First, let me state that I find both of these groups’ actions repugnant. But, given that fact, it’s totally unclear why either one feels justified in their actions- or that the other group is picking on them.
Visa, McDonald’s, John Deere, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Wendy’s, and Proctor & Gamble had been using their profits (which really are the stockholders’ profits, I might add) to add to the funds the Koch Brothers use to buy state legislatures. I’ve reported before about ALEC (American Legislative Executive Council), which funds Republican office holders, and in return demands allegiance to its positions.
Yes, as I’ve written (see the post above and the next few days worth of posts), that means the constituents who voted for these legislators have no say in the votes the automatons (a fancy term for puppets whose strings are pulled by the Koch Brothers) deliver. Despite the fact that our American way of life is predicated on being a democracy, where we vote for representatives to represent OUR interests, not the interests of lobbyists.
So, that describes this group of firms that I term criminal. (I’m sorry, but if you are providing bribes- OK, election funds- to have elected officials vote a specific way – despite the needs and interests of the citizenry, that’s a criminal enterprise.)
On the other side of this argument is a Black advocacy group, “Color of Change”. This group demanded the firms above (among others who were also part of the ALEC lobby) withdraw their support for ALEC. If a corporation didn’t comply, the group threatened to sponsor local radio ads denouncing each and every board member of the firm. The ads (in this case) were going to claim the board members were contributing to the death of Black people (since ALEC was the progenitor of the Florida “Stand Your Ground” law).
It’s claimed that People for the American Way and MoveOn.org also joined in this campaign. However, the demands by these groups were that ALEC be required to make its funding sources public. (I’m for that- big time!) ALEC claims (here we go with “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin” arguments) that, since it is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, it doesn’t have to divulge who gives it money.
I’d like to know how the heck a lobbying enterprise can be considered to be a charitable or benevolent agency. But that’s the gimmick ALEC uses. And, then the lobbying funds corporations provide it are deliberately labeled as “membership fees”, which hid the fact that lobbying is the only activity for this group. And, the “contributions”, which may or may not be tax deductible, are strictly rendered to have laws written that benefit the financial elite and corporate interests.
It’s certainly time for us to outlaw such “charitable” activities. Yes, I know that charity begins at home, but charity is supposed to be philanthropic, serving the public interest or common good. No way is serving the interest of the rich or the powerful in the public interest or benefiting the common good.
How is this classed as charity?
VJ explained how these organizations work (sic)- but they do claim they are a charitable, social organization.
Thanks for your visit, Nick!
I’ll have to check into the organization you mentioned, I really don’t know much about it, one thing I can tell you though the the tax structure for a 501c3 doesn’t actually have to be charitable at all, at least not in the way that most of us think of charity. There are just simple structural requirements, requirements about what is done with any funds above operating expenses, and so forth, and as long as one can check all the boxes they can qualify as a 501c3. (For example, decisions have to made by a board of directors, rather than an owner or CEO, the board must keep minutes, the board must meet a specific number of times per quarter, if money beyond a certain amount is brought in it must be designated for specific projects… etc.
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Great information (I know that)- but they claim they are a charitable organization.
I think the best answer is pass a simple law- corporations are not people. That means they don’t have the right to free speech (their officers certainly do- if they are American citizens)- and that means goodbye to these scams.
I find it very interesting how these folks consider it acceptable to use corporate funds – which, if you believe the myth (I don’t) that stockholders own the corporations and that makes this their money- for such endeavors.
Thanks for the visit and the comment, VJ!