Democracy and the Donor Class

Foundations and philanthropists do much good, but these unelected actors have acquired enormous power to shape policy. Should they be reined in?

By Gara LaMarche

Fall 2014, No. 34 – 25 MIN READ

An Open Letter to Patriotic Philanthropists

Dear Fellow Citizen, Shortly before the election last fall, The New York Times ran an editorial about the flood of independent money in the campaign. The editors noted, The business interests behind those hundreds of millions are not going to...

By Bill Moyers Arnold Hiatt

Winter 2013, No. 27 – 5 MIN READ

Curing Philanthropy's Blind Spot: One Percent for Democracy

Early in 2009, in the heat of the battle on Capitol Hill over financial reform, Senator Dick Durbin was interviewed by a Chicago radio host about how the negotiations were going. Durbin lamented, The bankshard to believe in a time...

By Nick Penniman Ian Simmons

Winter 2013, No. 27 – 21 MIN READ

Nonpolitical? No Such Thing Today

In December 2009, a few days before the Senate was scheduled to vote on its version of the health-care reform bill, Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri was asked on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” why the Democrats had to settle for a...

By Wendell Potter

Winter 2013, No. 27 – 10 MIN READ