It's All Part of Capitalism: How Philanthropy Perpetuates Inequality

[Judi Lynn]

It's All Part of Capitalism: How Philanthropy Perpetuates Inequality
Saturday, 29 August 2015 00:00
By Eleanor J. Bader, Truthout | Book Review

Pro Bono?, Mikkel Thorup, Zero Books, 2015

Danish historian Mikkel Thorup's latest book skewers philanthropic capitalism. Whether criticizing individual businesspeople, celebrities, corporate-giving programs or sales that benefit a particular constituency or presumed social good, Thorup argues that philanthropy perpetuates inequality by deflecting efforts to distribute wealth and power more equitably.

He's absolutely right, of course. That said, the book is jargon-heavy and dense and would have benefited from concrete examples to illustrate exactly how philanthropies stoke injustice and serve the 1%.

Thorup is best on theory, and he begins by offering a definition:

Philanthropic capitalism is the idea that capitalism is or can be charitable in and of itself. The claim is that capitalist mechanisms are superior to all others [especially the state] when it comes to not only creating economic but also human progress; that the market and market actors are or should be made the prime creators of the good society; that capitalism is not the problem but the solution to all the major problems in the world; that the best thing to do is to extend the market to hitherto private or state processes; and, finally, that there is no conflict between rich and poor, but that the rich is [sic] rather the poor's best and possibly only friend.

The prevalent notion that the rich are somehow deserving of the wealth they've acquired and are smarter, more creative, luckier and somehow better than the rest of us underpins these conclusions, and Thorup lambastes media presentations that fail to mention personal connections, as well as tax policies, "odious speculation," questionable business practices, low wages and the rank exploitation that governs most financial gain.

More:
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/32504-it-s-all-part-of-capitalism-how-philanthropy-perpetuates-inequality

[Hydra]

1. A lot of the money they use towards "charitable" ends

Supports their interests and viewpoints, and oftentimes even their own business interests. It's just another way for them to exert power over communities.

[yurbud]

5. yep. look at foundations backing education "reform"

That conveniently involve buying tests and software, and giving contracts to charter schools and education management companies with ties to the families that run those foundations.

[V0ltairesGh0st]

2. Good read here on this also

http://www.alternet.org/economy/philanthropy-trouble

Philanthropy is NOT Charity, because charity involves actual sacrifice of your time, money, and resources.

[bemildred]

3. The public good ought not depend on patronage networks beholden to the rich.

It is just another way to exert power with money, the other side of the "austerity" coin; without austerity the rest of us are not dependent on the largess of the well-off.

[uriel1972]

4. They take everything then expect you to be grateful for a few crumbs...

Fuck it! and Fuck them!