Because I am still working, I can afford to make the occasional hundred dollar contribution to political and social causes. In another 12 days that will be less true. But even after I retire at the end of May, I will continue to send $25/month to Doctors without Borders.
I get regular emails from Doctors without Borders asking for additional contributions, but I will wait and see how my retirement budget is working for me before adding to that. It is the political emails I want to talk about today.
If I give fifty dollars, I am almost instantly asked to give a hundred. If I give to one candidate, then suddenly candidates from all over the country are asking for money. And so many of the emails insult my intelligence. Like the 'surveys' that end with a pitch for money, and don't provide a way to submit the survey unless a contribution is entered.
Then there is "If we can get 100 people to give $100 by midnight then we will be able to do (fill in the blank) and they are talking about an election 6 months away when there isn't even a declared candidate. I will continue to contribute to political and social causes that seem worthy, in amounts that are within my means. But here's the caveat, if you are treating me like an idiot, and behaving like a con man, then I will be treating you like a con man.
