some of the reactions to this situation--a mini-doughnut operator whose proceeds go to minnesota dfl, the state's democratic party--strike me as over the top but the basic message of the reaction against it is legitimate: if a party is operating a booth for the expressed benefit of a political or religious or social group, the customer has a right to know up front that is where his money will go. while it's commendable that the booth's volunteers were instructed to tell people if they asked, there ought to be a sign or some other indication. it's only fair: a republican-benefitting organization ought to be expected to do so, as should be a business like domino's pizza whose founder tom monaghan donated part of his profits to groups like word of god and operation rescue. (that the dominos corporation has addressed this issue at all is a mark in its favor.)
there is a difference when private citizens like you and me donate our money to causes--there's no reason for other people to know if I've written checks to help keep the oath keepers or nambla in the black unless I'm soliciting funds from other people do it. those other people have every right to know what their money is helping support, not because their consent is somehow needed but because simple honesty and transparency should rule the transaction. solicitating funds is what grandstand mini donuts has done and why there should be a notification somewhere alerting customers what their money is supporting. it kills me to say such a thing, but in this instance republican rep laura brod and her allies are on the side of the angels.
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