Here are the 400 wealthiest Americans. Name three things you would call upon them to do...

[OneGrassRoot]

Three things they could do NOW -- not involving any of their various "foundations" -- actions that would DIRECTLY and positively impact local communities and our nation as a whole if they funneled their money into communities.

Separate from the tax cut issue, how could the wealthy balance things out if they did things directly and not through the myriad foundations set up that often tend to dilute direct results (and also often serve as a tax write-off for them)? I'm not disrespecting philanthropy, I just have the impression that there are so many vying for funds, that the efforts are diluted/delayed in red tape.

http://www.forbes.com/wealth/forbes-400/list


(I know many are tempted to post "it'll never happen, they're all greedy" etc., etc. But just imagine...please. :) Just imagine they were shamed into doing the right thing, how would you envision this playing out?)

:hi:

[Uta]

1. Number one

PAY TAXES!

[hay rick]

114. Make that 1, 2, and 3. nt

[roguevalley]

121. they can all die and leave it to me. I GUARANTEE YOU it will get

into the country and people who need it. And if they can't give it to me, they can just die.

[wtmusic]

2. Funneling money into communities is philanthropy.

Foundations are set up for accounting purposes and to avoid fraud. There's a method to the madness.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. There are so many though. How can there be a more concerted effort...

for them to very directly impact US communities regarding critical issues of food and housing?

I get your point about the structure of foundations and one of the purposes being to avoid fraud. :)

[wtmusic]

6. IMO what would do more good than anything

would be if one of them set up a PAC devoted to increasing the corporate tax rate. Not a one-time handout, but something that would reap benefits for decades.

Not holding my breath.

[OneGrassRoot]

Thanks. :) There is this organization....

http://www.faireconomy.org/issues/responsible_wealth

Maybe more attention could be focused on their efforts.

[BanzaiBonnie]

20. I would like one thing from them

To add their voice to this group.

[wtmusic]

36. Fantastic. Great link.

:thumbsup:

[JDPriestly]

60. Judging from what is going on in Wisconsin and other states, their efforts are not

great enough or successful enough to deserve attention.

The rich owners want the right to organize. They have the Chamber of Commerce and all kinds of industry organizations with bright-colored, slick-paged industry publications. But they want to destroy the opportunity for ordinary American working people to organize and negotiate.

Companies should invest in their communities by paying higher taxes and letting the voters in the community decide as a group what to do with the money.

Now there is an idea.

So, there is only one thing that rich people could do to make our country better -- pay much, much more in taxes. Trust democracy. It works when the rich pay a fair share of taxes based on their discretionary wealth.

[OneGrassRoot]

81. Yes, I agree.

"Companies should invest in their communities by paying higher taxes and letting the voters in the community decide as a group what to do with the money."

[JDPriestly]

55. Follow Jesus' teaching and give all their money to the poor.

[OneGrassRoot]

57. Interesting....

For those amongst the wealthiest who have pandered to religion and gotten on that moral pedestal (or paid others to be on that moral pedestal), I have ZERO problem shaming them in this regard.

:)

:thumbsup:

[Ohio Joe]

3. They could give me a job

That would be a nice start.

[SmileyRose]

7. +1

[rrneck]

5. Shrink their lifestyle an influence back to human scale. nt

[woo me with science]

8. ADMIT and become aggressively political about fixing a system that is funneling money from

our pockets to theirs.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. I found this organization a while ago: Responsible Wealth

"Responsible Wealth, a project of United for a Fair Economy, is a network of over 700 business leaders and wealthy individuals in the top 5% of income and/or wealth in the US who use their surprising voice to advocate for fair taxes and corporate accountability. If you're in the top 5% (over $200,000 household income and/or over $1 million net assets) and you care about economic justice, please join Responsible Wealth today!"

http://www.faireconomy.org/issues/responsible_wealth

Just FYI for those not familiar with them. I haven't followed up on their efforts in a while though.

[woo me with science]

15. Thank you.

I think when people talk about reforming corporate abuse, they often don't even know where to start. Corporations have tentacles in every area of our lives and are funneling money from us in ways we don't even understand. The system is mammoth, overwhelming, and incomprehensible to most, and a lot of people, like me, just end up feeling helpless and lost about what to do, how to even begin to fix things.

Thank you for this link.

[OneGrassRoot]

17. Oh, I COMPLETELY agree. It is absolutely overwhelming...

but it's why I try to initiate discussion of doing something...thinking of how it COULD be if a miracle were to happen. ;) Trust me, I realize the idea of the wealthy doing the right thing (en masse, at least) has little hope, but given the protesters here in the States and in the Middle East, I have more hope about humanity than ever.

And that we can shame them.

:hi:

[JDPriestly]

62. Having done grant-writing and fundraising, my experience is

that the wealthy often simply have greedy, controlling personalities. They can't help it. They just can't really let go of money and allow democracy to decide what to do with it.

That is why, as I mentioned above, Jesus said that if you want to gain the Kingdom of Heaven, meaning true happiness and a spiritual state of peace, then you must give away all your wealth to the poor.

To clarify -- when I looked at the requirements for grants from private foundations, I was shocked. This was over 15 years ago, so things may have changed. You would be surprised at the strings attached to foundation money. They want to fund projects that make them look good. Homeless men are not a popular object of charity. Kids are.

