- Home
- About Us
- Contributors
- Departments
- Topics
- Back Issues
- Weekly Archives
- AmSpecBlog
- Subscribe
- Newsletter
- Advertise
- Donate
- Contact Us
- Daily Digest
- Templeton Essays
search
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Streetcar Line
Establishing Firm Foundations
Henry Regnery and Henry Salvatori did it right. Henry Ford didn't. The fate of nations may depend on getting it right.
Philanthropy, that is. Philanthropy, and investments, in support of ordered liberty. Regnery and Salvatori were among the philanthropists and investors whose contributions to the American nation have lived long after their own days on Earth. Ford's intended contributions, though, through the foundation that bears his name, have been used in ways completely opposite than he surely would have wanted them -- so badly misused, indeed, that in 1977 his grandson, Henry Ford II, resigned from the foundation's board in disgust at the foundation's outrageously leftist bent.
Two books by noted conservatives in recent years tell the divergent tales of free-market philanthropy done right and that which has gone awry. The latter, in 2007, is longtime conservative writer Phil Kent's Foundations of Betrayal: How the Liberal Super-Rich Undermine America. The stories of the former, the success stories, are told in 2008's Funding Fathers: The Unsung Heroes of the Conservative Movement, by Nicole Hoplin and Ron Robinson of the Young America's Foundation. Reading the two books back-to-back provides great insights into this essential but too-little-appreciated battlefield of the political/philosophical wars.
In Foundations of Betrayal, Kent shows in shocking detail how "thousands of foundations… are dominated by big government collectivists, globalists and radical lefties. Many of these institutions' founders would be horrified if they could have foreseen what their heirs and successors would be doing." The worse news is that the leftist foundations well outweigh those on the right: "The Capital Research Center says Ford's level of grant awarding alone is approximately 15 times the amount of the three largest politically conservative foundations combined."
Most of the leftist foundation money supports all sorts of often viciously anti-American claptrap. Racial grievance-mongering, global warming hysteria, left-wing lawsuits, anti-Semitic conferences, anti-free-market jeremiads and demonstrations, radical feminist and other counter-culture groups all exist and stay afloat almost entirely through the donations from these wealthy foundations -- whose founders in most cases intended to support the traditional American concept of liberty, not undermine it.
Again and again, the foundation founders make the mistake of attaching too few restrictions on what the foundation can do, how it will be operated, and by whom. The result, as Kent describes, is a perpetually self-renewing flow of big bucks to causes, some of them quite effectively pursued, that do great damage to the fabric of American life.
The good news is that conservative philanthropy often gets more bang for its bucks. In Funding Fathers, Hoplin and Robinson tell a series of inspirational, sometimes heartwarming stories about how this happens. Perhaps the single best investment, penny for penny, of this sort was the $2,000 check that a man named William Volker gave to Friedrich Hayek in 1945 to pay travel expenses for 17 economists, thinkers and writers to travel to Mont Pelerin, Switzerland to help found the quintessential free-market Mont Pelerin Society -- the society whose work has had a profoundly beneficial effect on world history ever since.
Historically minded conservatives will recognize many of the names (in addition to Hayek) of those 17: Milton Friedman, Aaron Director, Karl Brandt, Henry Hazlitt, Felix Morley, Ludwig von Mises, George Stigler…. All gathered together with other, like-minded free marketeers from around the world, to create thousands of publications promoting the cause of liberty. Eventually, eight Mont Pelerin Society members would win Nobel Prizes, while several others would become world political leaders (among them President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic). And all made possible, originally, largely through a single grant of $2,000!
Hoplin and Robinson tell their stories with verve and affection; rather than a dry recitation of data, they provide 12 mini-biographies good enough, if Hollywood were paying attention, for major movie material. Most (but not all) of them are true rags-to-riches tales of people who didn't merely hoard their riches but used them to give back, abundantly, to the country that nurtured and provided the opportunity for their dreams. Some of the names, such as Regnery, William F. Buckley, Joseph Coors, and Dean Clarence "Pat" Manion, will be familiar to many readers. Others, such as Antony Fisher or John Engalitcheff, may not be. All, though, implicitly teach lessons about how freedom-loving conservatives can make the most of our chances and any wealth we create, for the good of these wonderful United States, if we are resourceful and committed to our country's cause.
