Beware of those capitalist charities

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We capitalists are often shamed for being profit-oriented and exploiting workers and customers to maximise our gain. Well, how about those organisations that do the same and worse under the cover of helping those in need? 

I am talking, of course, of the evil empire of the Girl Scouts of America. Every year, they send innocent little girls out on the streets to rip off Americans in the name of raising funds to educate girls and support the troops. Their most prominent scheme to get Americans to part with their hard-earned cash is to sell girl scout cookies. And did you know that the girl scouts who sell these cookies get to keep 10% to 15% of the proceeds for their group? Most food retailers wish they had a net margin of 15%. 

Just look at them, peddling their wares and counting the cash they generate. The UN Global Compact tries to end child labour and what are the girl scouts doing? Encourage it! 

The official picture for girl scout leaders selling cookies

Source: Girl Scouts USA 

And the prices they charge!

For decades, the price of girl scout cookies has matched inflation in the United States. But no longer. Between 2012 and 2021 the inflation rate for girl scout cookies has been 4.6% compared to 1.6% average consumer price inflation. These are inflation rates we typically only see for three different kinds of goods in the United States: healthcare, education, and luxury items. So, are girl scout cookies now a luxury item that needs to be included in Forbes’ Cost of Living Extremely Well Index?

Where is the public outrage about that? 

Apparently, everything gets more expensive, even charity.

Inflation of girl scout cookies 

Source: Yahoo Finance, Robert Shiller

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