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BritVic

(262 posts)
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 07:51 AM Jan 2019

Brian Kolfage's GoFundMe for the wall reaches a tipping point

The number of millions raised now outstripped by the number of days fundraising - so just over $19m raised in 20 days (or 0.0019% of the first billion needed). A marked drop from earlier. Kolfage promised big news this week that would be "Shock and Awe 2.0" but nothing materialised. He now says that legal entanglements to ensure the money will definitely go to building the wall are holding things up.

He claimed last night that once these are solved the fund will be raising '$100m a week' By that measure, the 5 billion dollars will be raised in just under a year. I call BS.

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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pecosbob

(7,542 posts)
4. There a 'small' legal stumbling block
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 08:18 AM
Jan 2019

U.S. law prohibits donating money to the federal government for a specific purpose. Any donations go to the general fund. It's on Treasury's website in black and white for all to see. GoFundMe's policy prohibits funds collected through them from being spent for anything but the specific reason it was raised. Kind of a catch -22 for his little project...in other words, it's not going to happen and all the money will have to be refunded and if the guy touches a penny for his personal use, he'll go to jail.

onethatcares

(16,179 posts)
5. GoFundMe also charges a fee
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 08:24 AM
Jan 2019

2.some percent and another .30 per donation if I'm not mistaken.

They stand to make out like cabinet members if the donations keep pouring in.............

scarytomcat

(1,706 posts)
6. maybe the money can be used to help people
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 08:30 AM
Jan 2019

asylum seekers would be good or Hispanics who are suffering
because it can only be used in the private sector
but these people donating don't understand
they are going to need that money when the real trump economy fully kicks in

scarytomcat

(1,706 posts)
15. then I guess they will have to give the money back to the donors
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 03:29 PM
Jan 2019

I didn't think the government could take earmarked funds from the public

I was just kidding, I never thought they would want to help people.
I know they don't care.

Ms. Toad

(34,086 posts)
16. The government can't, absent an act of Congress - but . .
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 06:40 PM
Jan 2019

The GoFundMe rules prohibit use of the funds for anything beyond the purpose for which they were raised. So, they are kind of stuck.

pecosbob

(7,542 posts)
7. The only way they can do it legally currently is to form a company to build the wall privately
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 08:34 AM
Jan 2019

The hilarious part is that with Republican graft and corruption those millions would probably get them a really nice garden wall, but they couldn't even do that because anybody that submitted bids would want to use illegal labor.

royable

(1,265 posts)
8. 19 million is 1.9% of 1 billion
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 09:13 AM
Jan 2019

Since 1 billion is 1000 million. So at this rate ( which seems likely to slow further) it would take about 3 years to raise 1 billion.

Vinca

(50,303 posts)
10. And he posted this from the Cayman Islands??
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 09:24 AM
Jan 2019
What a bunch of sucker rubes to ship boatloads of cash to this guy.

brewens

(13,618 posts)
11. If a wall must be built, it is a good idea to let the half-wits that are for it pay for all of it.
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 09:30 AM
Jan 2019

If so many are really for it, that wouldn't even be unfair would it? Maybe a check box on the tax forms, for the wall or not? Add up all the checked boxes, divide by how much is needed to build the wall (don't forget the cost of that "the wall just got ten feet taller&quot . Take that much of their refund, if it's enough and if they have a refund coming, and send out bills for what their wall obligation is to those who's refund didn't cover it all or had no refund coming. See how that works out for them.

pecosbob

(7,542 posts)
13. The law...
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 09:40 AM
Jan 2019
The Bureau of the Fiscal Service may accept gifts donated to the United States Government to reduce debt held by the public. Acting for the Secretary of the Treasury, Fiscal Service may accept a gift of:

Money, only on the condition that it be used to reduce debt held by the public.
An outstanding government obligation, only on the condition that the obligation be cashed and the proceeds used to reduce debt held by the public.
Other intangible personal property only on the condition that the property is sold and the proceeds used to reduce the public debt.



https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/gift/gift.htm

Any donation the freepers make would just be like paying more taxes for all the thing freepers hate, like schools and roads and food stamps
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