One thing conservative activists without such personal finances can do to encourage those smart enough to accumulate such blessings is to express deep gratitude -- not fawningly, but sincerely -- to anybody today who follows the example of those like Salvatori, Regnery, Coors and Engalitcheff. I think, for instance, of the Templeton family whose foundation gives away some $60 million annually for causes of faith, honest science, and freedom. Or the Koch family foundations, which support free enterprise. Or…but I better stop there lest, in trying to list too many of them, I inadvertently leave a few out. The point is that these people could do something far more selfish with their money, but they don't. We need to let them know how much they are appreciated. (Among the most effective of them, let it be said, is Ron Robinson's Young America's Foundation itself.)
Together, Foundations of Betrayal and Funding Fathers provide the flip sides that demonstrate how incredibly important philanthropy can be, for ill or for good. Kent ends the former by quoting Andrew Carnegie to the effect that "one of the most serious obstacles to the improvement of our [human] race is indiscriminate charity." Carnegie was right. But also correct are Hoplin and Robinson in showing us how philanthropy done wisely can help secure a legacy of liberty for untold millions yet unborn.
Comments
Leave a Comment
Related Articles
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- The Right of Conscience in the Age of Obama
- No Freedom Left Behind
- Obama's Foreign Policy Problems, Personified
ADVERTISEMENT
Pingback| 5.21.09 @ 9:06AM
Twitted by CarlosFrank links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Oldefarte| 5.21.09 @ 11:48AM
Typically instructive information to someone [such as myself] who is totally ignorant of such matters [charities], Quin! Somehow related [I think] is the average person's idea of government. Some/most individuals work hard work extremely hard in life to financially provide for themselves and their families. Their income is taxed in progressive fashion by government, and same is used to fund some of the overall/collective needs of society, including paying for the needs of those who are incapable of providing for themselves. Most income earners do not resent government's efforts in this regard, but are extremely resentful toward the extortion, by government, of their hard earned income STRICTLY for political power-maintainance purposes. Charitable giving, which is what governmental taxes represent, should be used only as a TEMPORARY life-maintenance vehicle to provide assets to the downtrodden, and allow them, over time, to get back onto their financial feet. Governmental charity [welfare] should not be used as a PERMANENT life-sustaining vehicle, which it unfortionatley has, due to the power/controlling efforts of liberal politicians. The Federal [and all] Government's budget, over my lifetime, has been annually filled with charitable, poverty-related giveaways that have NOT succeeded in restoring the downtrodden to financial stability, but instead, has been carefully crafted by liberal politicians into a form of lifetime government sustenance for most recipients of same. These governmental welfare expendatures/programs have been annually increased[never de-funded or downsized], and income earners [charity providers] increasingly have to pick up the tab for same. In essence, it is nothing but governmental sponsored SLAVERY!!!!!!
Interested Conservative| 5.21.09 @ 12:16PM
See O'Sullivan's Law for the brief explanation for this phenomena.
Richard Baker| 5.24.09 @ 10:25PM
Know why the Ford foundation was started? To safeguard his fortune, after his death, from the IRS and Congress. Now, idiots who couldn't carry his tools are defaming his name with their foolishness. Yes, he could be an SOB but his efforts actually produced something. Model T anyone? Government and liberals produce exactly what?
An ustable world| 5.25.09 @ 9:05AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE NEW WORLD DISORDER
EU poll: Israel 'biggest threat' to world peace
U.S. beats out 'axis of evil' in causing global instability
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: October 31, 2003
7:00 pm Eastern
© 2009 WorldNetDaily.com
Over half of Europeans think Israel poses the "biggest threat to world peace," according to a controversial poll commissioned by the European Commission.
The same survey has the United States beating out Iran, Iraq and North Korea – the trio dubbed the "axis of evil" by President George W. Bush – as well as Afghanistan in a ranking of what countries contribute most to world instability.
EUobserver.com reports the survey, conducted between Oct. 8 and 16 by Taylor Nelson Sofres/EOS Gallup of Europe, consisted of 15 questions regarding "the reconstruction of Iraq, the conflict in the Middle East and World peace."
According to the website, the poll sparked controversy – not over its results, but over the release of its results. Namely, the European Commission was accused of suppressing the results revealing the extent of mistrust of Israel and the U.S. while the Bush administration was stumping for Iraq reconstruction assistance at the international donors conference in Madrid last week.
Secretary of State Colin Powell at the Iternational Donors Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq in Madrid, Spain, Oct. 23.
More than 77 countries participated in the conference that raised $33 billion in grants and loans, including $20 billion pledged by the U.S. and $812 million pledged from the European Union. Most of the funds will go into a trust to be managed by the World Bank, the United Nations and a committee of Iraqis.
