decot@cwruecmp.UUCP (Dave Decot) (11/18/83)
This article contains my comments on the "invitation" I received today from the National Republican Congressional Committee, who are now going under the pseudonym "The Honorable Ronald Wilson Reagan." I have no doubt that the President authorized this mass mailing, but his signature appears nowhere in the entire solicitation. See the companion article for reference. I should probably just throw away anything with my address printed by a computer, but I never learn--I'm just too curious about what the public is being subjected to. The stamp on the letter was precancelled, and reads: "USA 5.2c Auth. Nonprofit Org". Oh boy. The only possible explanation for this arriving in my mailbox is the inexcusable fact that I actually *voted* for this person in 1981. If anyone ever asks me what was the most stupid act I ever performed, I have absolutely no problem. I shall definately be more careful this time. (I thought ballots in this country were supposed to be secret?) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [Cover page] You are cordially invited to send us your money. If this isn't Orwellian I don't know what is. Some of the country's most successful businesspeople will accept this gracious invitation. Ruthless abuse of language. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE SITUATION IN WASHINGTON TODAY--THE NEED FOR THE GOP VICTORY FUND 'The Democrats are liberal, liberal, liberal. Liberals are scheming, nasty, maneuverers whose only goal is to "tie up [bills] endlessly in committee" and strangle the nation's economic life.' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO INVITE YOU 'You are a special person. Special, select, carefully chosen. Special. Out of all the millions of names in America, you, yes YOU were carefully selected and singled out as one of the President's valuable friends.' Everyone has seen this gimmick used by mail fraud artists. The Presidency is soiled. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CONCEPT AND BACKGROUND OF THE GOP VICTORY FUND/CAMPAIGN VICTORY PLAN 'We'll be ruined if you don't send money NOW. We'll lose our independence and freedom and recovery will be shot.' Calm down, it's okay. They won't be short because your $25 didn't get there. The voting records of Democratic candidates will be collected and used as "evidence" to smear them, no matter how they vote. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRESIDENT'S INVITATION IS FUNDAMENTAL TO VICTORY IN 1984 Only money can buy votes. That's the way our country works? Let's please try to reverse this trend, so that money can buy goods and services, the way capitalism is supposed to work. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- YOUR LEVEL OF SPONSORSHIP "A special friend of the President?" Will Sponsors be his friend in 1985, or (voters forbid) 1989, when he is out of a job? I don't think so. 'I'll be your friend for $25.' The only difference between this "deal" and those made by first graders is the inflation. (I don't mean to malign first graders by comparing them to the National Republican Congressional Committee.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS To continue the insult to your intelligence, you are invited to join the Ronald Wilson McDonald Club, which gets you a membership card, a certificate signed by Ronald himself, and a memento. Probably a secret decoder ring with CIA engraved in it. And all for at least $25! Amazing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE This is the most insulting sales tactic ever. You have a limited time to send money! The purpose is to get you to act immediately, and not put it off and eventually forget it. I doubt that they'll refuse contributions after the deadline, so take your time. (Think: how many limited time offers and "send before midnight tonight" deals have you seen go away within a year?) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The form letter asks you to "please list any political, professional or civic titles you have held on a separate piece of paper." Why? We don't want any of the "friends of the President" to be members of subversive organizations? Or will these organizations be dunned with "invitations?" It also says that your check "is a personal contribution even though it may appear to be drawn on a business, partnership or other type of account." Although corporate contributions are prohibited by law, it seems they won't bother to verify that checks with a corporation header are really from the private citizen. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am deeply saddened when I realize that people will be impressed and honored and send their money. Has anyone else received this waste of trees? The favor of your opinion is requested. Do not send cash, checks, stamps, or secret decoder rings. Dave Decot decvax!cwruecmp!decot (Decot.Case@rand-relay)
decot@cwruecmp.UUCP (Dave Decot) (11/18/83)
In my commentary concerning the solicitation I received, I said that I had voted for Mr. Reagan in 1981. Of course, I meant 1980. Dave Decot decvax!cwruecmp!decot (Decot.Case@rand-relay)
alle@ihuxb.UUCP (11/21/83)
You are apparently upset over this solicitation only because you are not currently in favor of the President. Do you think that Democratic fund-raising letters look or sound (read) any different?? Why don't you just admit up front that you are anti-Republican? I am sure that if you had received this same letter from the Democrats you would not be making such an issue of it on the net. As a matter of fact, I have received these letters from Republicans, Democrats, Green Peace, Citizens for Environmental Action, Union of Concerned Scienttists, etc. All these fund-raising letters are alike. The only difference is who they are soliciting for?? Allen England at AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, IL ihnp4!ihuxb!alle
swatt@ittvax.UUCP (Alan S. Watt) (11/22/83)
I second Allen England's comments. You should see the letters I
get from the ACLU ("... greatest attacks on civil liberties in
our history ..."). Occasionally they substitute "unprecedented",
which is an odd slip for lawyers to make; they may be ignorant of
history, but they *should* know that you can find a precedent for
anything.
