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View Full Version : It's Time for Focus on the Family to Focus on the Finances (and to end the statism)




TheEngineer
09-14-2009, 03:12 PM
Here's an article I wrote on FoF's statism. I hope you all find it interesting:

It's Time for Focus on the Family to Focus on the Finances

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=25166
http://poker.blogtownhall.com/2009/0...finances.thtml

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by RICH MUNY

Continuing financial problems at Focus on the Family have resulted in more job cutbacks within the social conservative organization. The group recently announced a new round of layoffs, this latest one affecting 75 employees. This is expected to bring the number of employees down to 860 employees, from a high of about 1400 in 2002. However, the organization apparently still has plenty of cash to fund an expensive Washington lobbying effort, including a major Focus initiative to try to stop adults from playing online poker in their own homes with their own money.

Focus on the Family typically utilizes a two-pronged approach to achieving its goals. The first prong is the group's ministry. The ministry assists people in choosing of their own free will the path Focus recommends. The second prong is Focus' Congressional and state lobbying, where Focus seeks laws restricting behaviors the group deems immoral, thus using the power of the state to achieve its ends. Sadly, the fact that Focus is laying employees off while doubling-down on lobbying shows a disturbing shift in the direction of the organization. It seems the group now prefers forcing the changes they seek through the power of the federal government over encouraging people to choose the appropriate path.

Regarding the latest round of layoffs, Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger said, "Managers are meeting with their employees, praying with employees. We want to make sure that even after this process, they have a transition package and that's not just about money, but helping them find a new job." This is somewhat kind of Focus, perhaps, but I imagine it’s cold comfort to the families of the laid-off employees who know those salaries are now going to Washington lobbying. One wonders how many would have voluntarily given up their jobs to ensure that Focus had sufficient funding to continue their all-encompassing fight against poker players. As poker players are showing no signs of giving up, one wonders how many years and how much donated money Focus is planning to put into this fight......

TheEngineer
09-14-2009, 04:32 PM
Here's a letter I sent to Focus on the Family a couple of weeks ago:

Subject: Your request for donations

Dear Sir/Madam,

I read your request for donations to cover a "serious budget shortfall" with interest. I am surprised to hear that you feel your organization is having any financial issues. After all, you have plenty of extra money to lobby for federal legislation to stop adults from choosing to play online poker in their own homes with their own money.

If you have enough money to work to give the federal government even more power over our banks and our lives, I must wonder where you could possibly be running short.

May I recommend that you take a better look at your spending before seeking more money? That's what American families do every day.

Best regards,

Rich