The money that foundations give away, is very often used to promote the reputation of the giver. The projects to which rich people give their money are the good-looking ones, not necessarily the ones that need money or will do the most with the money.

Our government does a far better job funding fundamental health research, for example, than some of the corporate-sponsored projects I might mention. Same goes for climate research and, of course, more than in any other area, for economic research.

Those who fund think tanks, especially the CATO and other right-wing think tanks, are corrupting our democracy, not serving it.

[OneGrassRoot]

69. +1000. That's my observation as well. n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

9. Why can't anyone ever propose specifics when I ask this question?

We bitch and bitch and bitch but, other than taxes (which is a corrupt system in and of itself right now), why can't we come up with a way their money could be put to very direct use in communities across this country?

No middleman. Their money, put to good use, with no bureaucratic red tape involved.

Forget write-offs and accounting. Why can't there be a very direct program that is VERY transparent? Why can't we at least think outside the box and entertain it and envision how it could work?

Especially in the case of food and shelter -- the basic survival aspects of life that so many are suffering from by not having?

:shrug:

[tigereye]

66. I dunno, Joan Kroc left a boatload of money to very good

causes when she died. Stuff her late husband may not have done... I found it disheartening (and interesting, too) that there were so few women on that list.


As for your question, someone has to administer large amounts of money and decide where it will go, correct? That takes a bit of time and planning. :shrug:

[OneGrassRoot]

77. I believe there is SOME way to do it faster than the current systems...

both philanthropic and government.

Faster, more efficient, and more transparent.

I'm asking for us to consider how this would look and could be implemented. I replied to you above as well.

One of my personal issues is feeling that so many good efforts are fragmented and thus diluted. It seems there is a way to do good locally in a more direct fashion, rather than being fragmented.

I don't know how exactly, hence my question.

:hi:

[tigereye]

97. sure, but it depends on which grassroot you are talking

about as well. Foundations here tend to have direct conversations with community organizations, well, most of the time. Those are certainly good questions...

[NillaWafers]

122. She was a generous silent benefactor during the catastrophic Grand Forks flood.

[lumberjack_jeff]

78. The specific, direct answer is there's no point "asking".

So long as all the wealth is "their money" it's all window-dressing.

[hfojvt]

101. first, because it is not a real problem

Should I study and figure out some specific things they could do, then what would be the point of that exercise? Would they do it?

Secondly, paying more taxes is pretty huge in itself as it would fund things like Liheap and teacher salaries.

Third, in a more practical matter, I wonder how much of their wealth is even available. Koch brother's wealth is tied up in the company and so it includes refineries and warehouses and factories and pipelines. The whole $12 billion is not really available unless they sell their company to some other group of investors.

As far as what to do with a million dollars or more, to give away or invest. My own money goes to
1) the Nation magazine
2) The Progressive magazine
3) Mother Jones magazine
4) the Sierra club
5) Kiwanis - and through them I help to fund a little league team, one person to Boys State and Girls State, $5,000 to the local school foundation, Parents as Teachers, the Alliance against family violence, Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Richard Allen cultural center, the Youth Achievement Center, the Salvation Army, Victory Junction, Special Olympics, Backpack buddies and probably some others I cannot remember now.
6) the Salvation Army
7* used to give to DFA, but quit after they endorsed Raj Goyle
7** and how could I forget a yearly donation to DU
7*** I also ran for office which ended up being a huge commitment of time and money.

and I also donate some time to
7) the Waterworks board
8) the County Democratic Party
9) the Salvation Army
10) Kiwanis club
11) recycling and trash pick up - I pick up cans, bottles and other trash as I walk and bike around the city

And I suppose one final point might be in order. Once upon a time (I think it was 1997) a rich person offered $1 million to match any donation over $25 to a food bank. Hearing this, I donated $35 to the local food bank, thinking it would double to $70. As it turns out though, the participating food banks raised something like $23 million, so the $1 million was proportionally divided among the participating food banks instead of donations being matched. The point that illustrates was that one rich person gave $1 million, which IS a huge donation, but all of us little people chipping in $25 or $30 or $100 gave over $20 million.

The wealth of the top 400 is astounding, but the combined wealth, income and time potential of the bottom 299,999,200 is pretty astounding as well. Not all of US are doing our part (one minor example, our Congressional candidate got about 40,000 votes in the district, which wasn't bad at 32% for a candidate with no money and no name recognition. If half of those voters had given just $5 to her campaign, she could have done much better with $100,000 to spend.)

Which, of course, morphs into a sales pitch. I have tickets for upcoming Kiwanis pancake breakfast to sell. Consider buying one. (Also the Rotarians are having their yearly Irish Stew dinner next week. I always goto that.)

[OneGrassRoot]

102. ;)

Thank you for the thoughtful reply. I sincerely appreciate it.

:hi:

[Xenotime]

10. I'm surprised to see so many great liberals on this list.

Seems to go against thier nature to let themselves be called hoarders.

[underpants]

11. There is a Koch block at #5 and 4 Waltons (Walmart) in the top ten

[OneGrassRoot]

13. LOL. Yep, 6 of the top 10 inherited their wealth. n/t

[BanzaiBonnie]

14. OGR, I love you Your heart is big and open

It distresses me to think of anyone doing anything because they are shamed into an action. Even those who I would like to see do the right thing. I would prefer that this is done because they see, within themselves, that it is the right thing to do.

