How to Tell-a-Phone-y
Tips on how to tell when a caller who claims to represent a grassroots movement is really throwing you a corporate-contrived astroturf pitch:
| You ask: "Where are you located?" You say: "I'm in the middle of dinner. Can I call you back?" You call the toll-free number.
| You ask for more information. They send papers labeled "grassroots effort." |
You ask: "How does this issue affect me?"
The caller says: "This will hurt all consumers in your state!"
You ask: "When I call my senator, what do I say?"
The caller says: "Say that this will hurt all consumers in your state!"
You ask: "What else can I do?"
The caller says: "Write your senator a letter saying that this will hurt all consumers in your state!"
Not every grassroots call is necessarily fake. Just demand details. And remember: The Princeton Dental Resource Center was once sponsored by M&M/Mars to convince the public that candy is good for your teeth. For more information on identifying phony campaigns, consult Mask of Deception: Corporate Front Groups in America, which is available for $15 through Essential Information (a Ralph Nader front group); call (202) 387-8030 or go to www.essential.org
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