I am not sure my reply can do it justice. First, though, to answer your question, the article seems to be saying that money you donate to, say, Rep. Barbara Lee, will go to her and, yes, she will be required to make direct contributions to more conservative reps. However, she will also be required to make direct contributions to the DCCC, which will then use the money to help existing and future conservative Reps. So Lee has to contribute to present and future conservatives, both directly and indirectly.
That's how I read it, anyway.
I think this rankles for mostly two reasons, one of which you mentioned, namely transparency.
I happen to think I have a right to do with my very own money whatever I wish. It's a problem for me if I think I am contributing to Rep. Lee, BUT I am really contributing to Lee and one or more Blue Dogs, plus the DCCC, which is contributing to Blue Dogs. The DCCC calls me all the time, as does the DSCC and I now decline every one of their requests to contribute. Little did I know my money was going to them anyway.
The other is a kind of riff on market forces. One way and another, the Party is making it harder and harder for progressives, no matter what progressives try to do If my donation to Lee is going anywhere besides to help Lee campaign, I'd obviously want it to go to progressives, not conservatives. But, that is not what is happening. One way or another, the Party protects conservatives, but not progressives, from market forces.
People here and in think tanks keep telling us the rightward drift of the Party is all about electability and nothing but electability. IOW, market forces. Well, if the people really prefer conservative Democrats so danged much, why are the bulk of donations not going to them? Why is it that the progressives have to subsidize them? It sure ain't because progressive donors, as sa group, are richer than conservative donors, as a group.
For whatever reason, it's just all rigged to make the Party more conservative. Donate to a progressive and part of the money goes to re-elect conservatives or to help the Party dig up more conservatives who want to run. And that makes me sad, because it's a very high price for me to pay in order to help Lee get re-elected.
Sorry, that was repetitive and rambling, but I hope you followed it anyway.
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