​The Non-Profit "Death Penalty" Bill

Donald Trump is a serial offender when it comes to stealing money from charities and nonprofits.  It is a long list, so let's just cite the one affecting funds helping kids with cancer. Now the Congress is mid-way into giving the president-elect the power to destroy any non-profit he wants with HR 9495

It just passed the House with 15 Democrats voting yes.

Without hyperbole, this is an assault on free speech, democracy, decency and contribution. The legislation now goes to the Senate. No non-profit is allowed to support terrorism currently.  To give carte blanche to an administration bent on revenge and reality stars, the power to pick through and defund groups they don't like, is chilling. People must demand that the Senate kills this bill.

We cannot sleepwalk through the next four years.  It is incumbent on all of us to learn/understand and demand that Congress who work for the people it has been said, DO THEIR JOBS. Except for the Trump family and folks like Steve Bannon who steal from their rubes who donate to charity, most people are generous. 

Expanding on Bannon: The founder of this group Build the Wall, went to prison…Bannon was pardoned by Trump for this crime and his next trial will begin when Trump resumes office. Presumably powerful and well positioned people can use just about anything as their personal ATM. Let's be clear, millions of Americans donate to/ believe in/ support and benefit from the myriad of non-profit organizations here. When conservatives want to shortchange services to certain groups, their popular refrain is to let the community and non-government groups provide help. 

Who doesn't give money or time to help others?  Most of us do. In fact, we as a people donated $484.85 billion last year,with $125 annually being the average gift. Review these statistics which show how widespread and deep-seated contribution is here.

Since the US doesn't have universal healthcare, countless people have set up gofundme accounts, begging strangers to help for this or other challenges that are handled by the government in most of the developed countries. Americans also rise up to tragedy. In the aftermath of a mass shooting or devastating and lethal weather, in addition to other calamities.

Next week is Giving Tuesday.  This is not shopping. So please support groups that are doing important and vital work. Of course, people continue to donate all throughout the year.

It might not be your church at first.  Or the local animal shelter or food bank.  OR OR OR. But there is no guarantee when some group you love, respect or need is targeted. First they came for the socialists.  

A handful of people in Congress cannot legislate the good out of the citizenry. The amount of donated dollars proves we have more economic heft than the powerful elite. Shopping locally 6 days each week and then pausing on Tuesday, demonstrates that a growing number of people demand better.

#DSOT