Shame and guilt are part of the Dominator model that we've all lived under for far too long. Shame and guilt are forms of violence to force compliance to the will of another.

Would it be good at this point to look at people who are moved to action because of their love for everyone and everything.

Tom Shadyac is on the road with his documentary "I Am." He sold his Hollywood lifestyle homes and lives a modest life, in service to his needs as well as the needs of others. HE and others who are awake, show us a way for our needs to be met in peace.

[BanzaiBonnie]

16. The premise of your OP is an excellent one

Asking for their help in specific ways is a good start.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. I struggle with that, BanzaiBonnie -- shame

On one hand I completely agree with what you've said here, but I also see the impact the protesters chanting "shame" in Wisconsin is having, albeit it not necessarily on those who should feel ashamed, but on those observing, who have previously been apolitical.

I hear you though. :)

:hug:

[socialist_n_TN]

19. I think that the biggest thing they could do...........

at this point is not use ANY of their money or any of their corporation's money to buy political influence.

Secondly, I would ask them to voluntarily pay at least a CLinton era tax rate, if not more.

Thirdly, I would ask them to hire a cadre of workers to actually do PAID work for the local communities. IOW, their full time job at a living wage FOR the corps, would be improving the communities where these corps were located.

If they did these three things, I would CONSIDER changing my opinion that CAPITALISM MUST DIE.

I don't really think I'll have to change my opinion though.

[OneGrassRoot]

21. Awesome. Thank you very much for this!

:yourock:

[mmonk]

28. That's a big bingo there on the buying political influence.

The other is direct service to their communities and state.

[OneGrassRoot]

31. How do you see the "direct service to their communities and state" happening?

Many of the wealthiest are clustered in states, not dispersed throughout the country.

It may be interesting to research their original hometowns to see if that helps cover more states.

I have this Pollyanna idea of the wealthy "adopting" communities and VERY directly helping with the crisis with food and shelter.

I'm so damn tired of people doing things only if it has a tax write-off involved. I REALLY want to push back against that. That's not true philanthropy, imho.

:hi:

[woo me with science]

40. It would be nice to rethink corporate structure entirely.

Part of what FEELS so wrong in the US, just in the past several decades, is the consolidation of power and money to a few nameless, faceless entities who are usually far away in another state, and whom you will never meet. It is no accident that we talk about our "corporate overlords."

This distancing affects every area of our lives. Some of us can remember when most of the people you knew worked for a boss they actually KNEW and who knew them and had some appreciation for them. Ditto for trying to get service or resolve a complaint with a store or a bank. Now all the power is in another city, another state. It's "at corporate," and your livelihood or your concern is at the mercy of people who don't know you and have no real stake in pleasing you beyond how they have figured that into their bottom line. We have been transformed from human beings - valued employees and customers - into "human resources" to be sucked dry and discarded when we are no longer of use to them.

I don't know how this would EVER come voluntarily from the companies, but I would like to see a shattering of the huge conglomerates and trend back toward local control of businesses, to reintroduce human responsibility and caring back into our interactions with one another. It is a hell of a lot harder to screw someone you know....to make the choice to lay off or reduce the wages of or drain the pension of someone you actually know, or someone your friends know.

[OneGrassRoot]

48. Word.

I strongly dislike just about every structure and system in place right now in the US.

I'm a huge fan of local worker-owned and member-owned co-ops, for the very reasons you state.

I'm just trying to think of a first step that could be taken that would be a game changer.

Take the systems out of it; take the structural restrictions out of it.

Have the wealthy very DIRECTLY impact local communities about the crisis situations: food and shelter.

That's a start, and then maybe we could create a new way regarding the myriad other things on the crisis list (healthcare, education, etc.).

But, if we're in crisis in this country -- which we are -- with so many without adequate food and shelter, we need to address it in unconventional ways, engaging those with the resources to alleviate the suffering.

NOW.

Once things are on track to address the crises that pertain to basic survival, we can deal more with restructuring the systems.

Those are my thoughts, at least.

:)

[socialist_n_TN]

112. Yes I see. We seem to think alike on a lot of levels..........

I'm a BIG fan of owner/operator businesses and ACTUAL small businesses, not multimillionaire S corp "small business". You know, the ones where the owner is material part of the actual work and doesn't exploit his/her workers. I do think that if a company gets large enough, the state takes it over UNLESS it becomes a worker owned, profit sharing co-op. All large businesses and "general welfare" industries belong to the state to be run as non profit for the benefit of the general populace.

A little taste of my socialist utopia. :)

[woo me with science]

42. It would be nice to rethink corporate structure entirely.

Part of what FEELS so wrong in the US, just in the past several decades, is the consolidation of power and money to a few nameless, faceless entities who are usually far away in another state, and whom you will never meet. It is no accident that we talk about our "corporate overlords."

This distancing affects every area of our lives. Some of us can remember when most of the people you knew worked for a boss they actually KNEW and who knew them and had some appreciation for them. Ditto for trying to get service or resolve a complaint with a store or a bank. Now all the power is in another city, another state. It's "at corporate," and your livelihood or your concern is at the mercy of people who don't know you and have no real stake in pleasing you beyond how they have figured that into their bottom line. We have been transformed from human beings - valued employees and customers - into "human resources" to be sucked dry and discarded when we are no longer of use to them.

