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(no subject)
Dear NOW,
If you want to solicit any sort of support from me, please tell me what it is you want within the first, say, TWO MINUTES of the phone call, instead of going on and on and on about how President Bush is going to ban abortion and limit our reproductive freedoms without taking a breath between sentences. I wasn't sure if you wanted money, in which case we could have quickly determined that I am rather lacking in that department, or if you just wanted me to sit and listen. But since no response or participation seemed required on my part, I eventually hung up. I realize people stay on the phone for longer if you don't give them the opportunity to say "no" to something right off the bat, but geez.
(Also, the caller was male, and I was kind of curious whether he was a volunteer or if they hire out call centers or what, but we did not get into a personal conversation.)
If you want to solicit any sort of support from me, please tell me what it is you want within the first, say, TWO MINUTES of the phone call, instead of going on and on and on about how President Bush is going to ban abortion and limit our reproductive freedoms without taking a breath between sentences. I wasn't sure if you wanted money, in which case we could have quickly determined that I am rather lacking in that department, or if you just wanted me to sit and listen. But since no response or participation seemed required on my part, I eventually hung up. I realize people stay on the phone for longer if you don't give them the opportunity to say "no" to something right off the bat, but geez.
(Also, the caller was male, and I was kind of curious whether he was a volunteer or if they hire out call centers or what, but we did not get into a personal conversation.)
no subject
NOW, etc.
The fact is, all the liberal fundraising organizations have found that money simply rains in as soon as you mention W's name, and any number of his policies. No one has done as much for membership in progressive organizations as our current president. Discussing our own positions, strategies, lobbying efforts and 10-year plans simply isn't as effective when it comes to the bottom line. So it's no surprise that NOW didn't tell you what they're going to do about the mess we're in - you're less likely to give them money.
I'm currently not so into NOW. They spent an ungodly amount of money on a campaign to keep the FDA from re-approving silicone breast implants on *very* shoddy studies and spotty evidence. In effect, they were politicizing science, in much the same way the current administration tends to do. And this bothers me. So I'm a bit over NOW for the moment. I think NARAL and Planned Parenthood are much more effective at lobbying for reproductive rights and health issues anyway. NOW is much to broad to be terribly effective.
And EMILY's List? What would EL do with your money? Aggressive, multi-strategy campaigns to elect pro-choice, Democratic women to the House, the Senate, and Governor's mansions, while training PCDWs for State Houses, City Councils, School Boards, etc. across the country, preparing them to move to the federal (and we hope the executive) level. Not that you have any money, so this is simply a hypothetical comparison.
Re: NOW, etc.
I didn't get to the point where NOW asked me if they could count on my $100; that's out of the question (I just decimated my savings on a dental bill, and I will need to borrow money to pay its successors). I'd be willing to donate less, but I'm kind of concerned (and I'm not even kidding here) that if I give an organization, say, $10, they will exceed that spending on future calls and mailings exhorting me to give them more. Are tiny donations worthwhile, when you consider administrative overhead, etc? It's hard for me to get to the point where $100 isn't a daunting number.