ORIGINAL: Jim Thomerson
There is nothing wrong with an organization providing goods, services, etc. exclusively to its members. This is common and usual practice and explains why folks pay dues to become members.
Nothing wrong with that Jim, except.............
AMA represents itself (to the Fed) as a charitable organization providing services (educational) to the general citizenry. On the precept that it does what it says, AMA is granted a very advantaged tax status by IRS. The US taxpayers are not getting a dole from AMA for whatever benefit they may get from AMA, as they are providing the organization with a subsidy by paying AMA's fair share of the Federal tax burden.
Frankly I don't see the non-member taxpayers getting any return for this financial support of AMA, and so find myself sharing LCS's position on this.
Cletus
Edit: formating error