Don't they get enough from their members' dues?
Almsgiving is in the air, and all sorts of people are probably calling your house asking for money. Here's a letter I wrote when I found out a "charity" wasn't a charity at all.
To whom it may concern:
Recently, I received a solicitation from the Fairfax Coalition of Police asking for a donation. The caller led me to believe that I would be giving to a charity. I said I would give $15, and your group sent me a package in the mail with the pledge request.
I was surprised to find that you are not a charity: you are a local police union affiliated with the AFL-CIO. While I think police officers are brave and honorable people – I serve with several of them in my Marine Reserve unit – I have a low regard for unions of almost any kind. In particular, the AFL-CIO gives almost all of its political donations to the Democratic Party, including the cop-bashing liberals who are disliked by every police officer I’ve ever known. More than that, your union supports candidates with whom I disagree on many other non-law-enforcement-related issues such as abortion, homosexual marriage, tax policy, and gun control. Giving money to the Fairfax Coalition of Police would mean supporting such candidates, albeit indirectly.
I don’t think you’re being honest when you ask people to help fund your “drug and alcohol education efforts” and “Christmas toys for hospitalized children,” then use the (non-tax-deductible) donations to fund your union. Consider my pledge null and void because it was contracted under false pretenses, and please do not call again.
Regards,
Eric M. Johnson
