My problem is that a self-styled "radical left" publication/author is espousing a quite conservative view that charity is a knee-jerk way to help the "less fortunate" and based on that premise insults charitable institutions (foundations) for failing on that job. His main concern seems to use his vitriol on a punching boy (no pun intended) and apparently has no clue on how foundations operate or how social assistance is actually funded in this country (and elsewhere) i.e. by government not by private charity. There are no "facts" to be proved or disproved in the piece in question - this is just an angry rant and a bunch of generalities whose main purpose seems to evoke angry response in the audience.
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Which sounds like a reasonable (or at least coherent) critique until you re-read this paragraph from the article in question:
<snip>
A January 2006 article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy argued that the amount given to post-Katrina New Orleans was "small-potato giving for America's foundations, which collectively have $500-billion in assets." The article also asserted, "just as deplorable as the small sums poured into the region are the choices foundations have made about where the money should go." In other words, very little of the money had gone to organizations directed by or accountable to New Orleanians. In discussions this week, one prominent New Orleans-born advocate and lobbyist called this phenomenon the "Halliburtization of the nonprofit sector."
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So, one of the key sources for the article's assertion that non profits have promised much and delivered less is an article published in The Chronicle of Philanthropy. What sort of organization is the Chronicle? Is it the kind of "tabloid" leftie rag Wojtek's complaining about?
I decided to go to their website and find out:
<http://www.philanthropy.com/>
Turns out it's a pretty mainstream publication.
Let's review...
New Orleans continues to be in a state of extreme distress. Various organizations that have promised to help have been, according to one of the primary publications of their industry, miserly in dispensing the desperately needed (and long promised) aid.
You'd think that at least a wee bit of anger might be a natural reaction to this state of affairs. Under the circumstances, I think Jordan Flaherty's piece is rather even toned -- almost zen like.
But to you Wojtek, it's simply another case of leftie hysteria, which, like a bogeyman, you see even when it's not there.
Quite a pity, really.
.d.