ACORN To Disband Amid Scandal, Money Woes

[Arduinna]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=125038045

A spokesman for the community organizing group ACORN said Monday that the group is disbanding after 40 years. The decision comes six months after video footage emerged showing ACORN workers giving advice on how to conceal money made from prostitution.

[TiredX2]

It really angers me that a non-proffit with 40 years of community service behind them can be taken down so easily, but a for profit company with example after example of dishonest business practices that cost the "American taxpayer" much more can continue and thrive no matter what.

[momo7]

It angers me that a community service group would be using it's service to provide financial advice for people making money from illegal activities going on in the same community it's supposed to be helping........

[Arduinna]

I really can't feel sorry for them. Those videos were disgusting and the assistance of employees to those that were proposing child trafficking and under age prostitution was wide spread.

[momo7]

I agree....not one bit of sympathy.

I think it's sad that it was an organization that was supposed to be helping the community it's based in and instead it's enabling the bad to go on and instead of changing things, it makes it worse.

[shayinme]

Originally Posted by TiredX2

It really angers me that a non-proffit with 40 years of community service behind them can be taken down so easily, but a for profit company with example after example of dishonest business practices that cost the "American taxpayer" much more can continue and thrive no matter what.

I am inclined to agree with you. I am a former community organizer and ACORN at least years ago did a lot of really good work in communities that had no voice. I think they were sloppy as an organization, yet as someone who is now is non-profit management, sloppy management happens a lot in non-profits. Folks get so caught up in the mission that they forget at the same time a non-profit is a business and must be managed appropriately.

It saddens me that they became well known for missteps when they spent years doing a great deal of good.

[JessicaS]

This is a bit weird


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=125482178

Rather than give advice on prostituting underage girls, human trafficking and cheating on taxes, the attorney general's office found ACORN members at times caught on to the scheme and called the police in the portions of the videos that were cut.

[TiredX2]

Okay, if that article is true I am really, really upset about this. The level of dishonesty...

[Arduinna]

Well, we already knew that ONE office actually called the police out of the multitude that were solicited. It was reported last year, when the tape was made public for that office. The article is only about California and Democrat Browns decision not to prosecute. Nothing really mind blowing here.

It did have a nice little implied spin though, and conveniently leaves out the multitude of ACORN employees that were taped giving advice to these people on how to evade the law with regards to underage prostitution and child trafficking. Wonder why that wasn't mentioned. Browns excuse was basically well they didn't get their permission to tape them so........ You'd really think people here would be outraged at anyone assisting in underage prostitution and child trafficking.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

Well, we already knew that ONE office actually called the police out of the multitude that were solicited. It was reported last year, when the tape was made public for that office. The article is only about California and Democrat Browns decision not to prosecute. Nothing really mind blowing here.

It did have a nice little implied spin though, and conveniently leaves out the multitude of ACORN employees that were taped giving advice to these people on how to evade the law with regards to underage prostitution and child trafficking. Wonder why that wasn't mentioned. Browns excuse was basically well they didn't get their permission to tape them so........ You'd really think people here would be outraged at anyone assisting in underage prostitution and child trafficking.

The sentence I quoted is plural.

I think the public has a right to know what is actually on the tapes, without edits. I withhold judgement until then. There is a lot of partisan bickering over the issue, I think the materials should just be made available to reduce the strife.

[Arduinna]

I can't figure out what is partisan about child trafficking and child prostitution. If anyone ever approached me asking how they could be assisted in either of those ventures I'd get their names and call the police. There is no other acceptable response. So if you are caught on tape giving them advice on how to do it, you got no excuse in my book.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

I can't figure out what is partisan about child trafficking and child prostitution. If anyone ever approached me asking how they could be assisted in either of those ventures I'd get their names and call the police. There is no other acceptable response. So if you are caught on tape giving them advice on how to do it, you got no excuse in my book.

Because there appears to be evidence that what was shown to the public wasn't precisely what happened.

I think in such instances it is reasonable to want all of the information rather than what networks decide to give me. There were rebuttals but I would rather just see the tapes. I just want the facts.