When the 1% do GOOD things with their $$$
If you're in the Arts, or you work for a non-profit organization, you have to spend a certain amount of time sucking up to the Rich. I happen to be an playwright who works at a non-profit NYC food drive to make a living, and so I've done a bit of both. I've gone to Gala benefits where folks in gowns and tuxedos munched on caviar and bid on luxury cars and round-the-world trips. I've written sycophantic letters to foundations and have spent my fair share of time buttering up important so-and-sos in order to win precious grants and awards to continue my life's work.
And you know what? Some of those people actually give a damn.
Some of them grew up poor, and having obtained wealth at some point, are spending their twilight years helping those who need it the most. Some of them grew up rich, but have a conscience, or idealize the bohemian lifestyle. In any case, what they're doing with their money is a very vital part of any success I've had in life, financially and creatively. Now you might say, "Yes, but aren't you basically begging for their table scraps? Shouldn't our modern society have a better way of supporting artists and feeding starving children than making you get on your knees and appeal to the sympathy of the 1%?"
Yes, it probably should. Our government should do more. Hell, everybody should do more. But they aren't. And people in need of help now really can't sit around and wait for our sociopolitical system to change sometime in the future.
Classical arts like ballet and opera have always been particularly in need of philanthropists, because their art form is so expensive and the majority of Americans have neither the money nor the inclination to enjoy them. You might be the mistake of thinking that these art forms merely exist to entertain the wealthy in our society--except the singers and dancers and musicians involved LOVE what they do, and most of them are far from rich. Most have no illusions of EVER being rich. (i actually know a few, so I can attest to this.)
Now--did you know whose name is on third largest theater at Lincoln Center, which regularly stages both ballet and opera? David L. Koch. Yes, THAT David L. Koch. He's giving them $100 million over the next 10 years, and had the theater completely renovated. I can't stand the guy, and would never call him a good person. But I wouldn't boycott attending performances at the theater that bears his name, and I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to have my work performed there if I was lucky enough to be invited. And I'm not wealthy either.
Philanthropy is the primary reason why I'm not in the habit of making sweeping generalizations about whether the wealthiest Americans are actually evil people or not. I'm all in favor of taxing them and making them pay their fair share, but on occasion they've been known to put all of that extra money of theirs to good use. It doesn't cancel out bad deeds should they commit them, but it does let you know that there's sometimes more to the 1% of our society than all-encompassing greed.
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There are some wealthy people with a conscience. In fact, there are groups of 1%'ers who are advocating to have their taxes raised.
Responsible Wealth is one such group: http://faireconomy.org/responsible_wealth
The word "philanthropy" is, unfortunately, starting to trigger a knee-jerk response in me. So often it seems to be about tax write-offs, not authentic generosity. Those engaged in large-scale philanthropy are not impacted whatsoever by their donation, in the sense that they don't go without anything as a result of it. They don't have to give up their fifth vacation home or yacht or private plane just because they made a multimillion dollar donation.
On the other hand, I fully understand that those who are in need, be it for food or the arts, depend upon this generosity, regardless of the donors' intentions.
For me, it's also a matter of weighing the pros and cons of working with someone, or with an organization or business. No one is perfect. We each have to set our boundaries. Personally, I'd have a really hard time doing anything that involved one of the Koch Brothers but, again, I hear what you're saying.
Bottom line, we need more justice, not charity. We have to do the best we can each day and do what we can live with, I suppose.
I'm looking for deep-pocketed supporters of Wishadoo in order to launch a few huge projects which benefit many, many people throughout the country. I'm not going to find a perfect partner, so I must weigh the pros and cons, and see my role as offering them opportunities to keep moving in the right direction, toward more empathy, compassion and cooperation, less cut-throat competition and greed.