I don't know how this would EVER come voluntarily from the companies, but I would like to see a shattering of the huge conglomerates and trend back toward local control of businesses, to reintroduce human responsibility and caring back into our interactions with one another. It is a hell of a lot harder to screw someone you know....to make the choice to lay off or reduce the wages of or drain the pension of someone you actually know, or someone your friends know.

[socialist_n_TN]

46. Well even as a socialist, I'm OK with SOME income........

disparity. It's probably going to happen in ANY system. What I'm NOT OK with is anybody hungry, homeless, and without health care.

So that would mean a community cafeteria(s) with filling and nutritious food served free located in the area where most of the poor are. Staffed, run, and supplied BY the wealthy one or corp. Free, basic housing built and maintained by the corps. Free community clinics open for anybody who needed it built, paid for and staffed BY the corp. Schools built, maintained, and staffed by the corps and open to everybody up through college.

That would be a good start. BTW all this would be part of my socialist utopia too. Just run by government, not corps. And yes WE HAVE THE WEALTH TO DO THIS. We just don't have the will to expropriate and allocate that wealth.

[OneGrassRoot]

49. Yes, see my reply two above your post. :)

I actually lean toward this entity you envision (which I love and thank you for sharing) being locally owned by the community itself. Creating jobs to help one another, and those jobs being via community-owned, nonprofit entities. A traditional corporation, as we all known, is legally bound to generate profit at all costs.

I'm a firm believer we can do well while doing good, but we can't even get there to any degree while the wealth and resources are in the hands of a few.

[tigereye]

70. why do you think a lot of these folks don't do that?

Many very wealthy people have been raised by their parents (old money, anyway) to be very philanthropic and give away large sums of money to organizations such as food banks, housing organizations, clothing, etc. I don't think they only do it due to a tax write off. To be fair, there are many old money families here in Pgh who give away very large sums of money to good causes benefitting those with much less money.

[OneGrassRoot]

73. Let me put it a different way....

I also don't believe all wealthy people are greedy. Not at all; I believe more than we realize may have a conscience (though I am often pummeled for saying that).

To me, there are SO MANY foundations that the results are diluted by red tape, etc., and the results don't keep up with the need.

I believe that if there was a concerted effort by many more of the wealthy to affect things here at home, we would see less of the extreme poverty.

I'm asking how can we get a more concerted effort...how do we envision that taking place? I'm asking for specifics, based on the belief that there ARE wealthy who will do the right thing for the simple reason of doing the right thing.

Perhaps they are as overwhelmed as we are in trying to figure out how to solve the crises. Why shouldn't we offer recommended grassroots, direct solutions?

[mmonk]

123. Foundations maybe. But not set up as replacements to the public sector.

But they would say to me, go away little man. Maybe sell helping the people of communities by addressing whatever conscience might be there however latent.

[hughee99]

100. Yes, people like George Soros (#14) need to stop buying political influence! n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

113. If the RWer would have to stop, he could stop too......

nm

[hughee99]

120. I'm sure the right wingers think the same thing, "if only the LWer would stop"...

both sides see "their people" as only counteracting the influence of "the other side".

[KG]

22. pay their fair of taxes, pay their fair share of taxes, pay their fair share of taxes.

[Uta]

44. Yep nt

[BoWanZi]

23. Outside of taxing are the rich obligated to do anything?

I sure wish that they would do a lot more to directly to impact the poor but I almost think its wrong to require them to do anything other than the obvious paying more taxes. Forcing the rich to do "things" just seems like forced court ordered "community service". And no matter how much one can hate the rich, that just doesn't seem fair.

[OneGrassRoot]

25. It's not about obligated, it's about changing the paradigm in this country...

I'm simply proposing the idea that, what if we had the attention of the wealthy and they wanted to do something that had more of a direct impact but there are too many problems and too many organizations trying to help that it's a big cl*sterf*ck.

How would we advise them to use their money -- completely disregarding the "shoulds" of taxes and write-offs and blah, blah.

If we're in a crisis, then extraordinary measures must be taken that can't wait on red tape and bureaucracy.

[BoWanZi]

35. I see what you are saying, if the rich WANTED to help directly, what would be some of the best ways

Damned good question though. I don't know what woudl be a good way, would giving smaller individual amounts of money to people help? What would be a goal? Helping the extreme poor? Or say helping lower income people who are in severe hurts because of the blown up housing market (poor people with bad mortgages?), that kind of thing?

I don't know.

[OneGrassRoot]

38. Yes, that's what I'm saying. To me, addressing the very basics...

I mean EXTREME basics such as food and shelter, is the first step.

Until people have enough food and shelter, education and jobs become secondary.

Sheer survival issues is what I'm focused on. When that is stabilized, we can move forward on the priority list.

:hi:

[Uta]

51. Why would the rich want to change the paradigm?

I know why I would like to change the paradigm in this country.

The very wealthy have been carefully stacking the deck since F.D.R was in the house.
Thats the reason we're effed up: Massive wealth gap between the rich, and the rest.
They MADE the paradigm.It took decades.

Why in the world would they want to shake it up?

[OneGrassRoot]

54. The majority don't. I realize that.

But with the revolutions taking hold across the Middle East and with people here finally standing up and raising our collective voice, I have hope.

