But on this occasion, he felt that the money he spent was a good deal, because he saw someone spend 100,000 US dollars to shoot a pajama that was only worth 300 US dollars, the reason is that the pajamas were worn by the star he liked, what the hell, he shot the jersey and sneakers that were brand new, even if they had a signature, it was good to take them back and collect them, but do you really want to collect this pajamas? This guy is not afraid of his wife tearing up his chrysanthemum.

"Is that the end of it?" Gao Xi quietly asked Lin Chongdao on the side.

"Well, later you can just take your check and take what you want, it's easy. There are all characters with heads and faces here, and they won't be scoundrels because of such a trivial matter, and they will ruin their reputation like that. Lin Chong nodded.

"Oh, I see, if you hold a few more charity dinners like this, wouldn't this Democratic senator be rich?" Gossey asked.

"That's not the case, most of this money can't reach his pocket. But if you don't like to hear it, in fact, if we scatter this money, it will be similar to playing in the water, and it doesn't mean much. Lin Chong shrugged his shoulders and said: "Those who can really grasp policy decisions are still those big conglomerates, and we and other fart people donate money, and it is still important to participate." ”

"Then I'm sick, what money to donate?" Gao Xi was dumbfounded, there seems to be no difference between donating money and not donating, what is the benefit of doing it yourself.

"You think, if you throw that little money into a pond, it will only make a few splashes at most. Be content, you can make a splash, at least it means that you are involved, one person is useless, but if we are a group, an organization, it is different. Lin Chong explained.

"There is strength in numbers?"

"Think so."

"So what if I donate one or two million alone?" Gossey asked.

Lin Chong shook his head and said, "It seems that you still don't know much about the political contribution system in the United States. Well, let me tell you this, although the United States has now lifted the donation cap, it is not what we think. You still can't donate as much money directly to a candidate, but of course, as long as companies and organizations don't give money directly to candidates, but instead use it to support candidates' activities, there is no limit to the amount. This actually sounds a bit contradictory, and I don't particularly understand it, anyway, if you really want to donate money to the candidate you support, don't donate it directly to him, you can donate to a certain activity that he is engaged in, this is a donation backdoor opened by American law for rich people. ”

Gao Xi was also in a fog when he heard it, and said helplessly: "It's really troublesome, that is, in the United States, you can spend money to buy power and status, but you have to follow their set of rules, right?" Can't you do what you think?"

"Mm-hmm, you're not wrong to say that." Lin Chong nodded.

"In this way, I understand, sure enough, in China it is the official standard, if you have a relationship, you are the boss, in the United States it is the money standard, and if you have money, you are the master." Gao Xi smiled bitterly.

Every country has its own set of rules of the game, and when I heard others say that the United States is a paradise for the rich, Gaucy didn't quite understand what it meant, but now he does, although he is still just ignorant.

Actually, although by definition, a political contribution is a provision of movable or immovable property, payment of unequal consideration, forgiveness of debts, or other economic benefits to an individual or group engaged in election campaigns or other politically related activities. But I think there's a saying that says it better. ”

"What?" Gossey asked.

"'To win an election, you need two things: the first is money, and the second is that I can't remember.'" Mark Hannah, the financial magnate who helped McKinley win the 1896 U.S. election with a large amount of political donations at the end of the 19th century, vividly describes the donation system in Western political elections for more than 100 years. This is much more specific and more true than the so-called definition. Lin Chong replied: "However, in every election, various political donation scandals have always emerged one after another, which has to make people question whether political contributions are helping the rich to manipulate the election." In the 70s of the last century, the U.S. government imposed strict restrictions on political contributions, stipulating an upper limit on the amount of political contributions. ”

However, such restrictions have become the "old calendar". In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that political donations are expressions of free speech that are not limited by the amount of money that companies and groups can use to support their activities as long as they do not give money directly to candidates. ”

"Money politics, interesting." Gao Xi is a person who does not understand social relations very well, and he has no connections in China, let alone a backer, in fact, for people like him, perhaps the political system of the United States is more suitable for him.

"It's interesting, let me tell you something even more interesting, have you ever heard of Obama's supermarket?" Lin Chong kept his voice very low, as if he was afraid that his words would be heard by others.

Gossey shook his head.

"Hey, now Obama's 'supermarket' is making a big deal. And it sells a real luxury: ambassadorship to a foreign country. Ambassador to Belgium, $2.36 million; Ambassador to Spain, $1.12 million; The ambassador to the UK had the best value for money, and Matthew Bazin 'bought' it for $2.31 million. He was the finance chairman of Obama's campaign and raised $700 million in donations for him. Bazin has also personally donated $2.31 million to Obama since the midterm elections, and in return, the president recently appointed him ambassador to the United Kingdom. ”

"So exaggerated?"

"Don't be so surprised, this is also the logic of Obama's 'supermarket'. If you donate too much in the election, the president will give you a diplomat position, and the point is that this kind of 'selling office' is legal. According to statistics, during Obama's tenure, at least 23 donors who donated more than $500,000 have received ambassadors abroad, with a cumulative amount of at least $10 million. And 'selling official positions' is also a tradition that the US president does not shy away from. If you have this idea, plus someone to support you and spend some money, you might really be able to mix up with the ambassador or something. Lin Chong said with a smile.

"But I heard that even if the president appoints and dismisses ambassadors, he has to go through the Senate?" Gossey asked.

"Don't worry, the Senate usually gives the president this face, and we don't understand the tricks of politicians, but you should have heard the word that the world is as black as a crow, right?" Lin Chong waved his hand.

"Speechless."

"There is nothing to be left speechless about, the United States itself allows political donations, and interest groups with different purposes have generously donated political contributions. The political contributions of these interest groups not only provide financial support for the candidates, but also open up special channels for the interest groups themselves to lead to Capitol Hill and the White House, as well as channels to influence the formulation of various policies in the United States. Because, whether it is a party that occupies the White House or has a majority on Capitol Hill, it will have a significant impact on the policies set by the U.S. government. In order to repay the generosity of the financiers, these parties and politicians will inevitably formulate or adopt policies that benefit their financiers. Among these interest groups are not only major American conglomerates, but also different countries and regions in the world. This is the reality of the United States, you can digest it slowly in the future, anyway, you are a rich man, even if you can't manage the affairs of the whole United States, but with your financial resources, there is still a way to influence the politics of Bozeman and even Montana. ”