Charity blackmail at the drive-thru

I was plunking around the web for the latest on the Yankees' manager search when I came across the following message board thread:

Don't you hate it when you go to a drive-thru and they ask if you want to donate a dollar to some cause in exchange for a coupon book? 

I hate it.  Here's why. I like to choose the charities I give to.  I don't need some restaurant drive-thru deciding for me.  Also, they really put people on the spot.  They know that they are putting you on the spot in public.  They know that people will feel cheap and selfish by the time they pull around to the second window. 

Today I finally felt the need to explain..I pulled up to the second window [why does that first one exist? All it ever has is a stack of buns in it] I said look i'm really not a jerk, I give to charity, I just like to choose which ones I give to.

One of these days I'm gonna pull up to the second window and ask if they'd like to donate to the drive-thru relief fund and pay for my meal.

You've probably encountered similar donation requests at a drive-thru or grocery store checkout.  From the grocery store's perspective, they win by associating themselves with charity and touting their charitable contributions without having to donate a penny themselves.  The charities win because they get money.  

But the customers?  The feeling of coercion is real, and it can alter their perception of charity itself . . .  

it's a shakedown operation bro. I have no problem telling these people no fuggin way, they always want toadd a couple dollars on my charge card at the check out or assualt me when I am leaving the store. I give because I want to give, not due to coercion.