Is Billionaire Philanthropy a Sham?Remember when Jeff Bezos was...



Is Billionaire Philanthropy a Sham?

Remember when Jeff Bezos was showered with praise for donating $100 million to food banks last year?

That may seem like a lot, and it is. But once you consider all that Bezos has raked in during the pandemic – including making $13 billion in a single day in 2020 – it’s a few hours of his earnings. 

It’s not just Bezos. Billionaires like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet also receive lots of praise for their “generous” charitable giving.

The truth about billionaire philanthropy is it isn’t charity. Its public relations, often used to cover up their exploitative business practices, shield their wealth, and deflect attention from all they money they pour into lobbying and campaign contributions to assure that their taxes remain historically low. 

These so-called “charitable contributions” are also tax-deductible, meaning you and I are subsidizing them. I don’t know about you, but I believe taxpayers should be deciding where their tax dollars ultimately go.

America doesn’t need their charity. We need them to pay their fair share in taxes 

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Published on August 31, 2021 14:52
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message 1: by Celso (last edited Sep 04, 2021 02:13PM) (new)

Celso Dear Mr. Reich, I totally agree with you. You said it right: acts of philanthropy are not charity. In general billionaires and millionaires donate because of two motives: they want to be socially recognized, praised and want to reduce their taxes. The vast majority of American taxpayers want tax fairness and demand the repeal of the immoral, infamous Tax Act of 2017. The rich US corporations and citizens must pay their fair share of taxes, so that the US Government can strengthen Social Security and other social welfare programs.

Quoting from Matthew 6: 1 "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."


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