and such. And address labels. So every organization which has received funds (meager) from me gnaw like a dog on a bone. Thank you, MSF, for world maps to keep me informed of natural and American-made disasters. In some order, natural then American-made?

Meanwhile, my local elementary school has lead levels in the water that are unacceptable. 1960's building. My kids went there, and I'll bet drank water twice from the now-bagged or taped drinking fountains. That school district is Appalachia-poor on one side and Cornell faculty-rich on the other.

...... if we'd give up the roughly 85% of our standing military that we don't need. We don't need to be the world's unpaid policeman, and we flatly need to start spending our money and our national governmental attention -- all of it -- at home, internally.

But, of course, that would mean the end of the AmeriKKKan Empire; we mustn't even think about that.

This is what the GOP want ALL charity to be. Especially if one is of the human species. Then, they can express their biases with their bucks, funding only those causes which they personally approve. Dogs and cats will always get more from them than will the destitute and the children.

I didn't mind supporting a charity or two I believed in, back when I was actually making enough money to make a monthly contribution. But the upshot for any of them is to check them out, then check them out some more. Many of them send precious little on to the "charity work" they're suppose to be supporting, and instead use most incoming monies on administrative costs - including high exec salaries. Some are flat-out cons.

I am in agreement with you about most of these veteran's "charities" I see advertise. And, Wounded Warriors, in particular was singled out for how little actually goes to vets and how much for salaries and marketing the charity. Another group that's just as bad is all these Sheriff's and Law Enforcement charities. You get on a list with them and you CAN NOT get off, no matter how many times you issue a complaint.

St. Judes, BTW... has called for donations for as long as I can remember. However, there used to be a single time of year when most reputable ones made their requests (usually around Easter - Easter Seals, Muscular Dystrophy, St. Jude's, etc.) and that was pretty much it for the year.

IMO, there's a confluence of issues causing them to run as many ads as possible these days. First, any funding they got from Fed or State charity giving is gone; second, large donations that once made up their bulk of funding is instead going toward "political speech" rather than philanthropy in many cases. Add in all those who can't afford to be treated - whether or not they have insurance - and there's a perfect storm of need. Much the same way as the local food pantries are trying desperately to stay open and stocked.

I did have one rule I tried to follow back in the day. Give nationally or globally... but also give locally. For me, it was always the ASPCA. But I also bought extra dog or cat food and took it to local rescues for donation, as well as being a rescuer, myself. Think globally, act locally. (shrug)