The Illusion of Charity: Why Rich People Congratulate Themselves (And Why It Matters)

Описание: Billionaires are often praised as heroes for donating millions to charity — but does this actually fix anything?
In this video essay, we explore how elite philanthropy often functions as PR, tax optimization, and reputation management, while the structural causes of inequality remain untouched. Charity treats symptoms, not systems — and sometimes protects the very mechanisms that create poverty in the first place.
This is not an attack on helping people.
It’s a critique of substituting justice with generosity.
🔍 Sources & Further Reading
Why billionaire philanthropy is structurally limited
https://inequality.org/article/the-tr...
https://www.wealthandsociety.com/upda...
https://link.springer.com/article/10....
Charity, power, and tax avoidance
https://www.propublica.org/article/bi...
https://www.thenation.com/article/soc...
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/th...
Donor-advised funds & delayed giving
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/20...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/op...
Famous examples & controversies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...
https://www.propublica.org/article/in...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giv...
🧠 Topics Covered
• Performative charity vs real impact
• Why philanthropy doesn’t redistribute power
• How charity can weaken democratic control
• Tax write-offs and reputation laundering
• Why systemic solutions are intentionally avoided

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