A Message From Working Assets' President (NSA wiretaps)

[helderheid]

In light of new revelations about the big telecommunications carriers' handing over domestic calling records to the National Security Agency, I am writing to let you know where Working Assets stands on the NSA's increasingly alarming activities.

Working Assets believes that the warrantless monitoring of phone conversations ordered by the Bush administration is illegal and unacceptable. We also unequivocally oppose the disclosure of domestic calling records to the NSA by our nation's telecommunications providers. As reported yesterday in USA Today1, AT&T, Bell South and Verizon sold customer call records to the NSA. Working Assets would never, under any circumstances, give (let alone sell) records to the Bush administration without a warrant or court order.

In fact, as Working Assets' President, I recently signed on to an amicus brief supporting the ACLU's law suit against the National Security Agency. We are the only telephone company participating in this lawsuit.

Working Assets has never been approached by any government agency seeking our help in illegally accessing the content of conversations by our customers, and we would refuse any such request. We are actively engaged in opposing warrantless monitoring, in pushing for full disclosure by the government regarding the scope of the monitoring, and in protecting citizens from intrusive and illegal exercises of governmental power. Additionally, we are fighting Bush's nomination of General Michael V. Hayden, the architect of the NSA's illegal wiretapping program, to head the CIA.

If you are a member of AT&T (including Cingular and SBC), Bell South or Verizon, your telecom company willingly sold the private telephone records of American citizens to the Bush administration's illegal domestic spying operation. Please contact your provider now, and let them know that this is simply unacceptable.

Contact AT&T: http://www.consumer.att.com/contact?source=body
Contact Verizon: http://www22.verizon.com/CustomerSupport/ContactUs/
Contact BellSouth: http://www.bellsouth.com/contactus/index.html

You can also find out more about Working Assets Wireless and Working Assets Long Distance at http://www.workingassets.com.

You may also be interested in a new book we are publishing, entitled How Would A Patriot Act?, a compelling analysis of how the NSA's wiretapping fits into a larger scheme by the Bush Administration to violate Constitutional restrictions on executive authority in an unprecedented manner. Click here to find out more about the book.

As a telecommunications company, it is our special privilege to facilitate communications among our fellow citizens, to enable conversations on matters personal, commercial, social and political. It is therefore our special obligation to oppose warrantless interference into those communications, whatever the government's justification may be. We will keep you posted on new developments as they arise.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Michael Kieschnick, President
Working Assets

[Triana]

1. If what he says it true, I hope they get a boatload of business out of it!

I had working assets long distance before I switched to Vonage (VOIP). Looks like the bastards will be sniffing that next but they don't yet -- I don't think (?).

Anyway, I got nothing but great service from Working Assets and only switched for the free long distance we can get with VOIP (at least for now).

[SammyWinstonJack]

42. I have digital phone with time warner, guess they are cooperating

with the ** maladministration. Mostly likely. Ah well, no matter, cause I want to switch to Vonage. They are cheaper per mo. No better time to switch than now.

[rodeodance]

2. nominate

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. They A Good Company?

Seems like a decent deal. $6/month for long distance sounds ok. They appear to be a "Blue" company, and being affiliated with Ben & Jerry's ice cream can't be a bad thing.

If anyone is familiar and can vouch for them, it might make my decision a done deal to switch from at&t to Working Assets on long distance. Then I just have to switch my local provider as well, since it went from SBC to at&t last month.

[lindisfarne]

6. Not a good corp.: privately owned and do not publish their financial data.

I get phone service through an internet company (not VOiP) for less than 3 cents/minute and all taxes/fees are included in that; there are no monthly fees.

Why does Working Assets charge almost twice as much, plus a substantial monthly fee? The amount of money it donates cannot possibly be anything more than a small percentage of its profits (and what do its execs get paid as compensation??)

In my opinion, it is a scam: it has found a way to get people to channel their money to them by appealing to all of our wishes to help others. It then donates a relatively small amount of it's profits to various organization. But it doesn't provide detailed financial data to ensure us that the small number of owners of Working Assets are not getting exceptionally rich.

