Just a thought.

Who would win? Philanthropy or charity.

I think a truly generous person gives from their own need. A homeless person sharing the one blanket he has to me is worth more than a billionare giving a few thousand or million (which to him would seem like a few cents) to a community to further a cause for brownie points. I'm sure there's some genuinely caring individuals among the elite but if they truly are free of self interest they would be giving silently and giving more to causes that bring society out of poverty not doing it for show. End rant.

Foundations make for nice tax shelters too!

Not complaining about those with lots of money to give giving to some needy cause, but that these people are employed by their own foundation kinda sours that selfie.

Priscilla & Lisa Presley donate quite a bit and anonymously, I've heard of others but memory sucks.

They give money to some rich suburb in the US because they get more brownie points and press coverage from that than if they invested in development in the communities in poorer countries that they actually exploited and arguably stole from

The way I see it, the community really supports and gives to rich people. When you spend money in something, unless it's a small business, the money goes to rich people. So I'm not sure giving back is the best way to describe it, but in a sense, yeah the community supports rich people, so when they donate, it should sort of make a circle of money that goes around. The only problem is that the rich people are supported so much, and not enough are willing to put their money into helping others.

I've been thinking about the meaning of philanthropy versus genuine charity. I think when rich people give back its more so they can establish more control and dependence on the community through "humanitarian" efforts. Just look at the foundations like Gates. Have any of them actually helped eliminate poverty? Actually gone and lived among the people talked to them to see what their real needs are? Or are they just swooping down with their billions to mass vaccinate, parrot off cliches like over population and climate change. Zuckerburg wants to make sure every kid in Africa has cell phone service and a Facebook account but who needs food, water and shelter right? PR and investments opportunity is what it really is.

The Eye of Sauron won't be satiated until he has full control over the world: https://notthebee.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-says-his-employees-lovingly-call-him-the-eye-of-sauron

Interesting point, though. Like the way Gates bought up so much farmland in America. Given that he's expressed his support of population control, I don't think he's looking to supercharge farms anytime soon.

Decades ago someone was complaining to me about Dollywood, how it was self-indulgent, a vanity thing. But I asked what would be better, that she keep that money tucked in a Cayman Island bank? Also that the place has planted 10s of thousands of trees in the area and rehabilitates injured raptors, not to mention empolys a to of people and spurs the local economy.

For some reason Dolly Parton and Lost World wouldn't seem like a good combination but maybe I'm wrong.

Raptors as in Falconiformes, birds of prey, not Velociraptors,,,

Lol. I figured that's what you meant but couldn't resist playing dumb for a minute. Although some would say I specialize in that.

Wasn't sure, figured maybe you though I got it wrong. Although I've heard em call velociraptors, "raptors," as well, including Jurassic Park.

I guess I always referred to the bird as just falcon.

Hawks, eagles, kestrels, the whole lot...

ton*

Economy is mainly a zero-sum game. When very rich people invest, they make more money for themselves - they rarely even create value. What is certain however is that if they donate to a charity, it is far more profitable for the society. Take the example of Melinda Gates foundation which develop free-access GMOs for farmers of the world - who would otherwise pay debilitating sums of money to Monsanto. They are very beneficial. Investing your assets in a fund like Blackrock is often investing in a stock market, which is more often negative for the economy (housing market : raise prices, or the infamous water market in Australia).
Here is some figures of the quantity of wealth at stakes :
https://mkorostoff.github.io/1-pixel-wealth/
88t090.jpg (click to show)