I went to the supermarket this morning.

Bread, milk, and eggs.
€47.63.
The screen asked me if I wanted to round up the total to support a children's hospital.
I pressed no.
The cashier looked at me.
The woman behind me too.
My wife looked at the ceiling.
Same thing again.
This company made 14 billion euros last year.
They can round up.
Then I went to get gas.
The pump screen asked me if I wanted to donate 1 euro to support war veterans.
I support veterans.
I pressed no.
An oil company valued at 200 billion dollars is asking me to fund their charity while I'm paying €2.20 a liter.
That's not philanthropy.
It's outsourcing charity.
Later we stopped to eat.
Taco Bell.
The screen said: "Do you want to round up to support education?"
A fast food chain is asking me to fund scholarships while it pays its employees €11 an hour.
I pressed no.
My wife said: "Today you're arguing with screens."
She was right.
But the screens started it.
Later I went to the pharmacy.
I picked up a medication.
€340 even with a prescription.
The screen asked if I wanted to donate 1 euro to help families in need.
I just paid 340 euros for a medication that costs €4 to make.
And now you want another euro.
I pressed no.
The pharmacist said:
"It's just one euro."
I replied:
"It's never just one euro."
He said nothing.
When we got home, my wife said:
"Today you said no to a children's hospital, to veterans, to education, and to families in need."
I replied:
"No. I said no to four corporations that want me to fund their goodwill so they can put it in their annual report."
She went quiet.
Then she said:
"You're not wrong."
I told her:
"I know."
She answered:
"But you're going to look like a monster."
I said:
"I'd rather look like a monster than quietly fund a multibillion-dollar company's public relations strategy at the checkout."
She didn't argue.
But she didn't look at me either.
Please fix it. Thanks.
Sent from my iPhone.