A couple of months ago, for the first time in my life, I made a political donation. I gave it to a candidate whose district in which I do not reside. It was a small donation, but none the less I felt it was important that I show my support for this candidate. Since then, I have received almost daily requests for more donations. Yesterday, I received a postcard in the mail from this candidate thanking me for my donation. That postcard is now proudly taped to my refrigerator door. I'm proud to have received that card, but I'm also tired and frustrated that I'm not financially able to honor every request for cash from this candidate or from the numerous others who ask for my financial support. I just can't do it.
Once upon a time, and really not that long ago, I was able to set aside a few bucks a month in my savings account after I had paid all my bills and bought all my food and supplies and all my cat's food and litter and the weekly lunch I bought for my mother and me when we sat and ate and watched our weekly movie. I felt truly blessed that I was able to budget my money so frugally and that I was able to sniff out some true bargains when I went shopping and still had a few pennies left over at the end of the month. I still feel blessed, but today I hardly ever manage to save at the end of the month because of the current economic situation. The cost of living is outpacing my ability to pay for that living. And still I managed to donate to this candidate's campaign.
Today, my major complaint is that every time I'm asked to sign a petition for some noble cause, I'm asked for my email address and then I get a request for money because I signed a petition. Sometimes I'm asked for a donation from a website I frequent, like this one or Act Blue or ...... oh, you guys know who sends those emails.
In the future, I would like to be able to give a donation to a few candidates this election cycle. I was surprised about the rush I got when I gave last time that I want to relive the experience, if you know what I mean. But, truth be told, I'm going to be so worn out from all the requests for money that I'm sure to get before I'm actually able to give again that I'm afraid I'm going to change my mind and sit out the rest of this year's campaigns.
What's a progressive liberal Democrat who lives on a limited budget that's having a harder time living within his means to do? It ain't Super Tuesday yet!