And I think having a concrete plan in place to suggest ways they can DO SOMETHING DIRECTLY -- while simultaneously doing the right thing via increasing what they pay in taxes, not "buying" politicians, etc. -- would be prudent.

If enough are shamed into it, by even the few among them who may have a conscience, I personally think it's good for us to have suggestions in place as to how We the People could see their wealth put to much better use. Directly. And NOW.


:hi:

[Uta]

61. Wait for the goodness and light to fall upon them?

Then wait for the trickle-down?

Every one of us will starve while waiting for that to happen.

I dont generally go around spouting bible verses, but theres this one about a camel going through the eye of a needle before a rich man should ever grace the kingdom of heaven.

[OneGrassRoot]

71. Listen, I know you're pissed. We're all pissed. Please see #68...

I'm NOT advocating waiting on anything, including legislative/tax remedies.

That's the whole point of this thread.

Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not? ~ RFK

:)

[Uta]

76. I'm not pissed

I AM FUCKING HUNGRY!

[OneGrassRoot]

79. Is there some way we can help you right now....

to alleviate some of your suffering right now, so you're not hungry?

I'll try to find direct help for you right now if you are open to that.

We can't do anything about the myriad messes in this country until our citizens aren't starving and without shelter.

That's the point of my OP. That's the priority.

Please let me know if I may be of help in any way.

[Uta]

94. I'm not hungry for food ...(ok, maybe a little)

I am hungry for justice.
I am too hungry to sit and wait for some rich guy to reach into his pocket and give me justice because he fells warm and fuzzy today.

The rich are rich because they keep their money , and the earths resources out of the hands of everyone else.

(If your offer of help stands, I have a neighbor who is in quite a hopeless situation, and can use a few dollars short term, to keep her electricity on, and buy her a few cell phone minutes.
Long term she needs a job, but she's too disabled to work (fractured foot did not heal right, and other physical problems.) But she's not disabled enough for SSI.
( If you email me at [e-mail], I can fill you in on the details . (I hav'nt posted enough at DU to use PMs)



edited : Damn typos

[OneGrassRoot]

96. I'm after justice as well. I'm just trying to think of faster ways to achieve it...

in the short-term as well as long-term.

:)

[socialist_n_TN]

115. And to quote Bob Marley..........

"A hungry man is an angry man."

[tigereye]

72. many newly weathy (last 10-20 years) have very strong

feelings about the efficacy of their donations- they want to see their money doing good in a very concrete way. They simply don't write checks (or transfer funds) without some kind of accountability. That seems in line with what you are asking for...

[FormerDittoHead]

29. Oh, those POOR rich people! Boo, hoo. n/t

[Uta]

64. +++++++++++++++++++++++!!!! nt

[drokhole]

24. May be pie-in-the-sky, but here goes...

1. Donate/Convert all but one of their properties into vertical, hydroponic farming structures with the money gained from selling off those assets used to fund it:





2. On an ascending scale, give 1/4 - 1/2 of their entire wealth (so, number 400 would give 1/4, while number 1 would give 1/2) to building infrastructure (this includes better education facilities) in the United States.

3. For those who donated 1/2 of their wealth, take half of that and invest it in health care for all.


Don't know what the numbers work out to, but that's what I got. Frankly, I don't care if it seems like a fantasy, because they've been living in their fantasy worlds on the backs of the poor and middle class long enough.

Of course, all of this requires step 4 - Grow a conscience.

[OneGrassRoot]

26. I love you...

"Frankly, I don't care if it seems like a fantasy, because they've been living in their fantasy worlds on the backs of the poor and middle class long enough.

Of course, all of this requires step 4 - Grow a conscience."

:applause:

Thank you so much for contributing this.

:hi:

[drokhole]

43. Thanks! Great idea in calling for specifics!

It's always difficult in converting the abstract to the concrete, but it's really where the dialogue needs to be directed. I'm especially keen on #1, especially when you consider the fact these people each own countless, gigantic estates. Like John McCain and his 5 enormous properties. Who in the holy fuck needs five houses with sprawling properties?! Especially while there are millions who are homeless, and millions more in danger of losing their one home due to foreclosure. Seriously, what in the blue hell is going on in those houses while McCain isn't around? Unless he's mastered quantum physics, there's no way he can live in 5 places at once! So, why not put them to good use, right? And what better cause is there than feeding the world with healthy food?

Hydroponic farming takes up less space than traditional farming, with no damage to the soil, and more yield per space (especially when built into vertical skyscrapers). Sure, something like this hasn't been done yet, but that's just because no one's been willing to do it. The technologies are there, the only thing that isn't are the funds (of course, I'm sure Agro-Business isn't too keen on this idea, either).

[Celebration]

27. I'd like them

to use their funds to invest in innovative alternative energy. If I had a lot of money I think I would establish "prizes" for which innovative scientific techniques competed for money. It would be a bit more complicated than that but I'll think about that after I have won the big lottery. :)

[ProfessionalLeftist]

30. Here you go . . .

https://www.facebook.com/SecretMillionaire

[OneGrassRoot]

33. Maybe I'm being narrow-minded, but I'm completely turned off by this....

I like the general premise but I'm honestly just so turned off by any "reality" show that this turns me off. And they're not really doing it as a secret, I assume their names are revealed afterward, right?

Maybe it will encourage others who "have" to do more. I just seeing reality shows as another way for the media conglomerates to make money. All about profit.