See also this thread (message #4): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2619109&mesg_id=2620807

If they were a legitimate company working to help charities, they would publish, without delay, financial data, showing at the very least, total revenue, total expenses, total profit, what amount of that profit goes to charities, and salaries of the top 20 highest paid employees (including all compensation and benefits). They aren't legally required to do this, but would if they were on the up-and-up.

[Jeanette in FL]

9. I have had them for years

I have never had any trouble with them at all. Everyone that I have turned on to them have been pleased as well. Usually they have different kinds of promotions going on, when my husband changed his business phone over to Working Assets the rate was 3.5 cents a minute. Mine is 5 cents a minute.

Each month the have two different political letters that you can choose to have sent in your name if you would like. They also have a program where you can round off your bill up to the nearest dollar and they pool all that extra money. I think once a year they send you a vote form as to how you would like the monies to be divided up amongst various groups, such as Food for Pantries, Shelters for Battered Women and Children, all kinds of excellent Charitable groups.

As long as I need a long distance carrier I chose to go with one with a social conscious.

[montanacowboy]

11. Fantastic Company

I have been with them for years and when you round out your phone bill the extra money goes to charities of your choice

Never had a better LD carrier and I have Qwest too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I call Qwest today and complimented them

[lindisfarne]

14. But you could be paying far less, and what you save would be far more than

Working Assets donates. You could donate the savings directly, rather than using Working Assets as an intermediary, and putting profit in their pockets.

What they donate is almost certainly only a small percentage of their profits - they refuse to publish their financial data (since they're a privately owned corporation, they don't have to, nor do they have to provide to the IRS the information charities must provide).

If they were donating the vast majority of their profits, wouldn't they publicize their financial data? People have asked for the numbers and Working Assets has refused to provide them.

UNTIL THEY PUBLISH THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL DATA TO EVALUATE HOW MUCH OF THEIR PROFITS GO TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, I WILL REGARD THEM AS A SCAM.

It's a scam of the worst sort: they get money from people who really want to do good and make change, and almost certainly, the private owners of Working Assets are getting extremely rich by pocketing a good deal of the profit.

[xxqqqzme]

35. well, aren't you a ray of sunshine?!?

I have had Working Assets for well over 6 six years; I round up my bill; I vote on the charities where the money goes; I write letters; and occasionally I pay 2 have them write a letter for me. When I get my annual ballot, there is included information that says how much each charity received in the last year. I KNOW there are cheaper LD rates; I KNOW internet LD phone rates are a flat rate, I KNOW all that. I also know not one if those companies does (nor offers to do) what Working Assets does.

[lindisfarne]

38. My point is about truth - something most progressives care about.

I'd be happy to use Working Assets if I knew what percentage of the profits were donated, what the total profit was, and if an adequate amount of the profits were donated, in my opinion. Unfortunately, Working Assets doesn't provide this information. I've determined that by using the long-distance provider I use, my long-distance bill (including monthly fees and taxes) is less than 25% of what it would be with Working Assets. I've decided that by using the long distance provider I do, I can donate the equivalent of 75% of what my bill with Working Assets would be. This is far, far more than Working Assets donates.

[wryter2000]

15. Excellent

They're a progressive company, endorsed by Jim Hightower and the politically active of Ben and Jerry. That's why you get a certificate for free Ben and Jerry's.

If you round up to the next dollar, you can direct money to charities. They also sell progressive books and allow you to send citizens' letters.

I have WALD. Somehow, I thought I was still covered by the release from AT&T because I thought they were getting the information from the switching machines rather than billing information. Sounds like I was wrong, and I'm glad.

[helderheid]

19. They are my long distance company and are FANTASTIC.

[LeftyMom]

53. Ben and Jerrys was bought by Unilever ages ago

So thier cross-promotion with a gigantic multinational probably shouldn't be a big factor in your decision.

I looked into Working Assets ages ago, but thier prices were rather outrageous. It made more sense for me to go cell-phone only.

[Suziq]

4. I Like What I See

Just went through their website. I am going for their wireless service. Buh bye Verizon!

