REARRANGING THE DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC

BY LARRY KAPLAN, larry-kaplan@sbcglobal.net, www.larry-kaplan.com

If a philanthropic citizen were to ask me today what they should give their money to, my answer would come without hesitation:
 
Give to your favorite charity but set something significant aside to specifically help fund the defeat and ouster of President Donald Trump and his toadies in Congress in November.

 The disheartening events of the past couple of weeks, layered on top of the disastrous Federal response to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic collapse, not to mention generations of racial, social and economic injustice, have been maddening. 

 Our country is broken, and I don’t see much promise of fixing it in the short term.

 America’s charities have many worthy missions, and I have supported and worked for lots of them – poverty, pollution, hunger, housing and homelessness, children and families, justice for communities of color, structural racism, sexism and homophobia, civil liberties, income inequality, climate change, community development, conservation, healthcare, mental health, education reform, etc. 
 
But nonprofit leaders are kidding themselves if they think they can make a dent in these problems without effecting fundamental change in the top echelons of power and public policymaking in America.  It’s simple cause and effect – you elect bad people to public office, you get bad policy!
 
Fixing these problems is difficult when we are lucky enough to have progressive, empathetic and sympathetic political leadership.  We all know too well that it’s difficult to achieve any reform at the large scalable level that only government can deliver.  With the current regressive, criminal, corrupt, incompetent, autocratic, racist, sexist and xenophobic president now occupying the White House, aided and abetted by Mitch McConnel and his minions in the Senate, it’s impossible.
 
I have been one of lone voices in the nonprofit sector calling for changes in the law to allow charities to engage in electoral politics.  I cannot understand how people fail to make the connection between who occupies public office and the policies of the governments they preside over.  They are joined at the hip, and the prohibition against supporting or opposing candidates ties one hand behind nonprofits’ backs in the fight for progressive policies in our society and economy, while the bad guys out there are using guns and knives.
 
It is not “just politics” this time – we are confronted with a fundamental choice for our futures and those of our children and grandchildren.  I cannot promise that a President Biden and a Democratic Congress will solve any of these problems, but at least there is the potential for what some are calling an “FDR-New Deal moment,” a recognition that sweeping changes must be implemented, and a commitment to enact them.  It will be up to progressive leaders to hold them to their promises.
 
Remember, your nonprofit’s mission is about change, not just charity.  It’s not enough to be “heartbroken” or “in solidarity” or to “have conversations.”  It’s not enough to support and run progressive charities, and say all the things that need to be said.  Those are a good start, but it’s essential to actively go out and do something to change the regime in Washington.  
 
Don’t get mad, get even.
 
That is why a critical goal of any progressive nonprofit leader, regardless of the specific mission of your charity, must be to support and work for the defeat and ouster of Trump, his allies and their politics.  You need to be registering voters and campaigning for progressive candidates.  Then you need to get your constituents out to vote for them.  You can do it without violating the laws governing 501(c)3’s – contact me and ask me how if you need guidance. 

Anything less and all you are doing is rearranging the deck chairs.