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closeI was saddened Tuesday by a letter received by my wife, Mamie, from the League of Women Voters of the United States.
I, of course, assumed League of Women Voters headquarters wanted a donation. Three quarters of our mail these days comes from people who are after money — for “worthy” causes, for “bargains,” or for bills.
Sure enough, when Mamie opened the envelope, she said, “They want money,” and handed it to me.
Reading it made me sad because the League had titled it: “2009 Citizens’ Survey.” The part asking for money was at the bottom, almost like an afterthought.
The top of the “survey” identified Mamie as the “Survey Participant,” and proclaimed the “Survey Registration Number” to be “N101DNC.”
I can’t help suspecting that wording was window dressing to convince Mamie that the League had contacted her, first and foremost for her opinions, not for her money, and that the money part was just a postscript.
The money part suggested contributing $20, $25, $35, $55 or “Other $______.”
What saddened me was that this “survey” struck me as another example of the undercurrent of misrepresentation that infects so much of America’s commercial, political and “nonprofit” huckstering.
This misrepresentation includes the recorded voice that says, “Your call is important to us,” and then keeps you on hold 10 minutes.
It also includes the big, ham-shaped can labeled “canned ham” that really contains a lump of ham lunchmeat, not a natural ham.
It also includes the letters urging us to save the republic by signing the enclosed petition, and oh yes, please include $50.
I didn’t expect that from the League of Women Voters. To me the League is the group of impartial, efficient nonpartisan ladies who conduct our local political forums and produce impartial nonpartisan analyses of election propositions.
So I was saddened when the League’s national headquarters sent Mamie a “survey” whose eighth and last question was, “Are you ready to support the League of Women Voters in its efforts to defend democratic principles …” That was followed by a big “YES” box, and the words “Enclosed is my contribution.”
I’m afraid the League hired a firm of contribution consultants who claim they know how to manipulate us.
I’d rather get a simple letter that said, “The integrity of the League of Women Voters is never for sale; nor does it have a price; but it does have a cost. Our efforts to defend democratic principles cost money. Please join us in those efforts by contributing $25 or whatever you can afford.”
Contact Phil Dirkx at phild2008@sbcglobal.net or 238-2372.
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