Missing Link

There are very few days when I get to the office and find myself genuinely surprised. Usually when that happens it’s because sometime during the 20 minutes it takes me to get here in the morning something broke, crashed or otherwise blew up and I’ve got to fix it. Those are usually never good days. Today, I got into my office and found a piece of paper on my desk. It was a fax. I NEVER get faxes. The top identified it as from the Business Advisory Council / National Republican Congressional Committee, and the body of the message read simply:

John,

I want to follow-up on the message left today by Kevin Ulrich. We are looking forward to presenting you with the National Leadership Award and to having you on board as an Honorary Chairman from Indiana.

We are finalizing an official press release announcing your selection so pleaes call as soon as possible. Thank you!

Tom Cole, M.C.

NRCC Chairman

The voicemail that was also left for me was similar. I have to admit, while I was rather curious about it I also was quite skeptical. Part of my mind kept saying “this has GOT to be bogus!” I called the number, mostly to figure out what the hell is going on. They answered, I told them about the message, and that I was instructed to call. They looked up my name, and talked to me about the award, that I’d be invited to the Presidents Dinner in DC, get a framed award to hang on my wall, a gavel, and other stuff, and that as an honorary chairman I’d be asked to participate in policy metings of the business advisory council in Washington. I have to admit, it did sound kinda cool, but I was biding my time listening and waiting for the catch. It didn’t take long. They then informed me of their media campaign to kick off everything, how it’d have full page ads in the Wall Street Journal and other major publications, radio ads, etc. Then I was asked the question I had been expecting from the start: “Can you contribute $500 for this campaign?” *Poof* all my visions of going to Washington and trying to make a difference vanished in the blink of an eye. I politely told them I couldn’t, at the moment, really afford to divert money to that. They said they understood, and that it wasn’ a problem, and then got off the phone. They didn’t really say “we retract our offer of this award”, but I kind of got the sense that that was what was happening.This whole thing says a lot about how our government works. They butter you up by telling you they’re interested in your thoughts and opinions on small business matters, and that they NEED your help to create better policy and fix broken systems…. but in order to participate you have to help line their pockets.

I’m not sure if that’s even legal, to be honest. Does anyone know if it’s legal to tell someone they won an award, then ask them for a contribution and rescend the award when they don’t contribute? Seems kinda shady to me.

I find it discouraging that our government is set up in such a way that it seems to be the ultimate pyramid scheme. They’re out there soliciting donations from you, telling you at the same time that they’ve recognized you and that you’re doing a great job, etc etc. They try to get you feeling good, so that you’re more likely to give them money. It’s honestly kinda disgusting. It’s shallow and wrong.

It’s kind of funny though, if you go to http://www.businessadvisorycouncil.org/bac_contents/membership/ and click on the “Online Application” it takes you straight to their donation page. Sure you can apply, just give us your credit card and we’ll be more than happy to have you as a member.