100 years ago charities asked post office to throw away letters to Santa, fearing they encouraged cheating, lying, and budding con artists.
"What could be more innocent than a letter to Santa? ... These days, such letters are viewed as an opportunity to help the less fortunate. In many cities across the U.S., the Postal Service makes available Santa letters to groups or individuals who want to fulfill the wishes enclosed within. It’s a small gesture, multiplied hundreds of thousands of times a year, that brings joy to both the giver and the recipient. What harm could come from that? Oh, just teaching kids to beg, cheat, and lie—at least, that was the conventional wisdom of charity groups in the early 1900s." -- Alex Palmer, Slate.com