But, again, I could be wrong.

Thanks. :)

[ProfessionalLeftist]

37. I'm a bit suspicious myself

No idea if it's even legit but thought it's interesting. Should have posted it with the appropriate smirk.

[Dappleganger]

32. They have enough money to buy lobbyists.

So I would ask them to buy us a few to get some good things done for a change.

Most of their philanthropy is "feel good" stuff, unimpressive. They are still in control of the world.

[OneGrassRoot]

34. ...

"buy us a few lobbyists."

:rofl:

But also :(.

I hear you, Dappleganger. And I'm with you about the "feel good" philanthropy. I'm so sick of things only being done if there's a tax write-off involved.

:puke:

[Dappleganger]

41. We have served thanksgiving dinner to the homeless with a few of those...

they act as if they are doing some huge favor to everyone by just walking through the door. We have a big laugh after they leave because we know they are there to have photo-ops and be on their way to the next "event". We know they will probably never be back, either. I am done with even trying to convince them to have empathy, just buy us some of that influence they buy regularly so we can at least have a fighting chance.

[hunter]

39. I'd raise their taxes until they are entirely anonymous among the top million.

It ought to be impossible to become a billionaire.

If they don't want to pay their fair share they can leave.

[Tsiyu]

45. Set up an insurance pool/plan

for uninsured Americans.

Donate to advocates for the homeless.

Lobby for affordable housing.

Set up a fund for indigent legal defense.

Donate to Planned Parenthood.

Set up education accounts/endowments for poor students desiring to attend college.

Create affordable day care centers for working/poor parents

For starters.

There are many areas where the affluent could make a difference, not through their own tax shelters, but through existing programs and by pressuring Congress to do the right thing for the poorest of the poor.

[LawnKorn]

47. Selflessly put their money into technology research and development to make everyone's life better

The rich should put investment for profit aside and move to investment for benefit.

Research and development of clean, renewable energy comes to mind.

[drokhole]

52. "Invest for benefit, not profit"

I like that. I've always been keen on saying "Progress vs. Profit" (and Dan Pink says "Purpose vs. Profit" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc), because it seems to me like an inverse relationship. Yours fits in great with both of those!

[LawnKorn]

58. If the results are what people like, the rewards will come without being asked for

[OneGrassRoot]

59. There are new structural entities aimed at this approach....

I've been a social entrepreneur my entire adult life, so I pay attention to these things closely.

They're not available in all states yet, but there is the L3, which is a hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit, with the mission of the entity being the priority, over profit.

There are B Corporations with a similar focus.

Granted, they need to be watched so people don't essentially do the same thing as "greenwashing" and doing it only for show and marketing, but I like the trend to at least move in this direction with options.

[PDJane]

50. Start with paying their fair share of taxes.

Support public schooling to graduate degree level, make it free or nearly so
Promote research and development that is sustainable, starting with research on new economic models.

[Uta]

56. word! nt

[JDPriestly]

53. Stop funding Republican campaigns.

Support higher taxes on the rich.

The main problem is that the extreme wealth of the rich gives them too much political power. There simply is nothing the rich can do except to pay a much higher percentage of their incomes in taxes, perhaps sell off some of their assets in order to pay higher taxes, and thereby support a more equitable society. Our society has become so inequitable that even a sham of a democracy is impossible.

So, follow Jesus' teaching: Give up your wealth to the poor.

[tigereye]

63. aren't their foundations doing a lot?

Gates Foundation is doing many good things and spending quite a bit as I have read, related to health care around the planet... :shrug:

[OneGrassRoot]

85. I replied to you above. :) n/t

[tigereye]

98. here is my question to you- what specific tacks would you

like them to take? You seem to be someone involved in grassroots organizations, but most of those receive those types of funding that you seem to find cumbersome.

Do you want them to make block or blanket grants, or write checks directly? I have worked for a lot of non-profits, so I guess I"m not clear what you think they should do?

We have a small progressive school run by tuition and whatever other money we can conjure up... so I empathize...


:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

99. I'm trying to think of a way to do this that has never been done....

Working within the existing systems is NOT working. Not for those in need.

There are so many wonderful organizations out there at a local level but they're all vying for a limited funding pool.

I know others disagree, but I just feel there are too many nonprofits. Most have good intentions and are doing good work, but it seems that by competing with one another for funds, the whole mission is diminished.

Applying for grants is so damn cumbersome. Legislative means are so damn cumbersome.

Both should still be done but it just seems we need to come up with a more direct means of helping those in the most dire need.

Again, I'm talking food and shelter as a starting point. Basic survival.

I'm pleading for those much more intelligent them myself to step outside the box of how things have always been done to start to envision another way. Not a way that works within existing systems and structures, but is completely new: more direct, more efficient, more transparent.

I don't know, perhaps thinking of how aid gets to third-world countries in times of crisis is one approach. View our own communities as being in the same dire straits -- with people literally starving -- and thinking how to get aid directly to the people.

Then again, even those scenarios involve said aid being pilfered by the corrupt governments.

There has to be another way. I think it's worth our time and energy to consider it, while we simultaneously pursue these other means already in place.

Thanks. :)

[leftstreet]

65. Seize it. Distribute it.

They won't give it up voluntarily

[socialist_n_TN]

117. One of my memes is that taxation is the EASIEST...........

form of wealth redistribution. They don't really want to be involved in the other ways it will come about. Because it WILL happen. Easy or hard, it WILL happen.