[Ian David]

5. Working Assets is carried on the Sprint/NexTel network though

I'm not yet sure that switching to Working Assets will protect your privacy much, but still...

It will send a strong message to The Evil Telecom Empire!
And I'm switching to Working Assets!

[Trish1168]

7. I switched to them yesterday...

[wryter2000]

18. That was my question

WALD doesn't have their own equipment. If the information is being mined out of the switching machines, WALD wouldn't have been involved.

You're right, though, that it'll send a message to the others.

[Paulie]

29. They wouldn't be involved if Sprint was turning over the data

But that still means Sprint DID.

[Tuesday_Morning]

8. If you sign up today

you get a free "Boot Bush" doormat.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

16. Are You Joking Or Serious? nt

[Tuesday_Morning]

28. I'm serious

http://www.workingassets.com/longdistance.cfm?formid=IC-2BY-AFC-1&campid=58007411

They also give you free long distance to the White House and Congress.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

31. Good News & Bad News.....

I figured there was a catch. If you get the doormat, you Don't get the 12 months of free ice cream. It's one or the other. When you fill out the doormat offer application, the B&J is not mentioned, but it is on their regular site offer.

Not sure which one I would prefer. The 1 year of free ice cream is a good deal.

Edit: Also, the Doormat offer gives you 60 minutes in credit for each of the first 6 months. Which amounts to about $1.80/month.

[IndyOp]

43. I thought the free long distance to White House & Congress was

just on special occasions -- like pre-Alito vote in Senate...

I have Working Assets and make plenty of calls of DC and get charged, usually, though maybe at a lower than usual rate?

:shrug:

[Ian David]

20. Here's where you can get a free cell phone for accepting Jesus

Accept Jesus Christ as Your Savior Before January 1, 2005 and Receive a Free Wireless Phone!

Compliments of AT&T and the Landover Baptist Church

This Offer Has Been Extended! Praise Jesus!
Landover Baptist Church offers the finest rewards to its members, and now we are making those rewards available to the unsaved public. In the first of many offers, we are proud to present new Christians with the finest communications technology available on the market today! A free AT&T PCS phone is waiting for you! All you need to do is accept Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior before the year 2005! *No roaming charges! **Nothing to Pay! Sound simple? ***It is!

Since we do not allow unsaved persons within a 15 mile radius of our church, or any of our Christian Properties, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for YOU, the unsaved individual, to get saved, get a beautiful love gift, and gain access to our church and facilities. You have nothing to lose, except your soul. You have everything to gain; eternal life, a chance to become a member of the most powerful church in the United States, and a free wireless telephone, courtesy of AT & T!

What are you waiting for? Read through our beliefs section, and sign a waiver form that shows you have accepted our Lord as your personal savior, promise to abide by all of our church rules, and pledge a 3-year tithing contract. Mail these forms along with a $225.00 membership application fee to:

Salvation Phone Offer:
Landover Baptist Church
Christian Business Office
100 Soulwinner's Lane
Freehold, Iowa 45598

*applies only to roaming in the Egyptian Desert
**with the signing of a 3-year tithing contract, Bronze Level pledge minimum, all tithes must be received before activation along with preliminary membership fee of $25,000.00
***participants promise to use the first 10 minutes of free "air-time" as Telephone Evanglelism. Offer is void if recent converts fail to win another soul within allotted time. Family members, loved ones and backsliders excluded.

More:
http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1199/phone.html

(Yes, it's a satire. But I do believe they actually were giving away the phones).

[EFerrari]

39. LMAO! Okay, I switched already. And I don't care about

the doormat. :silly:

[SammyWinstonJack]

46. That alone would be worth it.

:evilgrin:

[Gidney N Cloyd]

10. "Local Long Distance"

Is there any reason NOT to also sign up for "Local Long Distance" or "IntraLATA" as opposed to Long Distance Only?
I'm in the Chicago area and I think we're all AT&T (aka SBC) all over.

[AndyTiedye]

12. Whose Network Do They Use? Used to be AT&T

[libnnc]

13. great company-- you get free Ben & Jerry's ice cream

for the first year. You get a coupon for a free pint with every phone bill.

