The true face of politics as 467,000 jobs were shed

By Mary MacElveen
July 2, 2009

I read in horror the Washington Post column which reported that 467,000 jobs were lost in the month of June: One must wonder if any of these people who lost their jobs care of the inner workings of political organizations? I would bet you any amount of money, they do not. All they care about is how they will feed their families, provide shelter, and oh yes, health care.

For years, I have received emails coming from one political organization and in this case, I choose not to name it. But, I want to clue my readers in the amount of money being asked by this one political organization to those they are asking to attend it. They do so while America suffers and they are not alone, since other organizations will continue to hold pricey fundraisers. Why not ask the email recipients to donate these vast sums of money to food pantries, health clinics instead of any golf-sponsorship?

This is what politics is truly about no matter which party. Do they even care when our jobless rate which presently stands at 9.5 percent will exceed 10 percent as reported by the Washington Post? They say they care in the many emails I receive from them and it boggles the mind how they can have any golf outing when so many are going without food today. I find it repugnant to even circulate this email which states they will have a cocktail and dinner outing when food pantries go bare.

According to the Post: “The nation now has 14.7 million people who are looking for a job but can't find one,” Yet, it is business as usual when it comes to political organizations as they prostrate themselves asking for donations.

I am most assured that the millions who have lost their jobs would love to have brunch on a patio and a fine barbeque lunch as well. Not stated in this email those would be present at this outing. Quite frankly, I do not care when I think of the millions upon millions of Americans that are suffering today.

When you see the press release photos of who is attending various fundraising events, keep in mind images of those standing outside food pantries because this country cannot find it within its will to address the millions who cannot find work. Should the jobless rate continue to rise, know that the two main political parties are stuffing their coffers as they send out emails such as the one below. They will also point the finger of blame at each other instead of coming together to solve this pervasive problem to get Americans back to work.


11:00 AM Registration opens
* brunch served on the bay patio

12:30 PM Golf Shotgun start
* barbecue lunch on the course

5:00 PM Cocktails
6:00 PM Dinner

Individual Golf Tickets $375 per person

Golf Foursomes $1,500
Includes brunch, golf and dinner for four and a tee sign

Tee Sign $150

Driving Range Sponsorship $500

Includes sponsorship recognition

Putting Green Sponsorship $1,000
Includes sponsorship recognition and two dinner tickets

Refreshment Stand Sponsor $1,500
Includes special signage at the various refreshment stands
and two dinner tickets

Brunch Reception Sponsor $5,000

Includes brunch, golf and dinner for four, a tee sign and
prominent recognition as the sponsor of the brunch reception

Dinner Reception Sponsor $10,000
Includes brunch, golf and dinner for eight, two tee signs and
prominent recognition as the sponsor of the dinner reception

By the way, those who did attend this fundraiser dined on steak and lobster as some go without tonight, tomorrow and for the foreseeable future.

Look at the sums of money this one organization was looking for, and then imagine how this money could have been used to feed the hungry in this country. Hunger comes from bread-winners not being able to provide food for their families. This is the true face of politics.

Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net

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