[Protagoras]

while it's true the local troop only gets a small percentage, a much larger percentage goes to the national organization.

And what do you get for that from the "national"?

[Bogeygolfer]

You'd be surprised but I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate it. Do you think the national organization of mostly volunteers is jet setting around the globe form convention to convention or perhaps buying outrageous gifts for their loved ones or worse yet donating the hard earned revenue off the backs of little girls to UNICEF and Kofi Annan? National orgs cost money. They provide structure and continuity and a host of intanigibles. They also provide basics like liability insurance for troop leaders, etc. It's a volunteer organization.