[DrCaleb]

BeaverFever BeaverFever:

Nor am I saying people shouldn’t be allowed to give their money for whatever cause they please. I’m saying charitable organizations that really care about issues and not just the pet causes and tunnel vision of their founder should be more democratic and inclusive and less condescending.

I’m also saying the public and governments should be less naive about charities that want to insert themselves into public affairs like funding public schools

...

Now I’m not saying all charities are bad or charities need to end Im saying we should all be more skeptical of these so-called philanthropists and understand that their interests are often not the exactly same as ours or even the people they claim to help. The criteria dor a tax deductible charity should be stricter and there should be limits on how much a person can claim and higher taxes for the rich.

I think we agree on charitable and religious deductions, but I'd like to point out a flaw in the above.

If I were filthy rich, and I had a cause that I believed in; should I not be able to sink billions of my own dollars into that cause? Charitable donations aside, it's my money. Shouldn't I be able to spend it where it makes me happiest?

Sure, the public may need vaccinations more than I need a museum to the history black velvet artists, but it's my money and government should be vaccinating the population.

Personally, I don't think there should be any limitations on how people choose to improve their community, or the world in general. How those donations are tax deductible however is totally up for scrutiny.