I asked SalvArmy bellringer why he chose a poor folks' market to seek $$$

[blm]

I said that Bush's economy didn't help the poor folks that shop at WalMart and Target and Kmart who all are reporting lower sales numbers this year. But, sales are way up at Nieman Marcus, Nordstroms and other high end stores, and I suggested he stand there for larger donations.

He said, "They don't let us stand there."

Interesting, huh?

They want to keep soaking every buck they can from the working class while the big money folk are spared from solicitations.

Nope.

Those rich folk need to show off tbheir fine gowns and suits at big charity balls. No Salvation Army bellringers to bother those fine folk.

[RoeBear]

1. Wah wah

class envy

[blm]

4. Hardly. What is YOUR explanation why bellringers are kept away from the

high end shops while the rightwing who LOVE the wealthy, complain that Target won't let them stand there.

For me, it's obvious the RW media MEDIA who controls the perception that bellringers are abused by the secular left when it's the wealthy, corporate ELITE who are keeping them at bay.

[Dorian Gray]

19. They're kept away

for the same reason that Target doesn't want them there. Some people get annoyed by the bell ringers, I suppose.

[el_gato]

13. a pathetic and ignorant response

there's been a class war going on in this country since it began and if you can't see that I have no time for you

[htuttle]

17. Oh, the rich KNOW there's a class war going on

They just don't want us fighting back.

[Sterling]

34. Eat the rich.

um yummy. I think anyone who is smug about defending the class system is a poor excuse for a human being.

[CO Liberal]

2. The High-End Stores Don't Allow Bellringers....

...yet the fundie wacko groups are calling for a boycott of Target stores because they decided to stop making an exception to their "No Soliciting" policy for the Salvation Army.

:shrug:

It doesn't metter to me WHERE they stand with their kettles. I stopped dropping money in a few years ago when the Salvation Army said "yes" to Bush's faith-based initiative, and "no" to gays.

[radfringe]

15. ...are there no work houses?

the high end stores don't want their clientel to worry their heads about all them lazy poor folk who can't find a job ya know

[Gemini Cat]

24. Exactly!

I do the same thing because of their policies. In addition to that I tell them with the bush economy even if I wanted to give to their high-fundiness, I couldn't because I don't have the money.

[AP]

35. Yeah, that's fucked up. I guess their policy of not bothering Neimann-

Marcus extends to not complaigning about them when they ban SA bell-ringers.

That's so screwed up.

Why is it always that people from the middle down to the bottom and every corporation which tries to serve them get screwed long before anyone at the very top suffers the slightest criticism.

[LisaM]

3. I shopped at Target yesterday and thanked them

for not letting the Salvation Army be there. The clerk just smiled. I think they are getting lots of quiet comments backing them up.

[anitar1]

5. Charity Begins At Home

I support my local foodbank. but not the S.A.--

[mittenlandgirl]

25. about Target

Slightly off topic, but I just found out last night that the SA isn't the only "army" not allowed to solicit at Target. The US army and Marines can't either. Seems we've had both army and marines in our Target recruiting lately. In the store...recruiting people as they shop. geez.

I'm not sure if this is something happening at other Targets or not but we've been asked to let management know if we see it happening so they can ask them to leave.

My son has received two mailings from the army in the last month wanting him to sign up. I found it both hilarious and disgusting they offer a free gift of a knit hat with the army logo on it if he enlists. Is that gonna keep him from getting his head shot off?

[CO Liberal]

26. Basically, Target Has a "No Soliciting" Policy

They made an exception for the Salvation Army, and other organiztions complained. So in order to be fair, they did away with the exception for the Salvation Army.

They're being treated no differently than any other group now.

[Stinky The Clown]

27. Sadly, Target is in a position where they can't win

The RW are **experts** at this. The meme is "Target kicks out Salvation Army Bellringers". Short and sweet. Target's position is exceedingly clear to anyone who takes the time to learn it.

But no one will. They'll go with the TeeVee sound bite instead of the print media's expanded coverage of the story.

No one wants the truth of they have to work for it.

And the good guys always lose.

[CO Liberal]

29. Target Needs to Get Their Legal Department.....

...to write a few "cease and desist" letters to the fundie wacko organizations calling for the boycott.

That'll shut their pieholes.

[Quill Pen]

33. That's another instance...

...where I'd love to see the shilling done at Neiman-Marcus, Saks, or Cartier instead. Unfortunately, the military already knows they'll get jack for recruits in those places.

[Maat]

37. Now, that's good, Mittenlandgirl! LOL!

(Laughed out loud!)

[newyawker99]

38. Hi mittenlandgirl!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mittenlandgirl]

39. Hi

thanks for the welcome! :D

:hi:

:toast:

[catmandu57]

6. They beg from poor people because

while poor people don't have much to give they'll give what they can and do it gladly. People know what the situation is, there are more people falling between the cracks everyday, I imagine most of the people throwing their loose change into the kettles are'nt aware of the politics of the sa, only what it's like to be in need.

