The Focus on the Family Un-Fundraiser

Above is a photo of me back in the day, when I was young and wore fake silver bulldog chains that I got out of gumball machines. Also, smoking. I quit for three years a while back, but have been on again off again since I started law school in 2008. So, it is with great excitement that I announce my Focus on the Family Quit Smoking Un-Fundraiser!

My co-worker told me about something she heard on NPR regarding a study on changing bad habits. They had groups of people use different incentives and disincentives to change their eating habits. One incentive was that people were monetarily rewarded for reaching certain weight loss goals. That apparently was not all that successful. The most successful manner was that people agreed to donate money to an organization they despised if they failed to reach their goals.

Here’s the deal: for the next six months, I will donate $5 to Focus on the Family for every cigarette I smoke. For those of you not familiar with the organization, Focus on the Family is an awful organization that pretends to be pro-family. What it actually is is an organization that opposes same-sex marriage, LGBT adoption, runs ads in support of right-wing, bigoted politicians, and encourages corporal punishment, (Christian) prayer in school, abstinence-only education, and “strong gender roles.” It is also the organization that paid for the bullshit Tim Tebow and his momma “pro-life” ad in the 2010 Super Bowl. And I mean, come on, fuck that guy.

If I slip up, I will post it here on this site and will post any letter or receipt I receive from Focus on the Family. I promise this and will follow through if at any time I smoke a cigarette in the next 6 months. That is $5 per cigarette. 

I’m currently trying to think of another awful organization or political candidate that I will donate $50 to for each and any pack of cigarettes I buy. Any suggestions?