Needless to say I've gained some pounds...

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

17. That Cuts Cost In Half

A pint of B&J costs about $3 by me, sometimes more. So if you deduct that from the monthly fee, it's only $3/month for the first year. Of course, it's not a good deal if you hate ice cream. Luckily I don't.

[lindisfarne]

21. STOP. Working Assets is not what it seems.

In addition to NOT engaging in financial transparency (see my other posts this thread) which would allow anyone to evaluate what percentage of their profits go to charitable organizations, Working Assets doesn't even engage in "green" practices. It does more harm than good to support such an opaque corporation.

So many companies are jumping on the "green" or "socially conscious" bandwagon simply as a way to generate profit -- they do just the minimum in terms of "green" and "socially conscious" practices to keep the profit coming in. They hurt those LEGITIMATE businesses which truly follow "green" and "socially conscious" practices.

http://www.jonentine.com/articles/beware_green_firms.htm
Consider the power division of Working Assets, the green shell that has made a small fortune by selling long distance telephone access and credit card services, slapping on a green label, and celebrating itself for donating a tiny fraction of its inflated prices to liberal causes. Last year, it barreled into New England promising "NUCLEAR FREE ENERGY" for residents who dumped their local electric company. In the words of CEO Laura Scher, "We are offering people a chance to save money and save the environment at the same time." She even threw in a free pint of Ben & Jerry’s Rainforest Crunch ice cream.

Scher attacked her competitors by banging relentlessly on the social responsibility hot button. "Does the power come from a company owned by the developers and owners of Seabrook nuclear power plant?," she raged in a letter sent to prospective customers. "If you don't ask, they won't tell you."

Scher was apparently betting that no one would ask. Working Assets buys all of its power from New England Energy Systems (NEES), then part owner of Seabrook and the "dirtiest utility in New England," according to Rob Sargent of Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group.

It turned out to be a safe bet. This exercise in greenwashing eluded the news media who appeared to go out of their way to cheerlead for Working Assets and other green power marketers.

[Ian David]

22. What about Earthtones?

I had Earthtones as my long distance carrier for many years, but that was years ago.

I found their customer service to be excellent.



<snip>
Plus, of course, 100% of our profits support environmental causes!
For more information or to sign up for service, call us toll-free at
(888) EARTH-TONES (888-327-8486)
Sign me up now!
http://www.earthtones.com/data/138/pages/wireless.asp

On the other hand, Earthtones appears to use the Verizon and AT&T networks.

[lindisfarne]

23. I don't know anything (good or bad) about Earth Tones. Any small phone

company (land) has to, of necessity, use the lines of the major companies. There's no way around it. I wouldn't use that as a deciding factor.

[faithnotgreed]

40. hey ian - i have earthtones

can you share with me what you findout about them
and how you know they have at&t networks...

ive been with them for a long time and want to make sure to know if i should stay or go

this is a barrel full of laughs and i know we just want to do the best thing
thanks so very much

[lindisfarne]

50. According to GuideStar, Earth Tones is a 501(c) and is required to file an

IRS Form 990-PF. GuideStar doesn't have the 990 available. If anyone has more than "free" access to GuideStar, I'd appreciate more information about Earth Tones.

Already, however, I think it is far better than Working Assets. At the link below, you can see which companies Earth Tones donates its profits to (ALL of them!!)

http://earthtones.com/data/138/pages/about.asp
Earth Tones is the only communications company to donate 100% of its profits to environmental organizations. We offer high-quality long distance telephone service, wireless service and internet access to help you keep in touch with the important people in your life.

Earth Tones was founded by a coalition of non-profit organizations in 1993. Over a decade later we continue to be completely owned and operated by non-profit groups, allowing us to deliver 100% of our profits to environmental causes. Our mission is to provide high-quality communications services and great customer service while giving you tools to help protect the planet. Every wireless customer we have, each long distance call our land-line customers make, and each internet subscriber who is on our service means money going directly to grassroots organizations working to protect our air, water and wilderness.