[Rex]

67. Nothing, they deserve every single dollar they worked so hard for.

:sarcasm:

[OneGrassRoot]

68. For those focused strictly on taxes:

While I COMPLETELY agree that that is a MUST, to me our entire system is corrupted -- and often corrupt.

That's why I'm trying here to brainstorm about very direct things that could be done, as Pollyanna as it may sound,to alleviate the extreme suffering of those without adequate food and shelter.

NOW.

Legislative options take forever, so while they ABSOLUTELY should be pursued, I think other more direct options should be explored, even if they seem impossible or never have been done before.

Take care of the basic needs of our citizens in the form of food and shelter, then prioritize according to other needs: health care, education, alternative energy, infrastructure, etc.

I'm asking to brainstorm about taking steps to cut off the power of both CORPORATIONS and GOVERNMENT (as it exists right now, which largely IS the corporations), and have We the People take direct steps by engaging those who have the resources.

At least to start until we have the attention of those in power, then we'll have more of a voice to start reforming the institutions themselves.


If you think it's hopeless, I understand, but please allow those of us who have a shred of hope to propose ideas without pissing on discussions with negativity. I understand that's largely the purpose of message boards, but I'm asking nicely.

;)

[Uta]

74. They could ask a wizard....

to invent some kind of hunger and poverty abating twinkling gas cloud that would drift all around the country making everyone happy and warm and full (but with not too many empty calories). It would also make people loving and sparkly and they would have beautiful singing voices, and be able to dance good too. Since this cloud would be produced by magical energy, it would not require that the rich spend any of their hard owned wealth to bestow happy sparkly organic goodness to the people.
No wealthy person would have to give up the well-deserved comfort of even ONE RollsRoyce!

As long as we're making hopeful plans, surely I can hope for a wonderful twinkling wizard cloud.

[OneGrassRoot]

83. Insulting me and others trying to come up with solutions...

by engaging brilliant progressives to think and do rather than just bitch and moan helps no one, imho.

I replied to you above as well.

:)

[lumberjack_jeff]

75. Why ask? The law isn't about "asking".

Whereas; Wealth concentration has a detrimental effect on US society.
Therefore Be it resolved, that as of January 1, 2012, the federal treasury is directed to impose a 100% wealth tax on family estates greater than $500 million. The proceeds from this tax will be used to retire US debt.

The law does all kinds of shit that's inconvenient to us. I have very limited sympathy for those 400.

[OneGrassRoot]

80. I'm not even focused on law right now. That takes too friggin long...

Please see post #68.

I hear you.



Edit to add post reference.

[lumberjack_jeff]

82. Given the choice between law and "appealing to the angels of their better nature"

... law is better.

[OneGrassRoot]

84. Okay. :) n/t

[Uta]

86. Something that wont take too long.

Something fast?

Egypt fast?
Tunisia fast?

Egypt and Tunisia didnt wait for the rich to decide to be good fellows, and do the right thing.
Hungry people marched.
It was fast!

[OneGrassRoot]

89. But has the money started flowing directly to those hungry people yet?

I think in one ME country they did give the citizens x amount of money to try to prevent a full-on revolt, but while their revolutions have been INCREDIBLE, have the monies flowed to those in need yet?

I'm asking, because I don't know for sure.

[Uta]

95. Yes!

Right here in the USA.
The New Deal was an answer to serious grassroots political uprising and labor unrest.
The New Deal social programs were not created because Roosevelt was so fond of the poor , They were instituted to stave off revolution.

The last remnants of FDR's New Deal programs are exactly what the Wealthy (through their advocates in the GOP)RIGHT NOW, are trying to "drown in the bathtub.

[Uta]

106. For OneGrassroot

I bumped my own post. Aren't I a pill?!

[Uta]

104. Well, I guess someone could rent an airplane....

....and throw sandwiches out of it. That'd be fast.


Solution wont be fast, How could it be? Because the problem is NOT JUST that an Egyptian needs a sandwich.
The problem is that the Egyptian people were not able to get their basic needs from the whole poliitcal and economic system. Because that system designed to serve Mubarek and his croneys. The system was NOT created or meant to furnish basic needs to its citizens.

In this country, as well, The problem isnt that my limping neighbor needs 20 bucks to refill her cell phone minutes , the problem is that the system is not able to meet her basic needs. Our political and economic system is designed to serve the wealthy. The system is not able to furnish basic needs to its citizens.

A plane full of sandwiches, and a 20 buck phone card does'nt begin to address the cause of the problem.
That said, I'm all for providing for immediate needs in the meantime, while waiting for the revolution.

[OneGrassRoot]

107. I hear you. I don't know what else to say...

I agree that the system is NOT just and that we must reform the entire system. I'm just wondering how we can simultaneously alleviate as much suffering as possible.

I always believe we can multitask, but it needs to not be such fragmented efforts if we're to see results.

:(

[Uta]

109. The disease and its symptoms

Its efficacious to treat the symptoms, while seeking a cure for the disease.

[OneGrassRoot]

110. Exactly. Well put. Thank you. :) n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

118. The fastest way, under the strictures of the OP,.............

would be for the corps and richies to go into a poor neighborhood and hire everybody they need to build and run a free community cafeteria. Then move on to build the next one, AFTER they staff and begin maintaining the one just built. Then you follow up with hiring local construction workers to begin building basic housing units for the homeless.

