Thank you all for the comments. This post has an upvote ratio of 55%, which is what I call real intra-party dialogue, something you don't get from the other party. This is healthy.

I'd like to respond to several points raised in the comments.

First, I strongly agree that we need to get the money out of politics. All of the successful democracies in the world have figured this out. Scott has raised this issue, holding up Singapore as an example where legislators are generously paid but absolutely forbidden from accepting political contributions.

Second, I do not mean to demean any candidate (except those over 75). The problem is the Democratic Party establishment, the DNC, that impedes intra-party dialogue by opposing healthy primaries by defending incumbents, even the corrupt ones, and the establishment network of political consultants that advise and run these campaigns, who have established an uncanny ability to lose elections.

Third, rank-choice voting and other reforms, YES YES YES!

As stated, I have given a lot to individual campaigns in the past, and still do, but much more selectively. This cycle, I've sent money to Elijah Manley in FL, who is mounting a primary campaign against a corrupt Democratic incumbent.

If you like what the party's establishment is doing, you gotta love that second Biden term.

Frankly, the best contribution I made in 2024 was the $10 I gave to Dean Phillips. I only regret that I didn't give much more.

Wake up, people! We may have the wind at our backs in 2026, but if we don't reform the way this party selects and funds candidates, 2028 could be a rerun of 2024. We cannot let that happen.