Do you know a really rich person?

[JDPriestly]

125. Mitt Romney is a Mormon. I am familiar with Mormon charities.

Usually rich people (not especially talking about Romney here because I don't know what he gave to) give in a way that reserves to them a feeling of control and power.

They sometimes, maybe even often, give to avoid paying taxes.

In other words, they give with certain emotional and intellectual strings attached.

Also, giving may alleviate some of their guilt about having so much when others have so little.

I worked for a homeless non-profit for some years.

The giving of the rich is not what it looks like. It is often but not always less selfless than the giving of the middle class or the poor. There are all kinds of hiccups with it, strings attached, control, recognition, all sorts of very strange aspects to it -- even sexual domination. It's kind of a world of its own.

I remember one family that set up a foundation, a charitable foundation for the family. The first job of the foundation was to write the family's history and publish the story. That was years ago, and it may no longer be possible to deduct such an inane "charitable donation" from taxes.

I suggest that you read the recent book about the Koch family by Jane Mayer, Dark Money is the name I think.