It’s always interesting to receive fundraising letters from politicians and political groups. Over the years, I’ve probably received just about every type of fundraising letter imaginable, asking me to donate to their cause, to help elect them, or to save America from this group or that group.

Just the other day, I received a fundraising letter from the Republican National Committee (RNC) with a “census” survey included. They proudly told me that I was just one of a few who was receiving the survey. They included a four page letter. Four page letters don’t sit well with me. I think a one or two page letter is best. I read the survey and found this part to be quite funny:

Nope, I won’t be sending the RNC any money, nor will I send you $11 dollars to cover the cost of something I did not request. The third answer, “No, I favor electing liberal Democrats over the next ten years” made me laugh out loud. So thanks RNC for making me smile, but the whole survey and letter went into the trash.

After reading this part, I think I understand just a little better why politicians and political parties are despised so much these days. One has to wonder if the folks who think up these ideas have half a brain, or if they have ever actually had a job outside of the Washington, D.C.

Not to be outdone, Howard Dean of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) sent me an e-mail he called, “An Important Decision” with this message:

As of this month, the Democratic National Committee no longer accepts donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.

We’re joining the campaign of our presumptive nominee, Barack Obama, in setting a new standard for a people-powered politics.

A new standard? Hardly. You’ll get your money from PACs and lobbyists one way or the other:

But we face a crucial financial reporting deadline on Monday night, which will be the first test of the financial consequences of this decision.

Please make a donation of $25 now to show that our party is at its best when it’s powered by ordinary people giving whatever they can afford.

Sorry Howard, but I can’t really help it if the deadline is June 30 and you are short on cash.

The RNC and DNC really have no idea what is going on in America. If they did, they would understand that most of us are using the money that we might have donated to them to fill up our cars with $4.00 gas or buy food. Maybe some of us are saving our hard-earned dollars to purchase some fireworks for the Fourth of July.

At least we’d get a better bang for our bucks that way.