Comments on: The puzzle of political donations http://puffbox.com/2009/12/21/the-puzzle-of-political-donations/ Adventures in government, politics and open source. Mostly WordPress-related. Fri, 11 May 2012 16:17:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: 2010: year of a thousand RATM-style campaigns? | Quixotic Quisling http://puffbox.com/2009/12/21/the-puzzle-of-political-donations/comment-page-1/#comment-1207 2010: year of a thousand RATM-style campaigns? | Quixotic Quisling Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:19:41 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1260#comment-1207 [...] While comparing RATM to two other online campaigns, Simon Dickson identifies these factors: [...] [...] While comparing RATM to two other online campaigns, Simon Dickson identifies these factors: [...]

]]> By: Carl Morris http://puffbox.com/2009/12/21/the-puzzle-of-political-donations/comment-page-1/#comment-1206 Carl Morris Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:54:41 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1260#comment-1206 This might be obvious, but the role of mainstream media is not to be ignored - certainly in the case of the bus and RATM campaigns. This might be obvious, but the role of mainstream media is not to be ignored - certainly in the case of the bus and RATM campaigns.

]]> By: Matt Wardman http://puffbox.com/2009/12/21/the-puzzle-of-political-donations/comment-page-1/#comment-1205 Matt Wardman Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:26:01 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1260#comment-1205 Further reflection: Perhaps an "impulse buy" is appropriate for an ad campaign, while if - for example - somebody wanted to raise an endowment of £5m for an atheist-lead NGO it would be taken more seriously. Further reflection:

Perhaps an "impulse buy" is appropriate for an ad campaign, while if - for example - somebody wanted to raise an endowment of £5m for an atheist-lead NGO it would be taken more seriously.

]]> By: Matt Wardman http://puffbox.com/2009/12/21/the-puzzle-of-political-donations/comment-page-1/#comment-1204 Matt Wardman Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:23:36 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1260#comment-1204 My note would be that - yes for all their success - these are all in the "impulse buy" category of fundraising, and the amounts raised are piffling. You can make comparisons with the USA. But you can also make as stark comparisons with 100s of k or millions raised by tiny towns of a few thousands or tens of thousands for childrens' hospices, community centres or on occasions Works of Art. At the time the Atheist Bus one was trumpeting its £150k all over the media, a single local church in (I think) Wakefield had raised £2m to transform their building into a 21c facility in a couple of years. I'd suggest that going for a positive vision is far more powerful than opposing something, and makes the difference between giving a tip and getting on board. How many people forgo a holiday in order to donate the money to a political party today? How many people skimped on essentials to fund political parties 100 years ago? Exactly. You can argue that we shouldn't be that serious, but ... My note would be that - yes for all their success - these are all in the "impulse buy" category of fundraising, and the amounts raised are piffling.

You can make comparisons with the USA.

But you can also make as stark comparisons with 100s of k or millions raised by tiny towns of a few thousands or tens of thousands for childrens' hospices, community centres or on occasions Works of Art.

At the time the Atheist Bus one was trumpeting its £150k all over the media, a single local church in (I think) Wakefield had raised £2m to transform their building into a 21c facility in a couple of years.

I'd suggest that going for a positive vision is far more powerful than opposing something, and makes the difference between giving a tip and getting on board.

How many people forgo a holiday in order to donate the money to a political party today?

How many people skimped on essentials to fund political parties 100 years ago?

Exactly.

You can argue that we shouldn't be that serious, but ...

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