Tracking Money In Politics

As shown through previous posts, the web hosts a lot of information on social and humanitarian issues and their interaction with governmental affairs. However, I found a website that tracks monetary donations given to political campaigns.


OpenSecrets.Org: Exposing Money in Politics

OpenSecrets.org is a non-partisan research group that tracks money in politics. It is used to view how much each local, state, and federal candidate has raised and to see what corporations, businesses, and people donate to. In addition, this site displays how much each donor has given.

You can track the money by easily searching through industries, candidates, or regional fiscal donations. I looked up 2008 Presidential candidates and found that collectively they have all raised just over $420 million. If money didn't matter in campaigning just imagine how much more efficient we could use that money to feed the hungry or shelter the homeless across the world.


Money and Politics: A Deadly Cocktail

Money in governmental affairs is a large controversy. Many corporations try to "buy" candidates so that nominees will pass laws or veto laws that benefit that business rather than the common people. More importantly, money in politics makes it nearly impossible for average people to run for state and federal positions because of the cost of campaigning. With politicians always looking for contributions, they can not delegate the progressive actions and social help needed to the middle and lower economic classes of the United States.

Why Use this Site?
It is important to use this site to become more educated on the sources of money donated to candidates. You may disagree with the way a candidate gets his or her money and you may want to change your vote to another candidate.

This site is also used to get citizens more involved with the "behind the scenes look" at politics.

OpenSecrets also hopes to create a "more responsive government" by showing candidates that citizens care about politics and want their vote on issues to matter and not be overshadowed by large corporate desires.


Further Research
For more information on why massive amounts of money in our political system is not beneficial to average citizens, please visit Democracy Matters for more information and ways you can help get money out of politics and people back in.