It was surprisingly easy and liberating. I thought to myself, "How would I be spending this money if I wasn't donating it?" Junk food that I don't need, and shouldn't be eating anyway; books, when I already have a vast backlog waiting to be read; nature tourism, which is gratifying enough but adds nothing to the world beyond my own well-being; putting strippers through college, when Republicans just keep increasing tuition; and so on in that vein. In other words, I have no dependents and my own needs are relatively simple, so what is left but to give back?
Now, before I'm accused of hyperbole, I should note that I gave 1/3 of my monthly income, and that this is not really an awe-inspiring figure - don't expect the ActBlue meter to stab the top of your screen. In fact, it's kind of pathetic, so you'll excuse me if I choose not to give an exact dollar amount. But in my defense, I do literally mean 1/3 of my income: Not 1/3 of my discretionary budget, not 1/3 after taxes - 1/3 period. The way I see it, my discretionary funds are what is left over after contributing to the defense of my country.
Of course, I also considered the option of giving it to humanitarian NGOs both domestic and international - and they are not mutually exclusive to political donations in general - but I reasoned that a dollar to keep Republicans out of power in an election year is much more potent toward the same goals than spending it directly on these issues. Philanthropic organizations will dominate my giving in off-years and the quiet initial months of campaign seasons, when political donations will mainly go to primary challengers and candidates who need a big head-start - of which there are usually fewer, and requiring less money, than in the heat of general elections.
In particular, I'll be looking at micro-credit lending, free clinics, human rights, civil rights, the environment, public education, scholarship funds, science programs, science advocacy organizations, alternative energy, and various other things on that level. Once again though, my income is small, so I'll either be doing a few at a time or breaking it up into a number of small donations. Still, I'm already looking forward to it - to planning how I'm going to give away my money. It will become a highlight of my monthly budgetary process.
As for those who are unenthusiastic about contributing to Democratic candidates, and who think our party doesn't "deserve" the money - I ask you this, and be careful that your answer doesn't begin to resemble the twisted reasoning of the other side: Do you deserve the money any more than they, using the standards by which you judge them? Have you accomplished more for your country with that money than they? I don't rule out the possibility that you have, but I strongly doubt it - and so should you. Be honest at least with yourself, if no one else.
I'm finding it somewhat intoxicating to have given this much money. Strangely enough, it feels exactly the same as having won it or found it on the street - as if I only really had the money in the first place when I chose to give it away. It's invigorating. If I'm not careful, I could get addicted to this sort of thing. I could end up desperately trying to give away my money like a reverse-crackhead...or not. But it's still an awesome feeling.
I admit it's nothing new to me that I enjoy giving. Whenever I've had money, I spread it around like butter to everyone even remotely near me. On my birthdays, I like to buy other people presents. Like most people, I would love to be rich - but unlike most people, my reason is that I would love to give away a fortune to the betterment of mankind. I dream about some day sitting down with a board of advisers from academia, philanthropy, and government, and saying "So, let's figure out how best to give away all this money." That Bill Gates has that opportunity through his foundation is the one thing I envy about him and people in his wealth class.
The amazing thing about it is that I'm less concerned about losing the election than I was before, now that I've invested so much in it - because it isn't even really the election that I'm investing in, so much as solidifying my own commitment and affirming in concrete terms that I am part of the solution. You can't really put a price tag on such satisfaction or the clarifying effect it has on one's priorities.
You'd think putting a lot of money down would make you more anxious, and more devastated if things don't go your way, but I think that only happens if you're seeing it all wrong: If you're seeing it as bidding on an election outcome like some sort of auction - the viewpoint of the Republican Party. But if what you're really doing is committing yourself to ongoing progress, you elevate your agenda beyond the reach of immediate setbacks. Republicans can demoralize political consumers, but they can't demoralize citizens. They can frustrate people acting selfishly, but not people for whom the act of contributing is an affirmation in itself.
So here's what I'm going to do, and I invite everyone to make a similar pledge or a modified one: Not only am I not going to be demoralized if the election turns bad, I'm going to become more enthusiastic. If Republicans take either or both houses of Congress, I will donate a full 1/2 of my November income to Democrats and liberal organizations, and I will email the GOP that I appreciate their encouragement. And in the event we win, I am going to donate exactly $0.02 (two cents) to the GOP along with a note of condolence on their failed putsch - and I will recommend they use one cent as a down payment on a conscience, and the other to buy a clue.
Update: Damn, Rec Listed already? I feel all warm and fuzzy. And tingly. And then fuzzy again.