no doubt about it. Next year is a presidential election and politicians are getting in gear for the race. The race is on and someone has to win, power is at stake.

To make an informed choice about who to vote for often takes research and truly researching each candidate. Sites dedicated to election news can be helpful. Commercials on television are generally not. Rumors, slander, and vitriol are pretty much all commercials on television are good for. What is sad is that all candidates pretty much take part and utilize any money that they gain from their campaign to look the other candidate look bad. Is this truly what politics has come to? Bashing of opponents?

In choosing a candidate, it is wise to truly seek out information on those seeking election. What is their campaign? What do these individuals stand for? What affiliations do they hold? Why do they stand for certain topics and what in their lives have proved their passion for these topics?

Watch the debates on television, follow the candidate’s campaigns closely to make an informed decision about which individual would best represent the United States. Politics in a nutshell is often dwindled down to a popularity contest. This is what society is used to with shows on television that actually support popularity. However, politics are serious. Power over the United States and representation should be more valuable. Help make it so by becoming an informed participant in this next election.

 

Filed Under: Candidates Tagged With: , ,

Federal Elections Commission Ups Federal Contributions to Elections

The Federal Election Commission is the election board that oversees political contributions. One of the responsibilities of the Federal Election Commission is to make sure that all political contributions meet the standards set forth by the commission. The most important standard is to make sure that all federal campaigns are funded equally by contributors. This ensures that no one person is 100% funding a political campaign.

The Federal Election Commission sets specific limitations on the amount of money that an individual can contribute to an individual candidate and a political party. Every two years the Federal Election Commission will review the limits and increase the amount depending upon the rate of inflation over the years.

On February 4, 2011 the Federal Election Commission announced the new contribution levels. Here is a look at what can now be given to federal campaigns.

An individual person may now give $2,500 to any candidate in an election season. This is an increase of $100. The limit is in place per election and resets at the end of the election. There is also a limit of $2,500 per candidate so a person can ideally give to more than one person in a campaign season.

An individual can also contribute to an official national party. The limit on contributions to the national party is $30,800. This is an increase of $800 from the previous years. The limit is on a per yearly basis.

There is also a limit on how much total can be given in a two year time frame. An individual cannot contribute more than $117,000 in two years to any candidate, national party or campaign.

These rates will be evaluated in 2013 and could be raised based on inflation rates.

Filed Under: Grassroots Movements Tagged With: , ,