Replies

What a coincidence.
I sent the following back in reply to AOPA (of which I am a member) this morning (no response yet) in reply to their "send money" email:

Can you guarantee me that not a dollar of my money will go to a Democrat, regardless of his or her position on general aviation?

I will give up flying, and you should too, before I help you enable a Democrat who will vote a party line to institute policy that will ultimately make the exercise of the privilege to fly impossible because they've taken all my money in taxes.

Michael E. Thompson
Austin, TX, USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "AOPAPresident@aopa.org"
To: grobdriver@yahoo.com
Sent: Wed, September 22, 2010 6:12:26 AM
Subject: Critical! No pilot can afford this!

Dear Michael,
The November 2nd 2010 elections are only 41 days away. Voters will go to the polls to elect and re-elect candidates who will determine the future of your freedom to fly.

We have just 41 days to raise the money that will mean the difference between victory and defeat for AOPA's allies in Congress.

By raising this money, AOPA's PAC can make valuable last-minute contributions to the campaigns of 123 Congressmen and 31 Senators who are facing re-election and serve in the Congressional General Aviation Caucus. The money you and I raise will help them buy the ads, hold the rallies, and organize the volunteers who will turn out their voters and secure the victory on Election Day.

Our allies are fighting for their political lives. If you and I can help them win their campaigns today, they'll help us win fights tomorrow. When Congress reconvenes in January, you and I will be thrown into the middle of fights over:

Airspace use
ATC procedures,
Weather service modernization
Pilot medical records
Security
FAA funding
Avgas regulations to name just a few.

With just 41 days remaining until Election Day, your contribution is an essential investment to make sure that air safety remains a top priority, and that Congress doesn't treat you as a cash cow to be milked through fees and regulations.

Thank you very much for your support of AOPA, your friendship to me and your loyalty to our shared ideals. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Craig L. Fuller
President and CEO

Our allies are fighting for their political lives.

and

...to make sure that air safety remains a top priority, and that Congress doesn't treat you as a cash cow to be milked through fees and regulations.

That says it all, right there.

He's raising money for incumbents, no new candidates. Anyone scared of losing their job in congress likely deserves to lose it.

Note that the "cash cow" comment only addresses aviation-specific raping of the tax payer. I guess Obamacare, Cap n Trade, etc, etc, have no bearing on our taxes, general economy, or disposable income - which all play a role in a pilot's ability to participate in GA.

Your letter was great. Thanks for sending.