Cashing in on Desperation

Those damn scam artists at the American Red Cross (ARC) are at it again. Yes, THAT American Red Cross, and yes, I did say “damn scam artists”. How soon folks forget the infamous 9/11 scandals where the ARC President assured the American public that 9/11 contributions were going into a separate fund and was subsequently fired for it; while we were finding out that contributions to those affected by 9/11 were being spent on new computer systems for the ARC and “other disasters”. Who can forget the reminder by ARC officials at the end of the debacle that if you want your contribution earmarked for 9/11, then you’d better write a dissertation stating why in that tiny memo section on your check? The net result of all the mess is that charitable contributions to the ARC alone could have compensated victims’ families adequately, rather than the federal government being expected to serve as the insurer of last resort.

Well, same song, second verse. I watched on FNC this morning the Police Chief of Punta Gorda, Florida tell the interviewers that the best things people could send right now, to help people devastated by Charley, are generators, non-perishable food items, and bottled water. He further stated that since there are no banks open and nowhere to buy anything, sending money doesn’t really do much.

Well funny, Mr. Honorable Police Chief, but the ARC doesn’t seem to see it that way. I’m sitting here, in my office, listening to one of my local talk radio stations on live stream, and sure enough the news segment reports that the ARC is asking for you and me to perform what act of kindness to assist disaster victims? You guessed it, stroke a check.

Now, I cannot attest to the absolute truth of this statement, but I have been told on more than one occasion by people who are in a position to know, that if you receive assistance from the ARC as a result of a natural disaster, you will be billed by them at a later date. So, if this is true, the assistance that the ARC provides isn’t charitable, its billable. I find it extremely hard to believe that a hardware store is prohibited by law from marking up the price of materials in high demand following a natural disaster; but the ARC can expect to collect payment for a stale sandwich from some poor guy who has spent the past few days foraging for anything to eat while looking for lost family, pets, and heirlooms in contaminated water. If my information is true, the American Red Cross reeks to high heaven and should have its non-profit status yanked.

If you want to really help somebody in need, my first thought is slam your checkbooks shut in the face of the corrupt American Red Cross. There are honest charitable organizations out there.