CTL – If you want to present the facts as you experience them in your town, or even as the handful of people you spoke to present it than you obviously have the right to do so. But don’t think that that translates to the thousands of other 12 step programs out there. When people are looking for self help, there is always a danger of giving them a tipping point with which to say “never mind”. The smart thing to say would be that in your finite experience of a fraction of 12 step groups there was a very real danger of missionizing etc as many used to be held in churches etc etc and be wary. But to write it off as a group led by sick dysfunctional people wanting to convert you or control you is just wrong. Sorry for your experience, but many cities have moved forward eons from there.
Also, I have never doubted any of your experiences or your personal presentation of your life (which, by the way have not been quite so limited as you seem to think), but the idea of a retired lawyer who owns his own firm, lives and breathes legal life and is training generations to continue this legacy taking counseling courses certainly gives pause.