G.I. learns difference between philanthropy and fundraising

by David Safier

It's encouraging to see the Goldwater Institute has a learning curve when it comes to needless self parody.

In June, 2010, G.I. advertised a job opening for a Director of Philanthropy. The job description made it clear that, for them, philanthropy begins, and ends, at home. It was a G.I. fundraising postion. No mention of any money being given away. [Note from Dr. Word: The etymology of the word "philanthropy" is "love of humankind." It has nothing to do with love of your own six figure salaries or your ability to spread your propaganda farther and wider, or pile it higher and deeper.]

This year, the position is advertised on Conservative Jobs — yes, there is such a website — as "Fundraising Officer." I commend G.I. for its truth in advertising. People applying will understand their job is to increase the money flowing into the institute's coffers. It was $5 million-plus per year, last time I checked.

There's still that great moment of self parody hanging out there, when G.I.'s Matthew Ladner declared that bus drivers are bureaucrats, along with cafeteria workers and maintenance workers. G.I.'s Starlee Rhoades wrote me a personal, snail-mail letter in response to my query on the subject, confirming that the institute stands by that definition. If you ever begin to think that maybe, the Goldwater Institute has a shred of integrity, just remember, it refuses to retract its assertion that bus drivers are bureaucrats.

(Ladner, by the way, has moved on and is working with Jeb Bush to help take the "public" out of "public education." Rhoades is currently G.I.'s one and only registered lobbyist.