What the fuck is this? We’re a not-for-profit, and people can donate to the United Way and earmark stuff for us. Well, I got this lovely gem in the mail today (link to my Photobucket page).
If you can’t read it, it has questions like:
[ul]
[li] This Organization is not on any federal terrorism “watch lists”. Comply/Do Not Comply[/li][li] This Organization does not, will not and has not knowingly provided financial, technical, or other material support or resources to any individual or entity that is a terrorist organization. Comply/Do Not Comply[/li][li] This Organization takes reasonable, affirmative steps to ensure that any funds or resources distributed or processed do not fund terrorism or terrorist organizations. Comply/Do Not Comply[/li]
[/ul]
What really blows my mind is they think we’ll check “Do Not Comply” on any of them. We work for the health of preemie babies, so we’re certainly not into any terrorist stuff, but if we were, would it be prudent to check it on a form? I dunno.
It’s a little known fact that terrorists, apart from being murdering scum, are honest to a fault. That’s why they don’t put bombs in airplane suitcases any more – they kept getting caught by the questions at the ticket counter:
“Has your luggage been in your control since you packed it?”
“No, my friend John had it for a few hours while he put a bomb in there.”
Even evasive terror suspects will crack if you force them to look you in the eye and tell you to your face.
Long long ago, when radio was called ‘wireless’, there was a BBC presenter called Gilbert Harding, who did not suffer fools gladly. He needed to apply for a visa to USA. This was the time soon after the Second World War, when there was great fear of communist subversion. One of the questions on the visa application read, “Do you plan to attempt to overthrow the Government of the United States by force?” Harding wrote, “Sole purpose of visit.” And got his visa.
Apparently then, our country was founded by traitors and seditionists (?).
“A patriot supports his nation all the time, and supports his government when it is deserved.”
-Mark Twain
“The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
Thomas Jefferson
“While the people have property, arms in their hands, and only a spark of nobilie spirit, the most corrupt Congress must be mad to form any project of tyranny.”
Fayetteville NC Gazette 10-12-1789 - Rev. Nicholas Collin
That would be a bad idea. As with the loyalty question from bygone days that I posted above, not answering can have as dire consequences as answering wrong. If one chooses not to answer, one should first be fully aware of the ramifications.
Did it come by registered mail?
Did you have to sign for it?
If the answer to the above is “no”, trash it.
If somebody asks later, say: “What?”
End of story.
It’s just something they could nail you for if they didn’t have enough evidence of terrorism - just like getting Al Capone for tax evasion, they could get you for perjury.
Stupidity seems to be deeply ingrained in the government. It learned nothing from the Communist witch hunt of the 50s, even though the loyalty oath netted them not a single Communist. Now they’re at it again. If you lie they do what, take away your library card? The same old argument applies – terrorists won’t answer the question truthfully and loyal citizens shouldn’t have to answer it at all. But if you are surprised by morons in the government you haven’t looked at the White House or Congress lately.
I’m going to send it higher up the chain of command. That way it can be on someone else’s head to answer it or not. Nice thing about not having a lot of responsibility, is, you don’t have a lot of responsibility!
From United Way. They also sent a list of people who donated to us and want to be thanked by letter, which is normal. It was this weird thing on top that threw me.
Anyone with prolonged exposure to the INS/USCIS paperwork has been filled with an overwhelming urge to be a smart-alec. Then you recall the general humour level in the people you’ve met when dealing with said bureaucracy, and that somehow puts a damper on it.
The USCIS’ venerable from I-485 - filed by every Green Card holder you’ll ever meet - has gems like:
Do you intend to engage in the United States in:[ul]
[li]espionage ?[/li][li]any activity a purpose of which is opposition to, or the control or overthrow of, the government of the United States, by force, violence or other unlawful means ?[/li][/ul] - or:
Do you plan to practice polygamy in the United States ?
or:
Have you ever knowingly committed a crime of moral turpitude or a drug-related offese for which you have not been arrested ?
It stumps you at first. Then, after the first 25 or so forms, the novelty wears off - you just check the damn boxes, attach yet another 20 pages of supporting documents (plus 4 photos, showing the right ear, and one cheque per form, in the correct amount) and ship off your forms in the hope that they’ll end up somewhere near the correct desk.
I assume the real point is simply to require a certification that the money isn’t going to terrorism. This may count as United Way’s own reasonable efforts in the same direction. It also might give the government additional power to hold or prosecute someone funding terrorism if they can’t meet some element of the actual crime. Finally, it requires a human person to sign something, meaning that they may have individual liability if they signed it falsely.
Oh, an Annmika, if you never take Bosda’s advice, it’ll be too soon.
