Originally Posted by KyleMcGuire1983 (Post 1595322)

For the record 20 years later San Francisco is hundreds of millions of dollars in debt! How do you do that in such short time?

Originally Posted by PhiGam (Post 1595330)

Liberal local governments have problems keeping their spending in check.

Originally Posted by ladygreek (Post 1595089)

Hmmmm, interesting. We have cities campaigning to get our regional conference and national convention business, and convention bureaus wine and dine our national board. In fact, not only do they give us good discount rates on hotel rooms, convention center meeting rooms, etc., but in a couple of cases cities have donated thousands of dollars to our org. for choosing them. For example, Philly gave us a check for $25,000 to compensate for any added expenses due to it being controlled by unions.

The reason? We are known to drop mucho dollars at our national and regional meetings. In 1988, we spent so much money in San Francisco that they were able to retire their city debt.

The NPHC frats get even deeper discounts from hotels, because of the money they spend in the hotel bars. LOL

Originally Posted by MysticCat (Post 1595337)

So do conservative federal governments, so the bulk of the last 7 years would seem to indicate.

Originally Posted by Day13 (Post 1595077)

Yeah, it is just like that saying, "Looking in they will never understand, looking out you will never be able to explain," or however it goes. I'll tell you a story about discrimination for being Greek.

When we went into a hotel for our Officer's Retreat we had already put a $50 deposit on the bedrooms and on the conference room that we would be using for the majority of the day under our fraternity name.

The lady at the desk then asked for us to prepay for the rest of our stay and for it to be in cash. We looked at each other and said, "Well $300 is kind of a large money to carry in cash." We stepped back from the desk and assessed the situation while an older couple walked up and got their keys with just a credit card.

We then decided to say well we already put down $50 lets go ahead and just stay. So the lady then told us she needed to photocopy our driver licenses to give us hotel keys.

At this point we became upset and asked for an explanation of their policies and some written proof that this is how they conduct business. The manager came out and said they don't have a written policy but this is how they conduct business when they have people who they "feel iffy" about in their hotel.

Needless to say, we went to a different hotel that day. On a side note I told my mother about the story later and she said, "Well Mr. 'White male' welcome to discrimination. This is what goes on with people everyday."

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 1595129)

If this is the attitude you have about this man's business, it's pretty pricklike of you to expect him to donate money to your cause. Plus, I'm guessing he would have expected to have his name displayed as a benefactor in some way, either on a program or on a t-shirt or something, and then your fraternity's name would have been associated with his "horrible" business.

Originally Posted by scoobis (Post 1595707)

Pricklike? I went into his business because an alumnus gave me a list of businesses who've donated in the past. I didn't expect him to donate, I don't expect anyone to, i just hope people have the decency and means to be able to help.

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 1595716)

You are really missing the point.

Originally Posted by MysticCat (Post 1595729)

I don't know that he is the one missing the point. I didn't take his initial "you're selling cancer" remark as an indication that he found the business "repugnant," but rather just as a comment on the perceived irony of someone who sells tobacco worrying about having his business associated with alcohol. The man had given in the past, and the OP said he remained polite in asking this time, even when he was treated rudely. How is that pricklike?

BTW, I hate Walmart too, but I wouldn't hesitate to ask them for money if I thought they might give and it would benefit the community.

Originally Posted by MysticCat (Post 1595729)

BTW, I hate Walmart too, but I wouldn't hesitate to ask them for money if I thought they might give and it would benefit the community.

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS (Post 1595744)

But that has more to do with what "hating" a business entails. If a business is unhumane, harmful, has discriminatory practices, and so forth, I can understand organizations not wanting to solicit or receive their "dirty money." It's almost like selling out because some businesses will donate if they know they will get free advertising or recognition for contributing.

Originally Posted by ladygreek (Post 1595089)

In 1988, we spent so much money in San Francisco that they were able to retire their city debt.

Originally Posted by KyleMcGuire1983 (Post 1595322)

For the record 20 years later San Francisco is hundreds of millions of dollars in debt! How do you do that in such short time?

Originally Posted by PhiGam (Post 1595330)

Liberal local governments have problems keeping their spending in check.

Originally Posted by MysticCat (Post 1595337)

So do conservative federal governments, so the bulk of the last 7 years would seem to indicate.

Originally Posted by MysticCat (Post 1595729)

I don't know that he is the one missing the point. I didn't take his initial "you're selling cancer" remark as an indication that he found the business "repugnant," but rather just as a comment on the perceived irony of someone who sells tobacco worrying about having his business associated with alcohol. The man had given in the past, and the OP said he remained polite in asking this time, even when he was treated rudely. How is that pricklike?

BTW, I hate Walmart too, but I wouldn't hesitate to ask them for money if I thought they might give and it would benefit the community.

Originally Posted by skylark (Post 1595769)

I took his comment the same way. It's like the pot calling the kettle black sort of thing. I certainly don't have a problem with tobacco or cigar shops, but if a business owner of one of those shops tried to act all altruistic about not wanting to promote substance abuse by minors... I'd absolutely feel the need to call out a hypocrite.