07-25-2009, 12:10 AM
rjmacs wrote: Actually, the reason that many of these non-profits can't allow you to deduct your contributions has nothing to do with profit, but with the fact that the groups soliciting funds use your money for lobbying Congress. Political contributions are not tax deductible, but that doesn't make the groups "for-profit."
But when you look up their business license and it says "for profit"...
Personally, i treat these folks with respect, as though they were fellow human beings trying to live and thrive. If i don't have time and money to share, i say that and move on. Canvassers are not the embodiment of the groups they represent - they are often young and/or poor folks who are working a tough job. I guess i'm slower to anger than a lot of people here, but i see the person first and hear the annoying pitch second. It brings me no joy or satisfaction to make these people feel bad, or to try to teach them a lesson or change their behavior.
That sounds like the ideal viewpoint, but I can't seem to master that myself. It bothers me when people don't bother to do the footwork. They think they're doing good, when really they're being taken advantage of and they are trying to take advantage of others by perpetuating a lie.
I tend to look at results. What are they actually doing? It tires me when people say "they're good people" yet they are doing bad by scamming people.