PTA wealth redistribution article in Arlnow

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

Why is that?

[Anonymous]

My favorites part of the article is the map. It shows that the wealthiest PTAs are actually central Arlington. Absent Jamestown this is actually true. Glebe et al like to profess how middle class they are. But their PTAs are richer than McKinley, Tuckahoe etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

Why is that?

Not this poster, but why would I donate if the funds aren’t going to benefit my child? I already pay taxes to help everyone else.

I agree with the person above though. We are going to see a big drop in donations anyway, as many of the truly wealthy have already left APS for private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

Why is that?

Because the PTA is a vehicle for parent interaction with and influence over relatively small, but “community” oriented things at your child’s school. It is not yet another vehicle for tedious leftists with excess time on their hands to coerce the rest of us into funding their vanity projects. You want to donate to a lowly South Arlington school? I’m sure they will welcome your check. Sally Joe the SAHM who preaches racial justice and hasn’t a single black friend is not entitled to spend my money as she sees fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

This topic comes up from time to time and the response above is what we hear from our big donors. People are ultimately too selfish to make this work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

This topic comes up from time to time and the response above is what we hear from our big donors. People are ultimately too selfish to make this work.

Not selfish. It’s not like we don’t already pay taxes to fund the essentials.

Should I go cry because someone else has more than me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

This topic comes up from time to time and the response above is what we hear from our big donors. People are ultimately too selfish to make this work.

Not selfish. It’s not like we don’t already pay taxes to fund the essentials.

Should I go cry because someone else has more than me?

Too selfish and frequently a dick.

[Anonymous]

So Prop 13 for PTA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

This topic comes up from time to time and the response above is what we hear from our big donors. People are ultimately too selfish to make this work.

Excuse me, no. Selfishness has nothing to do with it. We are absolutely “one percenters” as far as charitable donations go, and I’m reasonably confident that we contribute more money to charities than most of those pushing for this PTA thing.

But charities are charities. We decide where our money goes and evaluate the recipients. The PTA is an organization that is intended to serve a particular purpose at our school. The handful of volunteers or activists mobilizing for this don’t get to arrogate to themselves the right to disperse money elsewhere, based on their own values, and then guilt trip or socially blackmail the rest of us into going along. (Curiously, all the while with their own names in the paper.)

If our pool decides to take 30% of dues and contribute it to swimming programs for low income areas, I’d be against that as well. That doesn’t mean the programs aren’t worthwhile. I might well donate to them if asked, and if I thought the initiative was worthwhile and well run. But that’s not the mission of the pool. Every vehicle for civic or community engagement isn’t going to just become some liberal redistribution program by default.

[Anonymous]

I don't know. I don't give to our PTA because they really just don't need it all that much. It's fluff.

Now I could see myself in a situation of collective action giving to a district-wide PTA that was shared equitably, because those dollars have a higher impact for some schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

This topic comes up from time to time and the response above is what we hear from our big donors. People are ultimately too selfish to make this work.

Excuse me, no. Selfishness has nothing to do with it. We are absolutely “one percenters” as far as charitable donations go, and I’m reasonably confident that we contribute more money to charities than most of those pushing for this PTA thing.

But charities are charities. We decide where our money goes and evaluate the recipients. The PTA is an organization that is intended to serve a particular purpose at our school. The handful of volunteers or activists mobilizing for this don’t get to arrogate to themselves the right to disperse money elsewhere, based on their own values, and then guilt trip or socially blackmail the rest of us into going along. (Curiously, all the while with their own names in the paper.)

If our pool decides to take 30% of dues and contribute it to swimming programs for low income areas, I’d be against that as well. That doesn’t mean the programs aren’t worthwhile. I might well donate to them if asked, and if I thought the initiative was worthwhile and well run. But that’s not the mission of the pool. Every vehicle for civic or community engagement isn’t going to just become some liberal redistribution program by default.

I'm not saying you SHOULD donate to the CCPTA - I'm just explaining that you (and others) only want to donate to your own kid's school.

Yes - thank you for providing more detail on the rational behind the selfishness.

[Anonymous]

That you equated a pool with a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, won’t happen. People can donate to any school. There’s nothing stopping anyone from writing a check to Randolph or Carlin Springs. If people really cared they would already be doing it.

I totally disagree. This is the reason we have public policy. I could drive all my recycling to the correct drop-off place, but I'm not going to. But put a bin at my curb, and I will do my part. Some people will donate less to their PTA's but I bet the decline overall would be small. Most people would support this idea. Saying people don't support it because they aren't already doing it is ridiculous. It's just not true or how humans work.

Read the ArlNow anonymous comments. You’re a fool if you think most people will support this. If my dollars aren’t going to my kid’s school, I’ll keep my money and spend it on enrichment outside of school.

Agreed. We have donated a lot to our PTA and been large spenders at auctions. I will donate and spend $0 in the future if this is implemented.

This topic comes up from time to time and the response above is what we hear from our big donors. People are ultimately too selfish to make this work.

Excuse me, no. Selfishness has nothing to do with it. We are absolutely “one percenters” as far as charitable donations go, and I’m reasonably confident that we contribute more money to charities than most of those pushing for this PTA thing.

But charities are charities. We decide where our money goes and evaluate the recipients. The PTA is an organization that is intended to serve a particular purpose at our school. The handful of volunteers or activists mobilizing for this don’t get to arrogate to themselves the right to disperse money elsewhere, based on their own values, and then guilt trip or socially blackmail the rest of us into going along. (Curiously, all the while with their own names in the paper.)

If our pool decides to take 30% of dues and contribute it to swimming programs for low income areas, I’d be against that as well. That doesn’t mean the programs aren’t worthwhile. I might well donate to them if asked, and if I thought the initiative was worthwhile and well run. But that’s not the mission of the pool. Every vehicle for civic or community engagement isn’t going to just become some liberal redistribution program by default.

I'm not saying you SHOULD donate to the CCPTA - I'm just explaining that you (and others) only want to donate to your own kid's school.

Yes - thank you for providing more detail on the rational behind the selfishness.

Whatever dude. Go protest in the quad. You’re a typical smug activist, happy to spend others’ money while also calling them names. And I’m drop dead certain I give more money away to charitable causes than you do—including LMI schools and charter programs. The fact that you don’t just get a blank check written by others to distribute for your own self-aggrandizement really grates on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That you equated a pool with a school.

Logic fail. PTA is not a school.