The Scandalous History of the Red Cross (racist & corp. lovers)

http://www.counterpunch.com/

A Bait-and-Switch Charity

In recent years, the image of the Red Cross has been tarnished. The worst scandal came after the September 11 attacks, when it was revealed that a large portion of the hundreds of millions of dollars donated to the organization went not to survivors or family members of those killed, but to other Red Cross operations, in what was described by chapters across the country as a "bait-and-switch" operation.

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But these recent scandals are nothing new for the Red Cross. In fact, the whole history of the organization is one gigantic scandal--stretching from its racist policies toward African Americans to its corporate mentality toward human beings.

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On the eve of the Second World War, the Red Cross stockpiled large amounts of blood because of techniques developed by the brilliant African American scientist Dr. Charles Drew. Drew himself became director of the Red Cross's Blood Bank in 1941, but resigned his position after the War Department ordered that the blood of Black and white donors be segregated.

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The Red Cross desegregated the blood supply after the Second World War nationally, but it allowed its Southern chapters to continue segregating blood through the 1960s.

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(this is the kicker)

Congress incorporated the Red Cross to act under "government supervision." Eight of the 50 members of its board of governors are appointed by the president of the United States, who also serves as honorary chairperson. Currently, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security are members of the board of governors.
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read on for full details

the article ends with "we deserve better".

america is a crime scene

it visits prisoners in Guantanamo & elsewhere. No surprise it is under attack.

And "bait & switch"? No - people have often given to charities with in mind one crisis or another. And if the money is spent wisely - there is some left over for other programs & the future. You don't let the public decide how to spend your money.

This is like the tax revolts - sort of contrived - sort of pandering to adolescence in America. Like your tax dollars go to support the parts of the US government you believe in in particular? No. Not! Charity giving goes in waves. A smart manager doesn't spend money beyond it being as effective as money spent before.

Just how hard do the neocons want to stop organizations like the Red Cross from existing.