My recurring frustration with progressive calls for action.

I'm really getting tired of progressive organizations sending me emails with disturbing headlines, colorful call to action links and THIS: No links to any independent information that would allow me to really understand whether the organization's claim is true. If the problem concerns pending legislation, send me a link to the legislation so that I can verify the problem myself. If the claim is the supposed existence of a dangerous food or drug, send me a link to a neutral site so that I can go read about the alleged problem myself. I am not persuaded by circular links back to your own unsubstantiated claims -- I don't care how many times YOU make the claim on your own pages. I want reassurance that it is true before I take any action at all. I'm not going to write to Congress just because you give me a scary headline and tell me to. I sympathize with many (not all) progressive causes, but I will never simply take it on faith that I need to write my Congressional reps just because an organization tells me to (even an organization that has been somewhat credible in the past). Do you hear me, Move-On, and all you others out there? Do you think that your followers are stupid? sheep? Stupid sheep? Come on. If you've got a legitimate cause that needs attention, provide us with the means to independently verify your claims. For many years, I've seen this tactic used in many right-right calls to action. For example I receive link-less material such as "Click here to write your representatives because OUR public schools won't allow students to voluntarily pray at recess!!" It's a shame to see this tactic spreading to so many progressive organizations, however. It is a disreputable tactic meant for people without brains.

Continue ReadingMy recurring frustration with progressive calls for action.