[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: People have a perfect right to spend their money any way they want. It is my understanding that the individual is a South Dakota banker who graduated from the U. He has specified the money be matched by fundraising before he'll give it. I think it's very generous of graduates of the U to want to do something for their institution which has no involvement with any taxpayer money.
First response: I questioned what kind of thinking, ethics, morals, empathy and compassion went into a person's decision to ignore all the serious problems around him, to ignore all the many possibilities to do good, and instead of donate money to an effort that will at best provide some additional pleasure for a small number of football fans, and improve the U's football program financially. As a side effect, even in the best case, such a project will enrich some already wealthy people, encourage further less-compassionate use of money and serve as an example that greed is good, and compassion is useless baggage. Second response: What do you mean no involvement? I would be willing to bet that this individual will deduct this entire amount from his taxes as a charitable contribution. Which means that the rest of us taxpayers must pay MORE to make up for this deduction, and to try to cover the massive Bush deficit. I'd sure call that an involvement of taxpayer money! [TB] Ignoring that no President can create a deficit as Congress appropriates the money and we haven't given line item vetos to the President and remembering that on of the best named federal judges of all time, Judge Learned Hand, once wrote: "Anyone may so arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible. He is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes." (me thinks the Judge may have had conservative leanings). Being of firm belief that the world would be a rather boring place if we all had the same interests, I find it difficult to have much simpathy for someone who complains that a person who does good should do a better good. Do we even know that this gentleman has ignored those other problems? Do we know that he hasn't also given millions elsewhere? The StarTribune describes him as "A long-time philanthropist, he is chairman and founder of the Sanford Foundation, a Sioux Falls-based charity that supports activities in the midwest." Large construction projects generally provide a number of well paying jobs. I'm happy to see some of his generosity come here. Terrell Brown Loring Park http://home.earthlink.net/~terrelljbrown/ "... even though counting heads is not an ideal way to govern, at least it is better than breaking them." -Judge Learned Hand (1932) REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
