Jun

6

Not to be overly curmudgeonly ( and I do donate) but donation-seeking and donation "marketing" seems to be rising to a crescendo.

The supermarket asks every time if you would like to donate $1 to the cause of the week — the check out ladies give a sour look if you do not comply. Stands for various groups are often positioned on both exits of the store when you leave.

The drugstore asks if you want to donate after you swipe your credit card. Numerous mailers clog the mailbox asking for donations, many with pictures of children with birth defects in foreign. Veterans group supporters work the stop lights located at the end of the middle bridge to Palm Beach where they shake donation cans at the wealthy leaving the island. Electric bills have blocks to donate money to help the poor. Online registration for Florida auto tags and license renewal have long block lists for local causes that you can put on your credit card.

At each major earthquake or crises the Red Cross steps up the disaster relief requests and ad campaigns.

The handicapped have approached in major shopping store aisles and one feels obligated to help or risk feeling bad for the rest of the day.

One is handed the feeling that society will soon collapse without higher taxes and ever more donations.

Perhaps there should be a "Donation Nation" short movie where the lead character is compelled to pay at least a dollar every time he is asked or pay the maximum donation requested. Bankruptcy would occur at 6 months or sooner.

The numbing effects of Donation Overload are probably more easily overcome by less aggressive, softer selling approaches.


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