Edit: This was originally written in 2009; I republish it on World AIDS Day. Obviously several things have happened since then to the credibility of Komen and LiveStrong, but those updates are easily found.
Several recent diaries have touched on the subject of cause-marketing. The majority of my research on the subject focuses on Product (Red) and HIV/AIDS, however I've extended discussion here to include the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and LiveStrong.
Let me begin by saying I have no objection to people paying whatever they like to support whatever they wish. My concern stems from a fundamental myth of capitalist culture upheld by cause-marketing: consumption is a reasonable and sufficient response to human suffering.