In addition to delivering our profits to environmental causes, we also send regular Green Alerts to our customers. These monthly updates provide information on pressing environmental issues and give you easy ways to get involved and have your voice heard. Long distance customers even receive toll-free numbers to call Congress and other decision-makers for free. As an internet or wireless customer you can receive the Green Alert via e-mail and, through our website, have constant access to up-to-the-minute environmental campaigns that need your help.

Finally, we strive to make all of our services as gentle on the planet as possible. Our bills come on 100% recycled paper and electronic, tree-free billing is strongly encouraged. We use recycled wireless handsets and will recycled your old wireless phone for you!

Earth Tones is a unique company. Serving our customers and protecting the environment are our only priorities. We are proud to offer high quality wireless service, internet access and long distance services at great rates, provide excellent customer service and deliver 100% of our profits to non-profit environmental organizations. We hope that you will join us!

[faithnotgreed]

55. thanks

we have been with them a long time so i know they are supposed to donate the best of any of them
i wasnt concerned about that but just wondering about the wiretapping component if you happen to find out anything about this

thanks so much
best wishes and i do appreciate the information

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

24. So Far....

You're really the only person in 2 different posts who has criticized this company. I'm not sure if that says something, and I'm really waiting for someone else to come back with negatives about them. You may or may not have a point in regards to their lack of financial transparency. I don't know enough about the power issue to render an opinion.

I just would like to quickly dump at&t, let them know why, and be with a company that doesn't bow to King george and his cronies.

[lindisfarne]

25. I'm aware that most people don't stop to examine Working Assets'

practices. If they did, Working Assets wouldn't be so popular amongst the left-wing. If you're happy supporting a company with opaque practices that just says it's doing good, go ahead, support Working Assets.

I'm trying to get out the word that Working Assets is NOT transparent, refuses to provide the financial data necessary to evaluate how much of their profits go to charitable organizations, refuses to publish what its highest paid employees earn.

My argument is that if Working Assets was truly on the up-and-up, they'd be happy to publish this information. (Given how much less I can buy my long-distance for, compared to what Working Assets makes, their profits are certainly far far more than what they've given to charitable organizations over the years. Only Working Assets can make it absolutely clear - and they have refused to when asked by various organizations and individuals.)

Working Assets could easily show its critics to be wrong - by simply publishing financial data on their website which would allow specialists to evaluate what percentage of their profit goes to charitable organizations. They refuse to. You decide what that means to you.

[Ian David]

44. Here's what I found on OpenSecrets.org

Results:

130 records found in 0.5000 seconds.

Search Criteria:
Donor occupation: working assets
Cycle(s) selected: 2006, 2004, 2002
Total for this search: $354,900

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?Order=A&txtName=&txtState=&txtZip=&txtEmploy=working&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&txt2000=&txt1998=&txt1996=&txt1994=&txt1992=&txt1990=&txtSoft=N



Contributor


Occupation


Date


Amount


Recipient

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


10/23/2002


$30,000


DSCC/Non-Federal Unicorp Assoc

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL H
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS FUNDING SERVICE/MANA


3/30/2005


$26,700


Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


12/17/2003


$25,000


Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

SCHER, LAURA S
BELVEDERE TIBURON,CA 94920


WORKING ASSETS LONG DISTANCE/CEO AN


3/31/2004


$25,000


Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


6/18/2004


$24,500


Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


3/31/2003


$12,500


Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


12/2/2003


$12,500


Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS FUNDING SERVICE/MANA


3/31/2003


$12,500


Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL H
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


9/13/2004


$10,000


Kansas Democratic State Cmte

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


5/31/2002


$10,000


Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

SCHER, LAURA S
BELVEDERE TIBURON,CA 94920


WORKING ASSETS LONG DISTANCE/CEO AN


6/28/2005


$10,000


Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte

KIESCHNICK MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS FUNDING SERVICE


10/9/2002


$5,000


DCCC/Non-Federal Account 7

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL H
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS FUNDING SERVICE/MANA