The poll found 59 percent of Europeans believe Israel represents the biggest obstacle to Mideast and world peace.
MARY| 7.30.09 @ 10:23AM
plastic card manufacturers
As a corporate has plastic card manufacturers facility manager or security professinal, you meet hundreds of plastic card manufacturers every day. It’s your job to identify plastic card manufacturers, but can you be expected to recognize every plastic card manufacturers in your facility? You’re going to need a little help from identification plastic card manufacturers, so take your pick: use standard size plastic card manufacturers like you’ll find at [URL=http://www.7daysprinting.com]plastic card manufacturers[/URL] or oversized photo ID badges like you’ll find at plastic card manufacturers to verify identities. Use proximity or plastic card manufacturers to grant access to unattended building entries and bar codes or magnetic stripe plastic card manufacturers for accurate time and attendance tracking and more. Fargo systems integrators like us offer complete plastic card manufacturers personalization systems to help solve these challenges.
cheap plastic card
As a corporate has cheap plastic card facility manager or security professinal, you meet hundreds of cheap plastic card every day. It’s your job to identify cheap plastic card, but can you be expected to recognize every cheap plastic card in your facility? You’re going to need a little help from identification cheap plastic card, so take your pick: use standard size cheap plastic card like you’ll find at [URL=http://www.7days-plasticcards.co.uk] cheap plastic card[/URL] or oversized photo ID badges like you’ll find at cheap plastic cardto verify identities. Use proximity or cheap plastic card to grant access to unattended building entries and bar codes or magnetic stripe cheap plastic card for accurate time and attendance tracking and more. Fargo systems integrators like us offer complete cheap plastic card personalization systems to help solve these challenges.
card mailing service
card mailing service is a leader and innovator in the card mailing service industry catering for all your membership cards and any custom size card mailing service required from small to big quantity. We are a one-stop center for your entire card mailing service requirement. card mailing service.Have your cards ready in less than 1 hour if necessary in high laminated card mailing service quality without compromising on quality and durability! The card mailing service will be highly glossy laminated, very falt, non peeling and very sharp!
[URL=http://www.7days-printing.com]card mailing service[/URL].We are also the authorized distributor for all range of card mailing service as well as javelin card mailing service in malaysia for personalizing the card mailing service with thermal printing of text and barcode as well as encoding the magnetic stripe and card mailing service.
contact smart card
Since our contact smart card is produced with unique equipment, you can be sure that your contact smart card will be of high quality. In addition, our contact smart card options are fully customizable to meet any specific needs. Your contact smart card can also be ordered in combination with the convenient key contact smart card, which is a smaller version of your contact smart card that can be easily attached to a key chain. [URL=http://www.smartcard-supplier.co.uk]contact smart card[/URL]Our contact smart card helps companies that need a new design creat contact smart card. For companies that already have a contact smart card, we can print directly from your own supplied contact smart card artwork.
contact smart card
All of our custom printed contact smart card offer high resolution graphics. We offer options for contact smart card production such as unique contact smart card textures or transparent contact smart card for or a highly appealing visual appearance.Your customers will truly see your new contact smart card as an outstanding them or high value.
Environmentally friendly printing
Environmentally friendly printing is the most fundamental marketing tool that you always have with you. Environmentally friendly printing contains business information about you and your company. Environmentally friendly printing communicate the primary information of your company to your prospective customers- in a compact and simple way. Environmentally friendly printing is a proven method which effectively advertises your business. Whether you are launching a new product or marketing an existing one, a Environmentally friendly printing will always help you do it right.[URL=http://www.7daysprinting.co.uk]Environmentally friendly printing[/URL]. Environmentally friendly printing is used for presentation of your marketing materials in a superior way. Environmentally friendly printing contains multiple pockets inside to hold your marketing materials. By utilizing folders, you can enhance the presentation of your Environmentally friendly printing.
Environmentally friendly printing Environmentally friendly printing is a significant part of any company’s distinctiveness to others.
chi nano ceramic flat iron| 9.4.09 @ 3:42AM
As there are number of ways by which chi camo collection Blue your hair, but you will find using hair straightener easy. Today something that no person will be without is his or her chi camo collection Pink .
Wholesale Lingerie| 9.5.09 @ 9:39PM
sexy lingerie lingerie
Wedding Dresses| 9.9.09 @ 8:57AM
Anybody knows the numbers of in CA,Wedding Dresses
Designer Wedding Gowns
I need to call them and get my bag repaired.