The Free Market at its Most Cunning.

Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania (PPSP) has come up with an ingenious solution to a pernicious problem. Like so many Planned Parenthood locations, PPSP (thank god for that abbreviation) has to deal with protesters that harass and intimidate their clients, generally poor women, and the staff that serves them, generally volunteers. Since the First Amendment protects this sort of ‘free speech’ on public property PPSP has limited options with dealing with these people. Unlike some on the opposing side, they can’t just leave bombs on the side walk or assassinate them with snipers (can’t you just feel the rhetoric?).

So the people of PPSP have come up with an ingenious solution. From the web site:

You decide on the amount you would like to pledge for each protester (minimum 10 cents). When protesters show up on our sidewalks, Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania will count and record their number each day from October 1 through November 30, 2005. We will place a signoutside the health center that tracks pledges and makes protesters fully aware that their actions are benefiting PPSP. At the end of the two-month campaign, we will send you an update on protest activities and a pledge reminder.

Example:
If you pledge 30 cents per protester, and PPSP has 100 protesters in October and 160 protesters in November, your donation would be 78 dollars for the entire two-month campaign.

You gotta love these people.