5/19/2004


$5,000


Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


9/30/2002


$4,000


Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

KOPLOVITZ KAY
WEST END,NJ 07440


WORKING WOMEN NETWORK/CEO


6/20/2001


$3,333


Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte

KOPLOVITZ, KAY
NEW YORK,NY 10020


WORKING WOMEN NETWORK


6/20/2001


$3,333


Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS FUNDING SERVICE/BUSI


6/5/2002


$3,000


Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
SAN FRANCISCO,CA 94123


WORKING ASSETS/PRESIDENT


5/14/2001


$2,500


PAC for a Change

KOPLOVITZ, KAY
NEW YORK,NY 10020


WORKING WOMEN NETWORK


11/1/2002


$2,500


Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte

SCHER, LAURA
TIBURON,CA 94920


WORKING ASSETS/CEO


6/11/2001


$2,500


PAC for a Change

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL
PALA ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS/MANAGER


11/15/2005


$2,100


Lampson, Nick

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


3/31/2005


$2,100


Stabenow, Debbie

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


3/31/2005


$2,100


Stabenow, Debbie

PLANT, ED
SAN DIEGO,CA 92186


WORKING WATERFRONT GROUP/PRESIDENT


10/25/2005


$2,100


Vargas, Juan

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


12/10/2003


$2,000


Feingold, Russell D

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


5/28/2004


$2,000


Tenenbaum, Inez

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


8/27/2004


$2,000


Carson, Brad R

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


9/27/2004


$2,000


Tenenbaum, Inez

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL H
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS/MANAGER


6/1/2004


$2,000


America Coming Together

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


9/30/2003


$2,000


Boxer, Barbara

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


9/27/2004


$2,000


Bowles, Erskine B

KIESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS/CEO


3/31/2003


$2,000


Kerry, John

KLESCHNICK, MICHAEL HALL
PALO ALTO,CA 94301


WORKING ASSETS


9/25/2004


$2,000


Knowles, Tony

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/5/2004


$2,000


Bowles, Erskine B

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/5/2004


$2,000


Carson, Brad R

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/5/2004


$2,000


Farmer, Nancy

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/7/2004


$2,000


Mongiardo, Daniel

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/7/2004


$2,000


Mongiardo, Daniel

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/10/2004


$2,000


John, Chris

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/13/2004


$2,000


Hoeffel, Joseph M

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/13/2004


$2,000


Knowles, Tony

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/14/2004


$2,000


Obama, Barack

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/15/2004


$2,000


Salazar, Ken

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


4/15/2004


$2,000


Tenenbaum, Inez

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


8/27/2004


$2,000


Knowles, Tony

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


8/27/2004


$2,000


Tenenbaum, Inez

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


8/30/2004


$2,000


Daschle, Tom

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


8/30/2004


$2,000


Salazar, Ken

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


9/2/2004


$2,000


Carson, Brad R

LITVAK, LAWRENCE
MILL VALLEY,CA 94941


WORKING ASSETS


10/4/2004


$2,000


Castor, Betty



More:
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?txtName=&txtState=&txtZip=&txtEmploy=working&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&txt2000=&txt1998=&txt1996=&txt1994=&txt1992=&txt1990=&txtSoft=N&Order=A&Cycles=3&Cycle1=2006&Cycle2=2004&Cycle3=2002&Page=2

[Raksha]

26. Why are you so intent on bad-mouthing Working Assets?

I just decided to switch my long distance service to Working Assets, and I DON'T CARE if it actually ends up costing me more money! I don't have a lot of money, but voting with my wallet is one of the VERY FEW ways I have left of making my displeasure known and making it count. That's ONE vote they can't hack, dammit, and while I still have that tiny of bit of discretion left I'm going to use it.

I hope Verizon loses a few million customers once the word gets around. THAT will make them realize they can't f**k with their customers and get away with it.

Again, I have to tell you your posts make me very suspicious, and they also had the opposite effect of what you intended. Although I was leaning in that direction anyway (mainly because of the endorsement of Ben & Jerry's), seeing someone so intent on trying to stop people from transferring their long-distance service made me that much more determined. I don't know what your agenda is, but I do know I don't trust you.

