Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
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Re: Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
#2Too many people to help. Corruption. Self sustainability. But yeah it is nice to try.
Re: Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
#3I don't necessarily want it to go away entirely, but the tax breaks should be abolished. It's particularly offensive to see the state and local tax deduction (money that actually goes to help one's fellows in the ways they see fit, without being beholden to the whims of the "donor") capped while 503c "donations" remain an unlimited deduction.
Re: Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
#4I don't necessarily want it to go away entirely, but the tax breaks should be abolished. It's particularly offensive to see the state and local tax deduction (money that actually goes to help one's fellows in the ways they see fit, without being beholden to the whims of the "donor") capped while 503c "donations" remain an unlimited deduction.
That’s funny, I feel the exact opposite for the same reasons. I think charitable donations are far better than taxes because the donors get to direct where the money goes and have say over its use.
Those giving up their money are in the best position to ensure it is used towards the ends they want. I think direct oversight is a positive attribute and useful in ensuring the altruistic goals are effectively met.
I also oppose local tax deductions despite standing to benefit greatly.
Re: Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
#5https://wwe.youtube.com/watch?v=d_zt3kGW1NM
Although not directly related.
Re: Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
#6I don't necessarily want it to go away entirely, but the tax breaks should be abolished. It's particularly offensive to see the state and local tax deduction (money that actually goes to help one's fellows in the ways they see fit, without being beholden to the whims of the "donor") capped while 503c "donations" remain an unlimited deduction.
That’s funny, I feel the exact opposite for the same reasons. I think charitable donations are far better than taxes because the donors get to direct where the money goes and have say over its use. Those giving up their money are in the best position to ensure it is used towards the ends they want. I think direct oversight is a positive attribute and useful in ensuring the altruistic goals are effectively met. I also…
"The ends they want" - as opposed to the ends the recipients want (as expressed through an admittedly imperfect democratic system) - is exactly what I object to. Most "donations" are made to advance a personal agenda at least in part; even when the donor sincerely believes they're doing what's best for people, that's usually a reflection of their personal politics and you'll often find other people believing the exact opposite. It's fine to fund personal causes, admirable even, but you shouldn't be given a tax break for it.
Re: Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
That’s funny, I feel the exact opposite for the same reasons. I think charitable donations are far better than taxes because the donors get to direct where the money goes and have say over its use. Those giving up their money are in the best position to ensure it is used towards the ends they want. I think direct oversight is a positive attribute and useful in ensuring the altruistic goals are effectively met. I also…
"The ends they want" - as opposed to the ends the recipients want (as expressed through an admittedly imperfect democratic system) - is exactly what I object to. Most "donations" are made to advance a personal agenda at least in part; even when the donor sincerely believes they're doing what's best for people, that's usually a reflection of their personal politics and you'll often find other people believing the exac…
Would you be happy with government-designed (so presumably democratic) tests and quotas for which charities get the tax breaks?
Re: Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
#8I don't necessarily want it to go away entirely, but the tax breaks should be abolished. It's particularly offensive to see the state and local tax deduction (money that actually goes to help one's fellows in the ways they see fit, without being beholden to the whims of the "donor") capped while 503c "donations" remain an unlimited deduction.
>It's particularly offensive to see the state and local tax deduction (money that actually goes to help one's fellows in the ways they see fit, without being beholden to the whims of the "donor") capped while 503c "donations" remain an unlimited deduction.
The point of charitable deductions is to incentivize certain types of behavior (ie. charitable donations). On the other hand the SALT deduction is effectively the federal government subsidizing high-tax jurisdictions at the expense of low-tax jurisdictions. The first seems far more defensible and in line with the federal government's mission[1], than some sort of mechanism to pad the finances of certain states. This doesn't necessarily exclude redistribute policies by the federal government entirely, but doing it by tax rate is baffling no matter how you look at it.
[1] and no, this argument doesn't work for the SALT deduction because state/local taxes aren't optional
Re: Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
"The ends they want" - as opposed to the ends the recipients want (as expressed through an admittedly imperfect democratic system) - is exactly what I object to. Most "donations" are made to advance a personal agenda at least in part; even when the donor sincerely believes they're doing what's best for people, that's usually a reflection of their personal politics and you'll often find other people believing the exac…
Would you be happy with government-designed (so presumably democratic) tests and quotas for which charities get the tax breaks?
Isn't that already the case? You can't set up a charity to throw parties for yourself, for instance.
Re: Much philanthropy is a routinized exchange between salaried bureaucrats
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
"The ends they want" - as opposed to the ends the recipients want (as expressed through an admittedly imperfect democratic system) - is exactly what I object to. Most "donations" are made to advance a personal agenda at least in part; even when the donor sincerely believes they're doing what's best for people, that's usually a reflection of their personal politics and you'll often find other people believing the exac…
Would you be happy with government-designed (so presumably democratic) tests and quotas for which charities get the tax breaks?
That's a start, but for me to be "happy" I'd want there to be similar level of accountability and safeguards from bottom to top. So those charities would need to be subject to the same kind of legal rules as a government agency - FOIA, equal protection clause, that kind of thing. And there'd have to be a similar culture of holding them to account. (Like, counterintuitively I'd be happier if I started seeing a lot more news reports of charities wasting funds, because that would suggest that reporters at least cared enough to investigate)