Do you ever get those emails from a political candidate? You know, the ones that come in just as you’re about to delete all your spam, and then BAM! There it is. “Hey friend, can you chip in $5 to help save our democracy?” It’s like, really? Five bucks? Are you out of your mind? Who’s running your campaign, the manager from a 7-Eleven?
Let’s break this down. You got these people, supposedly the best and brightest, the cream of the crop, vying for the highest offices in the land, and they’re begging like they’re busking in the subway. “Just a couple bucks, please. Anything helps.” Are we running a democracy or a GoFundMe for a neighborhood cat with a broken leg? It’s embarrassing.
Think about it. They’re out there talking big game about how they’re gonna fix everything: healthcare, education, climate change, the whole shebang. And then, instead of asking you to make a real investment, to put some skin in the game, they’re asking you to skip a latte. What kind of Mickey Mouse operation is this?
Here’s what really gets me. We’re supposed to be this great nation, the land of opportunity, innovation, and progress. And the best idea these political geniuses can come up with is to nickel-and-dime us to death? No wonder nothing gets done. They’re too busy counting pocket change to actually think about, I dunno, governing.
And let’s be real, what the hell is $5 gonna do? You think $5 is gonna make or break a Senate campaign? Please. It’s like trying to pay off your mortgage with Monopoly money. But here we are, bombarded with these pathetic pleas for pocket change. It’s like watching a multimillion-dollar blockbuster funded by a bake sale. Where’s the dignity? Where’s the vision?
Speaking of vision, let’s talk about that. A real leader, someone who’s worth their salt, should be inspiring us to do more, to be more. They should be out there painting a picture of a better future, something we can all get behind. Instead, they’re just panhandling for spare change. It’s a joke. You think Churchill got up in front of the British people and said, “We shall fight on the beaches, but first, can I get a five-spot?” Hell no! He asked for sacrifice, for commitment. He knew that great things require great effort.
Look, I get it. Campaigns cost money. TV ads, travel, those tacky yard signs that end up littering the streets. It’s expensive. But if you’re serious about making a difference, if you really believe in what you’re selling, then act like it. Ask us for something real. Ask us to invest in the future, to make a commitment. Don’t insult us with this chump change nonsense. Ask us for $1000 or more. Thank us for $100 or more. Make us want to commit! Don’t sell your soul for a fiver!
And you know what? Maybe people would respect that. Maybe if these candidates had the guts to say, “Hey, this is going to be tough, it’s going to require sacrifices, but it’s worth it,” people would actually listen. We’re not idiots. We know things don’t come cheap. But we’re also tired of being treated like we’re kids who need to be coddled and coaxed with candy.
Here’s another thing. Asking for $5 here and $10 there, it’s just so damned inefficient. They’re wasting time and resources managing a million tiny transactions instead of focusing on the big picture. It’s like trying to fill a swimming pool with a teaspoon. Meanwhile, the big donors, the ones with the real money, they’re getting exactly what they want because they’re writing checks with a lot more zeros. It’s a scam, plain and simple.
What’s the solution? Glad you asked. How about this: instead of groveling for crumbs, how about laying out a bold, clear plan for how we’re going to fix this mess we’re in? How about asking for real contributions, real investments in that plan? And not just money. Time, effort, ideas. Treat us like adults, like partners in this thing, not just ATM machines with a heartbeat.
Imagine a candidate standing up and saying, “We’ve got big problems, and it’s going to take big solutions. I’m asking you to join me, to really join me. Not just with a few bucks, but with a real commitment. Let’s build something together.” That’s the kind of leadership we need. That’s the kind of vision that could actually make a difference.
So, next time you get one of those pathetic little emails asking you to throw a couple of bucks into the hat, think about what it says about our politics. Think about what it says about our leaders. And then think about what kind of country we want to be. One that scrapes by on pocket change, or one that reaches for greatness?
The choice is ours. Let’s stop settling for less and start demanding more. Because, frankly, we deserve it. And so does our democracy.
This article originally appeared on X.