[lindisfarne]

27. But what if Working Assets is simply taking the majority of the profit

they gain from you and putting it in their pocket, rather than donating it to a charitable organization.

They donate some percentage to charitable organizations; my argument is that it is a SMALL percentage.

If you're happy enriching a few individuals who are already very rich, go ahead. I prefer to support organizations which are financially transparent, which allow me to evaluate where their profits go.

[helderheid]

30. Are they selling your phone records to the NSA though?

[lindisfarne]

33. I don't know. But if a smaller company uses the phone lines of a major

who has provided the information to the NSA, will the NSA end up getting the information anyhow? In other words, does the major company need to know the originating phone number and destination phone number in order to route the phone call; if yes, did the major phone company provide this information to the NSA as well? (I don't know how the phone system works; I would like to know the answer; we may all just be screwed if the company that owns the lines needs to know originating and destination numbers in order to route them.)

[shance]

54. They work through companies like Sprint that do.

Working Assets doesn't own the lines, it only rents from companies like Sprint, who apparently is a guilty party in this deal.

If this is true, its both dishonest and sleezy for Working Assets to pretend its engaging in something pure when its not. It seems they are very much engaging with companies that are guilty of spying. Im a Working Assets customer by the way.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

32. Do They Claim To Donate It All?

They are a company. They do keep most of the profits. All they're saying, is that they donate a portion of the profits to environmental charities. Isn't that better than the other corporations which give contributions to corporate and political causes, which have less impact on the "blue" side of things?

[lindisfarne]

36. It would be far more transparent if they said "we donate X amount of

profits".

You can decide for yourself what kind of company you want to support. Most progressives I know want to know what percentage of their profits Working Assets actually donates. I've convinced many not to use Working Assets.

I'd be happy to use Working Assets if I knew what percentage of the profits were donated, what the total profit was, and if an adequate amount of the profits were donated, in my opinion. Unfortunately, Working Assets doesn't provide this information. I've determined that by using the long-distance provider I use, my long-distance bill (including monthly fees and taxes) is less than 25% of what it would be with Working Assets. I've decided that by using the long distance provider I do, I can donate the equivalent of 75% of what my bill with Working Assets would be. This is far, far more than Working Assets donates.

[VOX]

34. Your source for these claims, Jon Entine, is **very** suspect...

Entine serves as an adjunct fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, which is no liberal entity -- not by a long shot:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Enterprise_Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a think tank founded in 1943 whose stated mission is to support the "foundations of freedom - limited government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense." The Institute is an independent, nonprofit organization supported primarily by grants and contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Like most think tanks that maintain non-profit status under the federal tax code, AEI is strictly nonpartisan and takes no institutional positions on pending legislation or other policy questions.

However, it has emerged as one of the leading architects of Bush administration's public policy; more than two dozen AEI alumni have served either in a Bush administration policy post or on one of the government's many panels and commissions. AEI, along with the more conservative Heritage Foundation, is often cited as a center-right counterpart to the center-left Brookings Institution...


- - - - -
Entine is also something of a muckraker, having dabbled in very questionable "science" with his book, "Taboo:Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We're Afraid to Talk About It."

IMO, Jon Entine is **not** a reliable source when it comes to progressive matters.
------
On edit, further damning information on Entine:
http://www.onepeoplesproject.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=27
Jon Entine is a media mongrel who has worked for major media companies like NBC and ABC for many years. His impact on the media can influence public opinion by the millions. The most notable, and controversial, book which brought him fame and money was the book, "Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We are Afraid to Talk About It", first published in the fall of 1999.
<snip>
While Entine uses references from experts in areas like sports science and kinesiology, his book is full of references to numerous right-wing scientific racists who believe blacks are genetically inferior in intelligence. He even gives special thanks to some of those whom he had personal contact.
<snip>
- - -
How is a * -enabling, private-enterprise-above-all racist like Entine is qualified to critique Working Assets????? :grr:

[lindisfarne]

37. Actually, Entine is not my source for the issue related to transparency.

I simply used Entine as a source for the Working Assets energy issue. (If you can find information showing that he's wrong about his claim, I'd be happy to see it. "Last year, it barreled into New England promising "NUCLEAR FREE ENERGY" for residents who dumped their local electric company. Scher was apparently betting that no one would ask. ... Working Assets buys all of its power from New England Energy Systems (NEES), then part owner of Seabrook and the "dirtiest utility in New England," according to Rob Sargent of Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group.").

