Why Philanthropy Undermines Democracy and How it Can Do Better
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When, how much, and to whom people give is influenced by laws governing everything from the creation of foundations and nonprofits to generous tax exemptions for donations of money and property. Rob Reich, author of Just Giving, asks what attitudes and what policies should democracies have concerning individuals who give money away for public purposes? He posits that differentiating between individual philanthropy and private foundations, the aims of mass giving should be the decentralization of power in the production of public goods, such as the arts, education, and science. Philanthropy currently fails democracy in many ways, but Reich argues that it can be redeemed. When properly structured, philanthropy can play a crucial role in supporting a strong liberal democracy.
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