I'm afraid that this poor dupe is the one who is out of step with mainstream America. Obviously he's never been out of the blue zone.
Posted on 03/13/2002 12:43:21 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Several anti-gun groups claimed victory over National Rifle Association on Tuesday, after H&R Block, the tax preparation company, severed a marketing agreement with NRA.
However, H&R Block wouldn't confirm or deny any change in policy, and NRA accused the anti-gun groups of misleading people.
H&R Block, as part of a marketing campaign promoted in NRA membership magazines, said it would make a contribution to the NRA for every member who becomes a new H&R Block customer.
"The termination of this agreement is a tremendous victory for everyone who was outraged that a reputable business like H&R Block would support an extremist organization like the NRA," said Michael Barnes, president of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
But NRA said the Brady news release was misleading. "H&R Block has cut ties with all interest groups and not singularly the NRA. This isn't a victory for gun control groups as the Brady Campaign would like people to believe," said Kelly Whitley, NRA spokesperson, in an interview with CNSNews.com.
"Other interest groups will no longer be part of this program with H&R Block. These [anti-gun] groups should do some more research before they mislead the public," Whitley said.
"Alliance for Justice" President Nan Aron said: "Let this send a loud message to other corporate partners of the NRA. If you support the NRA, we will work to make sure that your employees, customers, and all of your stakeholders know that you support an extremist gun lobby that is out of step with mainstream America."
H&R Block did not return several phone calls seeking comment. The company's Web site did not contain announcements indicating any change in policy with NRA or other charitable organizations.
Dear Ms. McDougall,
I was recently informed that the marketing agreement your firm had made with the NRA was to be terminated. I would submit to you, that this is a strategic mistake.
Contrary to what anti-gun lobbyists would like you to believe, the majority of the citizens of the United States of America ***do*** own firearms, and support the 2nd Amendment. As with the rabid environmentalist activists, only a very small percentage of the population actually ascribe to the anti-gun agenda.
Hidden in the rhetoric that groups such as the "Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence" is the fact that more guns in the hands of ***Law-abiding*** citizens REDUCES crime. This is not opinion, but scientifically documented, well-established fact. If you wish, I can direct you to the studies, and you can examine this fact for yourself.
Finally, most normal people, while they may not be active members of the NRA, ***do*** believe in our Constitutional rights. I find it ironic, that the "Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence" would label ***any*** group that supports our rights as an "extremist organization." Why is it, that a group that is so rabidly anti-2nd amendment be so reliant on the 1st Amendment? Are those who defend the right to free speech ALSO to be described as "extremist?"
The disconnect of logic is staggering. But, since the anti-gun groups are impervious to logic, I would suggest your firm ignore them. Since they do NOT display rational behavior, and definitely DO ***NOT*** represent mainstream America, the threats by said groups to not use the services of your firm, will be more than offset by the loss of revenues your firm will face, should you cave in to their demands.
Since the marketing agreement has now been made public, the negative publicity resulting from your withdrawal from said agreement will be more harmful than if your firm stays the course, and tells the anti-gun groups to get lost...
At this time in our society (post 9/11), the anti-America agenda is effectively dead. Patriotism, a rememberance of our nations' values, and the willingness of normal Americans to stand up to the anti-Constitution, anti-America crowd... Are all at the highest (I would guess) since the end of WWII. It is a good marketing strategy to exploit those sentiments, rather than let a few 60's rejects dictate the policies of your firm.
Best regards,
(Capitalist) Eric W...
email @...
Comments?
I'm afraid that this poor dupe is the one who is out of step with mainstream America. Obviously he's never been out of the blue zone.
Some things are still and H&R block is like that Miss Cleo thang......just a scam IMHO.
But with the amount of taxes we still have to pay is anything really FREE ? Screw H&R Block and their white bread we don't want to be associated with anything but money attitude.........
Stay Safe !
However, I think that we do need to let their stockholders, employees, and customers, know that H&R Block does NOT support the Bill of Rights. Let's see how many Americans want to do business with a company that drops their tie to the nation's oldest civil rights organization because radical anti-civil rights groups asked them to.
Seems to me that Kmart found out that it isn't good business to be opposed to civil rights. H&R Block needs to get the same lesson.
What a bunch of losers!
Are we going to be faced with one or two of these a week, I wonder, as part of somebody's grand scheme? This follows very closely on Dell's problems.
A number of organizations interpreted this agreement in a way that had H&R Block taking a particular side of a social issue - something our company does not do. Therefore, we are ending the agreement to remove ourselves from a debate we don't belong in and to prevent any outside group from using H&R Block to promote their agenda.
I think there are a lot of companies that are observing the power of the boycott - or at least the power of the publicity that surrounds one. H&R Block is simply saying that they don't want to be used by anyone, and that they want to stay the heck out of socio-political issues. I really can't say I blame them. It can quickly turn into a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't scenario. More companies should take a similar tack, IMHO.
(How ya doin'??)
Sign the petition and fax 'em!
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