Opinion 8: Organized Mathematics= Organized Crime  By: Doron
Zeilberger  Written: Dec. 1, 1995.  Mathematics is noble,
Organization is not. While it is probably true that mathematical
organizations are better than other ones, they are not much
better. I am sorry to say that the 3 biggies:AMS, MAA, SIAM,
have all some sleaze in them.  The main reason is that they
charge dues (and charge for their services, like journals and
conferences), hence generate money, and whenever there is money
there is sleaze. Perhaps a better reason is that they generate
power (for example deciding who is to be editor and invited
speaker), and one of the oldest axioms of Human Nature is that
power corrupts.  The sleaziest of the three is perhaps SIAM,
(Sleazy Institute for Avarice and Money-making), that charges
exorbitant fees at their conventions. They are the only ones to
enforce that the registration fees are actually paid, and they
have bouncers at the door that check badges. Also they are
tacky, they offer raffles that are ann