The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania - Forum

My letter to the American Cancer Society.

American Cancer Society has seen my last dollar (enclosed).  <<< it was torn and a huge piece missing >>>

Using persuasion in getting and informing people about the harm of smoking is fine, I do it myself.  Using the force of government to dictate legislation on individuals is another.

We are a free people, with choice.  How dare you behave like the Taliban, a dictator or king.  I am ashamed to have supported ACS in the past.

I am telling other what I believe both in print and in person.  You should be ashamed too.  If you do not understand what you are doing you should read a little history and it will be clear.

Former supporter of ACS. 

Barry,

I had a similar experience with Habitat for Humanity.  While building homes for people with volunteer effort and money is very libertarian, HfH management went way over the "government-solution" line in 2006.  (Oddly, two years ago to the exact day I'm posting this.)  Below is the letter I wrote to their CEO.  I also wrote a LTE to the Pittsburgh Trib, but they didn't print it.

I got a letter back from HfH, but it was unconvincing and left me thinking that they might be taking the lobby-government route.  After contributing to them for years, after 7/18/2006 I never sent them another cent.

Mark

-------------------------

July 18, 2006

Mr. John Reckford, CEO
Habitat for Humanity
P.O. Box 6439
Americus, GA 31709-9952

Dear Mr. Reckford:

I recently received a Habitat solicitation that caused me concern.  It describes the housing plight of a family of six -- Shauna, a nurse’s assistant, her husband, LC, a professional cook and their four children.  They live in a dilapidate mobile home and appear to be worthwhile candidates for a Habitat home. 

This solicitation, however, went on to describe an alleged economic reason why Shauan and LC have this problem: “Here’s why:  The minimum wage – which hasn’t increased since 1997 – is no longer a living wage.” 

Will Habitat use my contribution for homes or for lobbying efforts to increase the minimum wage?  When did Habitat become an economic think tank?  Will contributions no longer be tax-deductible because of Habitat’s backhanded call for a minimum wage increase?

Since you’re now spouting economic theory, let me offer one that Habitat probably never considered.  Rampant government spending, funded by the Federal Reserve’s debt creation policy of printing money, damages the economy.  This recklessness hurts Shauan, LC, their children and everyone else by:

• Lowering the value of their hard-earned dollars. Each printed dollar with no real wealth behind it lowers the value of existing dollars causing price inflation.

• Pushing home values beyond their reach.  Cheap dollars fuel financial “bubbles” encouraging people to spend on risky speculative investments without true underlying value.  This caused high housing prices.

• Mortgaging their future and that of their children.  This debt is what funds unjustified wars, the entitlement state and wasteful out-of-control government spending. It raises the price of all imported goods.  This mortgage now stands in the tens of trillions of dollars.

Please think carefully before you switch from a charity to an economic think tank.  I am thinking carefully about any future contribution to Habitat.  I hope to hear an explanation from you regarding this shift in your fundamental mission.

Sincerely yours,


Mark D. Crowley
<Address>

PS – Did it ever occur to you that an increase in the minimum wage might lead to unemployment for Shauan and LC?  If forced to pay more per employee, their employers might have no choice but to lay-off workers.