Read the Hilarious and Mocking Responses to Alabama State Senator's Failed Effort to Fund His State's Budget Gap Through Online Donations

Crowdfunding. It's used by everyone from self-starter entrepreneurs to the National Air and Space Museum to preserve Neil Armstrong's spacesuit.

Alabama state Sen. Paul Sanford had an idea for a different way to use crowdfunding: fill a $300 million shortfall in his state's budget.

Image source: GoFundMe

After four days, Sanford's GoFundMe campaign is not exactly going viral — at least, not for its intended purpose of fundraising for the state.

Instead of supporting Sanford's plan, people are sharing it for the purpose of mocking the idea. As of Tuesday afternoon, after four days, the appeal had raised just over $800 of the requested $300 million from 48 donors.

Some of the donors appear to be sincere.

Image source: GoFundMe

Image source: GoFundMe

But while there were a handful of donations with a serious tone, many openly mocked this idea. More than one suggested the funds be used to school the legislators on how to budget.

Image source: GoFundMe

Image source: GoFundMe

This comment is rife with sarcasm.

Image source: GoFundMe

If this person's name did not tip you off to the donor's lack of sincerity, the message will.

Image source: GoFundMe

The funding failure has been receiving attention in the local press and prompted Sanford to respond to all of the negative attention. WHNT reported that Sanford posted the following reply to some of the negative comments:

"I do appreciate the comments, but please realize this was to prove a point that most people no not want to pay more taxes but are for taxes when the other guy is taxed."

(H/T: WHNT)

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Follow Mike Opelka (@Stuntbrain) on Twitter