I'm not complaining, mind you.

It pays the bills, and I get an opportunity to see a lot of things around the country.

Some of that is impressive. Seeing the sun reflecting off of the St. Louis Arch from I-70 near dawn. Driving over the Mackinac Bridge in the middle of the afternoon and admiring the view on a clear sunny day. Taking in the view from my "office window" of the Appalachians while driving down I-26.

Some of it is sad. Anytime I drive the surface streets around Detroit. Driving through the ghost town that once was Wilmington. Anything in Gary, IN.

And some of that just makes you sit back and shake your head.

I also go to pick up and drop off at a lot of companies and businesses where I also do a lot of the above.

However, I came across this flyer in the driver's room at a DC for the UFCW which really caught my attention.

I'm not going to shock you about whom the unions are supporting, what issues they are backing, and what they think of AG Schuette this week.

No, this one has to do with raising funds for their political machine.

Time for a little backstory:

One of the things labor unions complain about is that there is more attention being paid to where member dues are actually going and that they can no longer automatically shake down members to fill the coffers for {fill-in-the-name-of favored-candidate/cause}.

Much like the Teamster's D.R.I.V.E. Fund PAC or the UAW's C.A.P. PAC, the UFCW has a similar entity called A.B.C. ("Active Ballot Club"). Now, why A.B.C. feels that "Don't ask, don't tell" has anything to do with labor issues is beyond me, but I digress. Unions now resort to these operations, and need to ask their members first before taking their money to generate cash for democrats and progressive causes.

Curse you Knox & Beck!!!

Generally speaking, these PAC's are year-round operations, but are mostly active in the months leading up to elections. They typically ask members to fill out and sign a form or card and then money is automatically deducted from their paycheck at a set pay interval. As a rule, they do not ask members if they wish to renew every year.

It's up to individual members to cease donating if they feel they are not getting their money's worth.

Interesting note: For those members who no longer feel that their political donations are put to the best use, the process for ending this donation is purposefully made difficult and cumbersome by unions. But, to be fair, members can opt out if they want to.

Even though unions aren't very keen to what's happening with democrats on the National Level as demonstrated over the fallout with next weeks DNC Convention, they do need cash to push for things they care about closer to home like the "Protect Our Jobs" Amendment, "Home Health Care" Amendment (a.k.a. SEIU's Stealth Union attempt pt. 2) Amendment and the Emergency Manager Amendment.

Hmmmmm hmmm hmmm ummm um!

Unions need cash to give to democrats and fund their other political causes.

What to do?

How about hold a lottery?

A lottery to raise money???

Don't take my word on this. Read it for yourself.

In their latest push to raise money from their members, the UFCW is, in effect, holding a lottery for those who donate to the UFCW's A.B.C. PAC.

You're read that correctly: If a member donates to the UFCW's A.B.C. PAC, or upgrades their "contribution", they are in the running to possibly win $500!

But, isn't what they are doing defined as a lottery and illegal?

Let's see what the state has to say?

From the Michigan Gaming Control Board:

"Lotteries are generally illegal under state and federal laws with the exception of state run lotteries and licensed charity gaming. A lottery is an activity in which all three of the following elements are present: 1) consideration; 2) prize; and 3) chance.

But even if an element of a lottery is missing Michigan Courts construe the term broadly with a view to declaring any such kind of gaming a lottery."

Also according to the state, MCL 750.372:

"MCL 750.372 Lotteries and gift enterprises; prohibited acts; applicability of subsection (1); "promotional activity" defined; violation as misdemeanor; penalty.
Sec. 372.

(1) Except as otherwise provided by law or in this section, a person shall not do any of the following:

(a) Set up or promote within this state any lottery or gift enterprise for money.

(b) Dispose of any property, real or personal, goods, chattels, merchandise, or valuable thing by the way of lottery or gift enterprise.

(c) Aid, either by printing or writing, or in any way be concerned in the setting up, managing, or drawing of a lottery or gift enterprise.

(d) In a house, shop, or building owned or occupied by him or her or under his or her control, knowingly permit the setting up, managing, or drawing of any lottery or gift enterprise, or knowingly permit the sale of any lottery ticket or share of a ticket, or any other writing, certificate, bill, goods, chattels, merchandise, token, or other device purporting or intended to entitle the holder or bearer or other person to any prize or gift or any share of or interest in any prize or gift to be drawn in any lottery or gift enterprise.

(e) Knowingly allow money or other property to be raffled off in a house, shop, or building owned or occupied by him or her or allow money or other property to be won by throwing or using dice or by any other game or course of chance.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a lottery or gift enterprise conducted by a person as a promotional activity that is clearly occasional and ancillary to the primary business of that person. As used in this subsection, "promotional activity" means an activity that is calculated to promote a business enterprise or the sale of its products or services, but does not include a lottery or gift enterprise involving the payment of money solely for the chance or opportunity to win a prize or a lottery or gift enterprise that may be entered by purchasing a product or service for substantially more than its fair market value.
(3) A person violating subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or by a fine of not more than $1,000.00."

I'll say this. It's a pretty gutsy move to raise money.

So will we see the MSP arrest the ABC leadership and watch as they becomes guests of the state for their role in this?