The main part of my argument, that Working Assets is NOT transparent regarding what percentage of its profits goes to charitable organizations, is simply public information (or lack thereof), and logic.

As I said elsewhere, Working Assets could simply publish (on its website!) the financial information which would allow specialists to evaluate where its profits go. Working Assets refuses to do this.

[VOX]

45. Nevertheless, you cite Entine, which is unusual for a DUer/progressive...

In order for Working Assets to remain a viable entity in today's world, it's going to have to "get dirty" to a degree. WA resells energy, phone services and credit card services -- there's no way any company can stay absolutely clean while dealing in these areas -- no way. Because the sources -- MNBA, Sprint, etc. are anything but clean.

BUT, if WA resells these services **and** give $50 million to progressive causes over the last 20 years (and this is documented in numerous sources), that's a reasonably acceptable progressive business scenario, IMO. In effect, WA diverts $$S from the monster corps. and channels some of that into excellent causes.

Since WA is a privately held company, they are not obligated to publicly nail down where every penny goes. Sure, I'd appreciate it if they would publish an annual report, but as long as they're actually donating to causes published on their site -- http://www.workingassets.com/recipients.cfm -- they're okay in my book.

Speaking of transparency, which you advocate so vehemently, why is your user profile disabled? ;-)

[lindisfarne]

48. What if they gave $50 million over the last 20 years, but profits were

$500 million? It's up to you to decide; I choose to use a cheaper phone company and donate directly myself, far more than Working Assets would donate on my behalf. I don't want my hard-earned money lining the pockets of the (already very rich) owners of Working Assets.

Lots of socially conscious companies remain viable in today's world, without compromising. They don't have to "get dirty" to a degree.

Working Assets may NOT remain viable if they publicized how little of their profits went to charitable organizations; I think this is why they refuse to publish their financial data.

Even if you find a source distasteful, if the information is correct, the source is relevant (how much of the main stream media do you cite?)

Your question (Speaking of transparency, which you advocate so vehemently, why is your user profile disabled?) is absolutely irrelevant - do you not realize this? I'm not a company which presents itself as a progressive, do-good company, which makes huge profits and donates only a small percentage. Personal safety is something individuals should think of.

[lindisfarne]

Do you disagree that using "socially conscious" merely to generate profit

and doing just the minimum in terms of "green" and "socially conscious" practices to keep the profit coming in, hurts those LEGITIMATE businesses which truly follow "green" and "socially conscious" practices?

So many companies are jumping on the "green" or "socially conscious" bandwagon simply as a way to generate profit. I don't support them. (Do you buy your organic food at Wal-Mart???)

[VOX]

47. False analogy: Working Assets is NOT Wal-Mart, or anything like it. n/t

[lindisfarne]

49. Due to Working Assets opaqueness, I can't establish for certain what

kind of company it is. But until it is more transparent, and publishes the financial data I need to evaluate what percentage of its profits go to charitable organizations (and I establish that it contributes a high-enough percentage, in my opinion), I will take my business elsewhere.

[Raksha]

51. I'm really not concerned whether Working Assets

is quite as pure as you apparently think it should be. I do know how "pure" Verizon is, and THAT is my priority right now! I have already switched my long-distance carrier to Working Assets, as I said I was going to do earlier. Yes, it will cost me more money BUT it will also cost Verizon money, especially if millions of their customers do likewise.

[lindisfarne]

52. I just want people to think about the facts.(Earth Tones might be a better

alternative to either Verizon or Working Assets; see link above (message #22; also message #50). 100% of their profits go to non-profits, and they are registered as a 501(c) (Working Assets is a private, for-profit corporation and as such, is not required to publish their financial data).
But you're perfectly within your right to decide differently from me.

[lindisfarne]

41. delete - double post