Gift card | Be a Seed for Change

The right pushes the fake War on Christmas while trying to scam their own readers into buying ridiculous things. They say there’s a “war on men” when a women gets equal pay for equal work. They insist fictional characters must be white. We need your help to stand against these lies, smears, and distortions.

John Whitehouse Twitter: @existentialfish

Holiday Grifts

When the right isn’t busy telling their audience there’s a “War on Christmas,” they’re busy trying to scam them out of money. We rounded up some of what the right is pushing for holiday gifts, starting with a $1,500 metal box that can allegedly help you survive an electromagnetic pulse attack: http://mm4a.org/19fe0hn

The Right’s Other Fake War

Pundits like James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal would have you believe there is an ongoing “war on men.” But this fake “war” is just a way for these pundits to complain about things such as equal pay for equal work and ensuring that women receive adequate health care: http://mm4a.org/19xSXER

White Santa And Megyn Kelly

Megyn Kelly has a long history of using race to stoke fear of minorities. So it was hollow when she blamed those who “race bait” for outrage over her remarks about Santa Claus and Jesus being white. http://mm4a.org/1bKNiL7 Related: You know you screwed up when Bill O’Reilly rushes in to defend your cultural commentary: http://mm4a.org/1dkrTaQ The usual suspects are circling the wagons around Kelly: http://mm4a.org/18WUy6v

FEATURED VIDEO

The only way to handle the fake “War on Christmas” shenanigans is to have a bit of fun. Here’s our quick video on how the right sells this lie: http://youtu.be/0nDE3Qc41d8

HELP US FIGHT BACK

We’re in the midst of our year-end fundraiser. Fighting conservative misinformation is a big job – and we can’t do it without you. You can support our work here: http://bit.ly/1h2JGpL

OH NO NOT AGAIN

Rather than produce a hard-hitting, investigative segment about the NSA, 60 Minutes ran what has rightly been described as a “puff piece.” http://mm4a.org/1dkuZvi

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

Pope Francis Speaks Out

Policy and Action from Consumer Reports

Ever get a gift card that lost its value? One day, it promised you $50 or $100, then when you went to use it, the card had been drained.

Maybe there were unexpected fees. Some cards charge you if you don’t use them in a certain period. Others expire.

Maybe the store went belly up. Your cash money went to pay their creditors and you got nothing.

If the card was a “rewards” card purchased with credit card, airline, or other “points” — well then, all bets are off. The card could have been loaded with fees and expire at any time.

Tell us your own gift card story — and we’ll use it to make sure your card is worth what you paid for it.

This holiday season, lawmakers are working on a bill to eliminate fees and expiration dates. Money doesn’t expire. Neither should money stored on a gift card.

The bill would also require companies to treat cards purchased with rewards points the same as cards purchased with cash.

But this bill isn’t a slam dunk. Retailers and banks benefit when you give them cash but then they don’t have to honor that cash amount in goods or services. To pass this bill, in the face of opposition from industry, lawmakers need the stories of real people.

Tell us your story, and we will put it in front of lawmakers and news outlets!

Share your story, or forward this email to a friend, co-worker or family member who may have gotten less than their money’s worth from a gift card.

Sincerely,
Pam Banks, DefendYourDollars.org
A project of Consumers Union