[Uta]

111. The wealthy wont change whats wrong with our economy....

They wont. Because our economic system works great for them. They built it that way.

Dont wait on the rich to solve the problems. A solution is going to have to bubble up from the streets , like in Egypt. Like in FDR's America.

[VoteProgressive]

87. Hire people!

[Cleita]

88. Contribute lots of money to three progressive candidates

in very red states. If there is enough money to fight the corporate money and lobbyists in those states, maybe we can change the look of Congress and get legislation passed that helps the people of the USA and not the financial sector in the long run. One or two millionaires trying to do some good have an overwhelming task, but if we change Congress to a liberal one, there will be no stopping what can be done.

[EnlightenedOne]

90. Once again, great thread OGR

and great thought process. I thought Warren Buffet had already volunteered to give up half his wealth and had urged the others to do the same and he had some volunteers. I'll look that up. What their plans were to do with the money though, I have no idea. But they could shore up the pension funds, contribut to the SS account, etc., but then we would have to worry once again that our politicians would help themselves to that money. A General fund for education would be a good place to start, but until poverty is addressed, education for the poor will still suffer. I have to go with taxes too, but then what's to stop the politicians from diverting that money to the military industrial complex?

Poverty is the issue and what needs to be addressed, but I'm not sure what the best way to go about that would be. If I were worth billions, I would be buying up the foreclosed upon homes at extremely discounted rates (force the banks to give back a little) and put the poor and homeless in them, and handing them the paid for deed so they would never have to worry about a roof over their heads again, and hire an army of contractors to fix up every home & neighborhhod (with the help of the community), steer grocery stores and businesses in the area at a very low rent, and then teach them to be as self-sustainable as possible with community gardens, etc. I would have a place in every neighborhood for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, as well as drug education. Drugs or alcohol would no longer be much of an issue if people were given hope and a leg to stand on. Anyway, that would be my dream. It would certainly stimulate the economy and rid people of being forced to live in the slums and projects.

[OneGrassRoot]

91. Thank you...

I have to go with taxes too, but then what's to stop the politicians from diverting that money to the military industrial complex?

Until we can reform the system, even raising taxes doesn't seem to be fast or efficient because of the myriad ways the taxes can be diverted from those truly in need, not to mention how long it takes to implement tax changes.

HOWEVER, continuing to push for raising taxes on the wealthy and closing loopholes on corporate taxes is A MUST.

I just think we can multitask and create something that hasn't been done before, if we work together.

:hug:

[kestrel91316]

92. Retaining a paltry $1 m each for themselves, turn over all their remaining assets:

50% to charities that fund assistance to the poor, 25% to the federal government to pay back taxes for all the years they got away with not paying their fair share, and 25% to their state of legal residence for same.

End of problem.

Yeah, I lean lefter the older I get and the more crap I see.

[OneGrassRoot]

93. I love that...

Funny, for most of us, if we were progressive to begin with, we get more so as we get older.

Unfortunately, the same is true of conservatives, I find. :(

Thank you for this. :)

[Vinca]

103. Pay their fair share.

Invest responsibly. How can you enjoy stock market profits gained because a little kid somewhere is working for 50 cents a day?

[Mopar151]

105. CCC/WPA crews, Bail out the whole mortgage mess

Supported by the donor's businesses. All sorts of infrastructure repairs out there to do - road reconstruction, electrical grid updates, weatherisation/maintanence catchup of public buildings and housing.
Most of the parks that the CCC built are a shambles, need 'em back out there to fix things up! Get the big grocersm like Wal-mart to help set up basic "good food" co -ops in "urban deserts", support them through their distribution networks.

There are great needs out there, and it's time that we worked smarter to cover them. Why de we have suburbs full of empty houses, and thousands sleeping in the street? I'm not saying we should give every stewbum a mansion - more like we could upgrade a lot of folks a notch or 2, and free up some places to house the unfortunate. "Citibank Movin' On Up America" signs on a lot of lawns...

Given the value of good PR, and the cost of things like stadium sponsorships - I bet that these folks could actually get good long-term returns on this - I wouldn't mind seeing a CCC crew wearing Lowe's Fix-Up America coveralls, all fitted up with Stanley tools, show up in a lettered-up Ford van and a GMC landscaper dump truck.

[OneGrassRoot]

108. Thank you very much. Great suggestions....

in response to important questions.

:hi:

[Better Believe It]

116. With that kind of money they could buy a country! Nevermind. They already have.

[Mopar151]

119. Would'nt hurt 'em to fix fthe place up a little! n/t

[LeftishBrit]

124. (1) Pay bloody TAXES (and stop looking for every possible loophole!)

(2) Do the same every year!

(3) If in business, employ local people and pay them a proper wage and not slave labour.

[hunter]

125. Here's an idea: Make it impossible to earn more than 15X the minimum wage.

You want to earn a million dollars a year? Fine. Call your congressperson and see to it that all those folks working for minimum wage are earning $67,000 a year.

Were all in this together.

[OneGrassRoot]

126. I've been advocating CEOs making no more than 15x their employees' median salary...

but basing it on minimum wage is even better.

I'm a huge proponent of this approach.

:thumbsup: