UNITED WAY is now whoring for the Bush administration.

[barbaraann]

Tonight I heard a United Way commercial on the radio and TWICE during the commercial I heard "No one could have prevented the tragedy of September 11." This is just unbelievable. First of all, it's not true; secondly it's not relevant to United Way; and thirdly, the only reason it was put in the ad was the take responsibility/blame for 9-11 away from the person who IS responsible--George W. Bush.

I just don't know how any American who is not a DU addict can possible survive the relentless mind control and propaganda.

[bookman]

1. I wish...

..I could say I'd never contribute to the United Way.

But I haven't for many, many years.

[WildThang]

2. If you think this through

doesn't that mean that NO ONE (not even bushmon) can save us from another tragedy?

Not every tragedy can be prevented, true. But if locking down the country and invading privacy and snitching your neighbors and blowing up entire countries can't help us, then what's the freakin point?

[barbaraann]

4. Exactly.

And how many copies of his novel about that scenario did Tom Clancy sell? I would guess that millions of Americans were aware of the possibility.

[liberalnurse]

3. No more payroll deductions from me....

ever.

[barbaraann]

5. I hope you have a choice.

I been forced to "donate" by several employers.

[Devlzown]

6. I had an employer try to pull that

shit with me a few years back. By the time I got through with telling her what I thought about the United Way in front of about 100 other employees, she was on the verge of tears, begging me to stop.:evilgrin:

[barbaraann]

8. Well, two of the places that made me give were United Way

agencies and I would have been fired if I hadn't given. I'm glad you were able to fight it and I really wish I had been able to do as well as you did.

[Devlzown]

11. Aww, hell, I wasn't trying to give you grief.

We all have to make a living and I can see how the situation was especially difficult in your case. I don't know if I would've even acted up as much as I did then, but she caught me on a really bad day.;-)

[barbaraann]

12. No grief inflicted.

:-)

But it still bothers me that I had to donate and part of it is that I know a lot about what happens to the money.

[madfloridian]

7. Remember the Susan Sarandon debacle in Tampa last year?

Or was it St. Pete? They cancelled a dinner rather than let her speak because she was anti-war. I think that was United Way.

[barbaraann]

9. Oh, yes, I had forgotten that.

Great organization. (sarcasm on)

[La_Serpiente]

10. Maybe Elaine Chao

who was their president, is pulling some strings.

[barbaraann]

13. You are probably right.

They are so thorough.

[Gloria]

14. I refused to donate to them years ago and never have since...

because I found out they were supporting things that ran counter to my view of charity....

Bah humbug!

And I feel the same way about the Salvation Army because of their stance on gays.

[barbaraann]

15. Good for you!

In my opinion, some agencies funded by UW are worthwhile, but some are not.

[MetaTrope]

16. Republican efficiency!

According to the tax filing on their website, United Way had a total 2002 revenue of $35.6 million. Of that, $13.8 million goes to salaries and wages (their CEO getting $375,000), and once you subtract payroll taxes, travel costs, accounting, supplies, conferences, etc. etc., the actual amount going to "Grants and Allocations" is a whole $11.9 million.

[Buns_of_Fire]

17. After (1) the Aramony scandal of the early 90's

(see United Way Head Resigns Over Spending Habits for a little further information about that slimeball) and (2) the traditionally heavy-handed way that many corporations handled the campaigns (see Business united in finding new Way) -- which is the way the company in Atlanta I worked for traditionally handled it (even to the point of printing out lists of "fair-share" givers and NON "fair-share" givers), I decided that I'll give to the charities I choose to on an individual basis. United Way can go suck mud, so far as I'm concerned.

[dusty64]

18. I am VERY picky

of where I donate my hard earned and dwindling money these days. United Way has a high overhead as well as other questionable practices. The cons really have done a good job of infiltrating organizations and the hiring of several rightwingers by the ACLU has me wondering whats next. These days I wouldn't be surprised if some well known environmental groups start singing the praises of our regime's policies (I'm only kinda joking).