I find I am much happier about being an ACLU member as long as I
don't have to read their newsletters about what they are doing,
or their funding drive letters. Fortunately, the Post Office
cooperates in this wish by not delivering most of them (serves
them right for using the "not- for-profit" postage class).
It seems that scaring people about some overwhelming evil or
another is the standard tactic for fundraising. Even the local
public radio station falls into it a little bit ("... we may not
be able to continue these wonderful programs unless ...").
My college always tells me how "private education is in great
danger ..." in general, and how they are in greater danger in
particular. Funny that their admitted poverty doesn't lead them
to a reappraisal of their fundraising strategies.
This brings up an interesting question about the attitudes of the
average present-day citizen. Would he/she rather contribute
toward the prevention of some terrible evil, or toward the
enactment of some positive good? Or are the opportunities for
the latter really so much rarer than those for the latter? Or do
people really have a "bunker mentality"?
I don't really know, but I sure am tired of hearing about how I
have to prevent the end of the world by sending just ...
Alan S. (sending me letters won't prevent anything) Watt
{decvax, duke, purdue, allegra, dcdwest}!ittvax!swattesj@ihuxl.UUCP (11/22/83)
Don't forget the United Space Foundation or something in that vein. A letter I received last week had a petition to sign which would be forwarded to Congress & the standard membership choices. At the bottom was a box with the statement "I'm sorry Dr. Gibson, but I cannot even give a small contibution for this vital cause at this time.". Guess which one I checked. ihnp4!ihuxl!esj
rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (11/22/83)
> You are apparently upset over this solicitation only because > you are not currently in favor of the President. Do you > think that Democratic fund-raising letters look or sound (read) > any different?? I don't think that the Democratic fundraising letters have the seal of the President of the United States included with the letter (to give it an air of "authority"?) Rich Rosen pyuxn!rlr -- Rich Rosen pyuxn!rlr
wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (11/22/83)
Rich, I got one of those solicitations from Jimmy Carter's campaign headquarters the last time around, and I never voted for they guy. These things are just another example of what Babbage hath wrote(sp). Don't let it upset you, I can just bet that you will be getting many more of them before this time next year. They all say just about the same thing. However, we all tend to gloss over the ones we agree with and to attack the ones we don't agree with. I gave up years ago lugging my soapbox around whenever I read some campaign junk I didn't agree with. Sending out mailings under the Presidential Seal started with Roosevelt and has been going on since. Just take it for what it is from whomever it comes from, a hand trying to get into your pocket for money.
preece@uicsl.UUCP (11/24/83)
#R:cwruecmp:-79600:uicsl:16300035:000:336 uicsl!preece Nov 23 11:11:00 1983 Actually, I was happy to get one of those 'invitations' from the Republicans, cause it gave me a good opportunity to send them my pithy comments on their motives, their President, and their Senate at their own expense. I never miss a chance to cost the Republicans that $.20 (soon to be $.23). scott preece ihnp4!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece
renner@uiucdcs.UUCP (renner ) (11/24/83)
#R:cwruecmp:-79600:uiucdcs:29200045:000:324
uiucdcs!renner Nov 24 02:05:00 1983
/***** uiucdcs:net.politics / pyuxn!rlr / 7:54 pm Nov 22, 1983 */
I don't think that the Democratic fundraising letters have the
seal of the President of the United States included with the letter
(to give it an air of "authority"?)
/* ---------- */
Not this year, they don't.
Scott Renner
{pur-ee,ihnp4}!uiucdcs!renner