Comments on: Political Donations and Privacy http://infoadvocate.org/blog/2008/08/05/political-donations-and-privacy/ Information Privacy Advocacy Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:40:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: simple solution http://infoadvocate.org/blog/2008/08/05/political-donations-and-privacy/#comment-2320 simple solution Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:07:06 +0000 http://infoadvocate.org/blog/?p=43#comment-2320 This is not new. Alot of organizations get this data from the FEC and state political regulators and mine it, put it on their websites, etc. Bearing in mind that political contributions are completely non tax-deductible, there is a simple but under-utilized solution if you don't mind losing the ego strokes that come with getting a thank you letter (and an appeal for even more money) from your candidate. Here's what to do: 1. Download and print out the "contribute by mail" form from your candidate's web site. Fill it out using phony info. "John Smith" and other obvious aliases are probably NOT the best choice. 2. Purchase a money order (using cash, of course) and endorse it to your candidate's campaign committee. 3. Send it in. Notes: 1. Yes, this IS illegal, but how will they catch you? 2. Use only for small contributions (i.e. > $200). Maximum contributions sent this way will raise red flags, and the MO will be returned to the dirt lot in the middle of nowhere that you used as your return address. 3. Act now. It is only a matter of time before SSNs will be required on contributions. This is not new. Alot of organizations get this data from the FEC and state political regulators and mine it, put it on their websites, etc. Bearing in mind that political contributions are completely non tax-deductible, there is a simple but under-utilized solution if you don’t mind losing the ego strokes that come with getting a thank you letter (and an appeal for even more money) from your candidate.

Here’s what to do:

1. Download and print out the “contribute by mail” form from your candidate’s web site. Fill it out using phony info. “John Smith” and other obvious aliases are probably NOT the best choice.

2. Purchase a money order (using cash, of course) and endorse it to your candidate’s campaign committee.

3. Send it in.

Notes:
1. Yes, this IS illegal, but how will they catch you?

2. Use only for small contributions (i.e. > $200). Maximum contributions sent this way will raise red flags, and the MO will be returned to the dirt lot in the middle of nowhere that you used as your return address.

3. Act now. It is only a matter of time before SSNs will be required on contributions.

]]> By: MBR http://infoadvocate.org/blog/2008/08/05/political-donations-and-privacy/#comment-1617 MBR Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:04:20 +0000 http://infoadvocate.org/blog/?p=43#comment-1617 I just did a search for my name and the 2nd result in the google search is a listing of my political donations, along with my home address!! Not too happy about that. I don't necessarily want anyone creepy to know where I live. I just did a search for my name and the 2nd result in the google search is a listing of my political donations, along with my home address!!
Not too happy about that. I don’t necessarily want anyone creepy to know where I live.

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