by Scott Nesler
Subtitle: Anonymous Donantions
Upton Sinclair said, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." Similarly, Henry Ford stated, "The fear of loosing what you have blocks all avenues of innovation and advancement."
Our media persistently criticizes the democratic system of government, ignoring the root of our political problems. In 1816, Thomas Jefferson describe an opposition to our form of government in a letter to George Logan, "I hope we shall… crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country."
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In the past many corporate firms in the United States devoted a substantial budget to research and development. This was apparent twenty-five years ago as software engineer. Over the past ten years the job market in research and development has dried up. Large corporations have shifted R&D funding to the fiscally rewarding opportunity of corporate lobbying. This lobbying is used to deregulate the safe guards of public interest. The number of elected officials is minuscule compared to the masses of citizens. The excessive wealth of a few corporations can easily sway the decisions of the vote through greed and bribery. Financially appeasing a few elected officials is cost effective compared to satisfying the public interest. Transparency in government provide some clarity on corporate control of elected officials. though I doubt it will deter unethic behavior. Standing up to the corporate threat requires money. Using the same fund raising tactics as elected official, will likely lead a grass root effort to the same unethical dilemma. |
Ian Ayres and Jeremy Bulow's describes a formula of no quid pro quo donations in an essay called The Donation Booth. This essay describes a third party system of funneling charitable funds to grass roots research and development efforts will provide opportunity to stay clear to a vision and prevent obstacles causing a project to stray down a less optimal path.
There are many questions to be answer in this subject.
- Open or Proprietary Donation Booth
- Charitable Tax Ramifications
- Accountability
- Trust
Just like all essays initiated on the Do Good Gauge. What you see is not a finished product. Reader coaching will motivate a quality product.
