Border wall GoFundMe may need to issue refunds after millions raised

NY Post ^ | 12/20/18 | Marisa Schultz

[deport]

If you could get $3 from every breathing human
in the USA the goal could be reach overnight.

[deport]

If you could get $3 from every breathing human
in the USA the goal could be reach overnight.

[upchuck]

The gvt figured out a way to fund Iraq 150 billion in cash. Now they want us to believe they can't find a way to accept multimillions from a bunch of patriots who are obviously more interested in border security than they are.

BULLSH!T

I gave $100, how about you?

[The Pack Knight]

Bullcrap. The government sold Bonds, and use the proceeds to specifically finance WWII. That was a particular purpose.

That's not exactly true. The money from the Series E "War Bonds" went into the Treasury. It wasn't ear-marked for military purposes or any other specific appropriation--it just happened that the war constituted most of the budget at the time.

The money went into the Treasury, and the Constitution says Congress gets to decide where it goes from there. Per Article I, Section 9, "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law."

The same would be true of thus GoFundMe money, if it was actually donated to the Treasury--if it's even allowed. If the money goes into the Treasury, then Congress has free rein on how it is spent, and has no obligation to listen to the donors. It could be routed to a special fund that was created in the 1990s (I think) to allow donations to pay down the national debt.

That said, Congress has authorized some agencies to accept donations, such as the National Forest Service and the Library of Congress. There's no reason Congress couldn't authorize CBP or the Corps of Engineers (whoever would be responsible for building the wall) to accept donations for the wall.

Unfortunately, the reason Congress won't build the wall has nothing to do with money, of course.

[hattend]

I know I’m a wet blanket but who didn’t see this coming?

Who really thought the Feds would let some fundraising bank account get to a billion dollars and then spend it the way it was set up?

[Norseman]

I see a lot of anonymous contributors to the fund.

Initially, I thought they’d be conservatives who just didn’t want to put their names out there because they’d get static from their few liberal friends.

Then I realized it could also be Democrat donors who didn’t want to be totally ostracized by their numerous liberal friends.

Sort of indicates which side has lost its collective mind, no?

[Oatka]

I had a similar idea. The fund could offer every bidding contractor a percentage of his bid if he wins and completes the job successfully.
If that percentage was 15%, for example, the bids to the Goverment would be about 15% lower than expected and Trumps budget would go further.

Add another 15% for coming in under the projected time - and in a bit of circular logic - or for coming in under budget. :-)

[seowulf]

then how did the wwii memorial get built?

We need to stop calling it a Wall, and start calling it a monument to the brave, undocumented immigrants.

[redcatcherb412]

The Donations Acceptance Program broadly enables CBP to accept donations of real property, personal property (including monetary donations) and non-personal services from public and private sector entities in support of CBP operations. Accepted donations may be used for port of entry construction, alterations, operations, and maintenance activities.

Pursuant to 6 U.S.C. § 301a (Section 301a)

[aimhigh]

Can’t the private landowners whose property is along the border agree to private wall construction?

They could, but most of the money would have to pay for required environmental studies.

[mass55th]

Thanks for the excellent explanation, history, and Constitution lesson. It’s greatly appreciated.

[rlmorel]

“I think it’s admirable, and I think that the country should respond,” Goodlatte told The Post. “Obviously, we can’t let citizens raise money and say, ‘The government will spend my money on this purpose.’ ”

WHY THE HELL NOT? THEY TAKE MY MONEY AND SPEND IT ON CRAP THAT MAKES MY HAIR STAND ON END!"

[rxsid]

"Those WAR BONDS were for one purpose & one purpose only-—and American citizens bought them by the millions."

While that's true, it's not a good analogy. The war bonds were started by, and administered by the federal government...not a private citizen.

Throughout World War II, the War Finance Commmitee in the Department of the Treasury oversaw the sale of war bonds. Through a series of specific Bond Drives throughout the war, over 85 million Americans purchased over $185.7 billion worth of securities. These bonds were purchased to lend the Federal government money to finance the war effort.

https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/war-bonds.html

Not saying Goodlatte is in the right, just saying the war bonds card isn't a good one to play.

[Does so]

But I can see a way around this. If private companies are building the wall then have the fund pay those companies directly for a portion of the work.

+++++

I had a similar idea. The fund could offer every bidding contractor a percentage of his bid if he wins and completes the job successfully.

+++++

A house near me was built of multiple concrete walls, and transported 200 miles to its present siting.

The pieces were numbered, and a crane assembled all the pieces to make a three-story—all-concrete—house in 2½ days!

If private landowners would allow partial assembly (or storage) of the necessary pieces, it would advance the completion of the wall—by years.

[jazminerose]

So, does this mean no more NPR?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

You can choose various amounts. I chose $1.

Visa only charges 3%. They can f themselves.

[Chode]

screw the government, use private contractors to build on land who's owners want a wall!

[SoCalConserv]

“Wouldn’t this be a slap in the face.
But I can see a way around this. If private companies are building the wall then have the fund pay those companies directly for a portion of the work.

Side step government corruption.”

~Great idea......!

[SoCalConserv]

“Wouldn’t this be a slap in the face.
But I can see a way around this. If private companies are building the wall then have the fund pay those companies directly for a portion of the work.

Side step government corruption.”

~Great idea......!

[Captain7seas]

“You are correct. The Democrats, RINO’s, and the Media will be working overtime to discourage people from making a contribution”.

Time to double down.

I will be making a second donation tonight.