Today’s Times published an expose of Walmart giving large amounts to charities in cities in which it hopes to expand. The nonprofit Walmart Foundation evidently hoped to reduce local opposition in urban areas like Washington, Boston, L.A., and New York by targeting millions of dollars to local charities.
The far right Koch Brothers, who will invest almost a billion dollars in this year’s presidential race, are using the same tactic, donating millions to cancer research and cultural institutions.
Not to be outdone, the PennEast pipeline company is doing the same thing. Last week the Times News reported that PennEast is donating $70,000 to area groups such as Family Promise of Carbon County, the Lehighton Fire Department, and the Palmerton Ambulance Association. The reasons the company is doing this are rather transparent.
I urge these groups take the money. I also hope they are not fooled by PennEast’s motives. This would be a good place to paraphrase Jess Unruh, one-time Speaker of the CA Assembly, on taking money from lobbyists: “If you can’t drink their booze, take their money, fool with their women, and then vote against them, you don’t belong in politics.” [I cleaned it up a bit.]
I don’t think Walmart, the Koch Brothers, and PennEast are fooling anyone. My advice--take their money but don’t take the b.s. that goes with it.
Us people with some degree of education know all too well what they are up to. People think they are someone doing good and will be a good neighbor. Just as voters fall for all those political ads that run every election.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping most people will understand what they are up to.
ReplyDelete