Now,GUEST, I tend to agree with you about some issues.
1 They do attempt to fundraise the exact same way, and I think it is wrong
2 they are trying to appeal to the same (and shrinking) demographic pool. Once you make a donation to PBS, Red Cross, Heart Association, Cancer Etc, YOU are now the target market. It is not enough that you made a contribution, but the thinking is that if you gave once, you will give again and again in the same year if they can shame you in to making the donation.
3 as per Ken Burns needing killed...well, you inner city thugs may resort to assassination, we in the suburbs will just file a lawsuit or start rumors that he is a communist...grin   all the best. (I think I'll have some bree and another white zinfandel) by the way, wouldn't that constitute a "multicultural experience" for me? I think bree is from some foreign country, but I'm not sure about Zinfandel.