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On Tue, 1 Jun 1999, Dave Long wrote:
>
> When I was an undergrad, we discussed sending a check for a trivial amount to
> one's least favorite of the {Democratic,Republican} National Committee. The
> idea was that not only might they expend an inordinate amount of labor on
> processing the payment, but if one got on the records as an actual donor,
> they'd expend even more in the future attempting to extract more funds.
>
> I have learned two things since then:
>
> 1) One doesn't have to have donated: political parties will routinely attempt
> to touch one's pocket if they have but a glimmer of hope of shared interests.
> (no doubt to earn the postage and salaries with which to solicit yet more...)
>
> 2) Even if you've donated merely a small sum, it has to be recorded: the
> reporting limits for donors might be hit by the accumulation of several small
> donations.
>
> I hope parties can decline donations, so as to avoid having to match up
> records for "Geo. H. Qwerty, Underwater Basket Weaver: $5" with "G. Hbar
> Qwerty, submarine basketry: $5", etc.
>
> -Dave
>
>