Dear WETA,
Please don't insult my intelligence.
Here's the deal. You sent me a ballot for the "Second Annual WETA Member's Choice Program Awards." I have an opportunity to vote for the best History and Documentary, Music/Performance, Public Affairs program, etc. That's wonderful. I'm glad you value my opinion, or at least pretend to (perhaps to butter me up for "The Eisner 2005 Challenge Grant Contribution Form" included with the ballot).
But could you spare me the pseudo-secret bullshit on the envelope? I'm talking about the "CONFIDENTIAL" red stamp. God forbid somebody else gets a hold of that ballot. They might vote for Tucker Carlson Unfiltered instead of Frontline and bring the integrity of the entire awards process into question! And about this "MEMBER BALLOT ENCLOSED, For addressee only:" my letter carrier makes a habit of delivering my mail to random people on his route, but when he sees that, I bet he'll be sure to put it in my mailbox instead. It's probably overkill, though, because that CONFIDENTIAL stamp will have my neighbor quaking in her boots.
Sincerely,
David Eisner
P.S. I see that I missed Regency House Party. Will you be re-airing that?
Posted by cradle at January 27, 2005 11:47 PMWhat do you think you'll get out of this letter?
Free television?
Oh wait.
Posted by: kan at January 28, 2005 2:13 AMDear DAVID ,
Thank you for your contacting us. Of course we value your opinion, that's why we have an automated process to respond to your every whim.
As to your concern, we want to assure you that the money from our contributors supports all kinds of Public Broadcasting ventures such as hiring the inestimable Tucker Carlson, not to mention the additional cost of color printing, as in printing the word, "CONFIDENTIAL" on our mass mailings.
Without your support, there would be no bow-tied conservative "pundits" on our network, and for that you should pat yourself on the back.
Please send us more money. We shall continue to use it wisely. Without your monetary contributions, WETA would not be able to show programs such as "Sesame Street," and you wouldn't want that to be canceled, would you?
Sincerely,
WETA
I'm impressed you got a response. WETA seems to care about something.
Posted by: shannon at January 31, 2005 5:59 AMOh man, I was going to steal your ballot and vote for the Nightly Business Report!
Posted by: Tom at February 2, 2005 9:40 PMNever mind stupid stamps on envelopes. WETA is considering dropping its classical music broadcasting on the radio, and replacing it with more news. Because we're not getting enough NPR programming between WAMU all day and what WETA currently puts out. And to think I just made a nice contribution to them....
Posted by: Bob S at February 3, 2005 9:43 PMYour letter to WETA was much nicer than mine
http://gotv.blogspot.com/2004/12/letter-from-susan-richmond.html