Where do we put our efforts and money?

[TruthBeTold65]

I hope this is not completely of the realm of this forum as it actually crosses over a 2-3 types of issues...

I watched a documentary this weekend called "The Party's Over" by Phillip Seymour Hoffman about the 2000 Presidential Election. Quite telling about how far we have NOT come since then.

Anyway, during the film, Mr. Hoffman mingles within the crowds inside and outside of the convention centers for each party. Inside everyone is saying the same things...meaning both the republicans and democrats say they want the same exact things. Outside the centers are the disenfrancised, the "many" splintered groups covering just about every cause and disfunction in America.

This reminded me of a quandry I have had for a couple of years regarding atheism but also my political capital (if I have any) that I would like to direct to specific points to make the best impact on the conversation and "lift" to the cause(s).

I honestly am disgusted with how fractured everything really is when it comes to directing funds/efforts to causes that are worthy. To get an idea of what I am talking about, go to Google and type in "cancer donation fund". Look at how many come up. It is ridiculous...not the cause but just the way you go about donating to a cause.

I then go back and think about why do we have to direct money to these funds via individual donations?? For certain causes, since they affect almost all Americans and/or the human race, shouldn't we fund these things through our taxes?? Maybe we do though obviously not very well.

Anyway, I am sure none of that will be changing anytime soon so in the meantime, what do people think about how to direct donations towards atheist causes and political causes aimed at countering the affect of religion on our political system?? Or, do we need something that brings us together so that our group does not appear fractured like the many others out there?? Say, an over-arching political group?? If there is one already, how can we help to spread the word??

[trotsky]

1. I honestly don't know what the answer is.

Because, quite frankly, we non-believers ARE an incredibly fractured group. We share nothing more than a lack of belief in gods. Many non-believers don't even care much about state-church separation issues - the one political topic you'd think we'd be nearly unanimous on.

I think there have been a few attempts to do what you are envisioning - American Atheists formed the Godless Americans PAC. Try searching on that to see what they're up to and if you think that might be a good place for your donations.

I prefer to keep my contributions local, but I can understand other approaches.

[laconicsax]

2. Incredibly fractured doesn't even come close to describing it.

Non-believer (or whatever label you like to use) is a granfalloon.

[2ndAmForComputers]

3. Butbutbut that's impossible! It's a RELIGION!

They must surely be playing coy until they'll all jump on us and implant chips in our foreheads and forbid us from buying food unless we say "Hail Satan!"

[Manifestor_of_Light]

4. Many U-Us are atheists and agnostics.

They worship the Giver of Life-- The Coffeepot.



(Could not resist, been a Unitarian for over 30 years)