[quaoar]

7. I once served on the board of the local Salvation Army

One of my fellow board members was the state chairman of the Republican Party. I asked him why he was serving on the board and he replied that he believed that if he was going to advocate policies like welfare reform, he should practice what he preaches and get involved with private charities to help the poor. And he did. He worked quite hard to help the Salvation Army, which kept the heat turned on for a lot of people whose power would have been cut off for inability to pay their bills.

While I was on the board I got the Army a $5,000 grant from a local foundation so they could buy a walk-in cooler to store food donations to distribute to the needy.

Anyone who passes by the kettle and smugly refuses to contribute because they don't like the Army's religious message should remember who's really getting hurt. It's sure not the smug assholes who run the high-end stores.

[Forkboy]

8. SA is not the only game in town

People should donate directly to food pantries,etc.

[quaoar]

11. Depends on the community

The Salvation Army here runs a food pantry and pays power bills and helps stranded drivers and runs a transition shelter for people burned out of their homes.

[AngryOldDem]

18. Yes, they should

And they should also contribute to those groups that help get supportive housing (buy properties), help with job searches (computer banks), and emergency financial aid (for people who need to pay a huge light bill, etc.). Salvation Army is one such group that can do that. Smaller groups, such as those based at specific churches can, but their range is pretty much limited to a small, geographical area. Salvation Army can help many people continuously.

If you all don't want to give to Salvation Army, then don't. It's really very simple. The obsession with the group is getting to be a bit much here. I only wish the outrage were more directed at those societal factors that are putting so many people in need of the Salvation Army's help. Where is the outrage over THAT?

I won't offer my congratulations to you all over your Target "victory," either. It's only made me resolve to give more than I usually do the next time I see a kettle.

[Forkboy]

21. My target victory?

I had nothing to do with thier decision one way or the other.I didn't write them,phone them,email them or even yell really loud in thier direction.

Lighten up.

[Stinky The Clown]

28. So very true

And when you do that, it bears a double dividend.

The constituency served by the local charity gets what they need, and **you** get the befit of real thanks from real people for making a real difference.

The local, grassroots charities are the ones who are truly altruistic. Support them and you'll be rewarded a hundredfold.

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. I put money in the kettle a few days ago.

I can't pass by and not. :shrug:

[quaoar]

14. I put money in every time I pass one

It wouldn't be Christmas otherwise.

There was a bellringer at a local store here last year who was the most cheerful, kindest one I had ever encountered. I went out of my way to shop there just to listen to him talking to everyone.

[DrWeird]

20. Bigotry is a religious message?

My oh my.

[quaoar]

22. No

And neither is putting words in other people's mouths.

[Djinn]

31. I don't walk past "smugly"

I walk past without much feeling at all - there are a fwe big charities I can't support for a number of reasons all based on my time working with them. The Salvos' are one of them, it doesn't mean I give any less to charity.

[Malva Zebrina]

36. Doesn''t the SA already get tax payer money?

I thought that it and the Catholic Charities are two that have gotten welfare funding over the years. Of course now,we have quite a few others who are getting money due to the presidential discretion.

And is it true that the SA spent quite a bit of that money of lobbying to keep to it's religous priniciples and NOT allow the hiring of gays?

How much of that money was spent on the lobby? From what I read at least ten thousand dollars was spent lobbying congress to approve, contrary to law, the discretionary policies of the SA.

Sorry--don't get my money. They already have shown they will take it and use it to hurt others.

[Sara Beverley]

9. So why doesn't RW Christians protest at the stores for the rich?

Nice post and GREAT POINT!!

[mhr]

10. My-O-My, We Would Not Want The Ultra Wealthy Christians

To suffer any pangs of guilt.

[proud patriot]

16. wouldn't want to burdon their beautiful affluent minds w/ such ugliness

as starving , homeless American citizens .

eh....

it makes me sick ... go spend your tax cut you bastards .

I hope they must take prozac to sleep at night .

[hfojvt]

23. I like the numbers game

Salvation kettles get loose change or typically a dollar from lots and lots of people and it piles up. By the way I happened to see my super-rich neighbor at wal-mart while I was ringing bells two years ago, and a funeral home owner at K-mart.
I did not like it when I was ringing at the "poor-people's grocery store" because that is a different thing than going to Wal-mart for a plastic Santa or something.

[Nobody]

30. Don't you just love double standards? n/t

[GoldenOldie]

32. 60 years Ago, Salvation Bell ringers were a big part of the Christmas

experience as they rang their bells and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.....they were located outside the doors of the most exclusive department stores in New York City.

I will continue to shop at Target because they have quietly supported individual cancer groups and those that have little to no volunteer support within my community. They do not advertise nor ask for recognition like the Walmarts, etc.

[Jim Warren]

40. High end doesn't give

The high end shoppers walk past.

The SA knows where the kettles get filled.

[MADem]

41. I BOYCOTT the Salvation Army--they won't get a dime from me

A few years back, they were in the news because they refused to hire gays. It was a big story for a while, then faded.

More recently, they were sued for demanding to know their employee's "religious resume" -- never mind that they got PUBLIC money in the BushCo Faith Based giveaway. See http://www.nyclu.org/salvation_army_pr_022404.html

They can ring all day, I can't stand the hypocritical bums!