[Winona Online Democracy]
Paul and others:
In response to your words below, I'd like to say that these individuals did
choose to exercise power and influence by their actions of donating money to
the organizations they wished to support. This is what all of us who have
an ethic of philanthropy do, no matter how small or big the gift.
Maybe we could discuss more of what constitues good ethics when it comes to
exercising one's power or influence or wealth? The Wizard of Oz so nicely
defined philanthropists as "good-deed-doers." What good deeds are being
done by tobacco companies who contibute with the understanding that a
politician will vote on legislation supporting their industry? (I admit I'm
an ex-smoker who lost two grandparents to lung cancer--I'm biased about
these guys, but honestly, what good are Winstons doing for the American
People?)
What I think we need is a system that supports ethical decision-making on
every level. Power and influence are wonderful things when they are used
ethically to promote the greater good. What we need to do is to work harder
to find areas of agreement in terms of what is good for our country (or
community) and its citizens.
Will the folks interested in creating a community of character be willing to
comment on this?
Kathy Seifert
Paul Double wrote:
Their has been many who have wealth but choose not to exercise power. Among
those would be several Nobel Prize Winners. Two specific individuals would
be Oseola McCarty, a humble 89 year old retired laundress from Hattiesburg,
Miss. who donated $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi and
Matel Dawson Jr., a Ford Motor Co. employee. Dawson, 75, an astute
investor who was unable to finish high school, lives in a one-bedroom
apartment in Highland Park, Michigan and drives a Ford Escort to work
everyday. In 1996 he gave $200,000 to Wayne State University and $240,000
to the United Negro College Fund. In 1997 he also gave $100,000 to
Louisiana State University. Some people who have made money simple enjoy
the opportunity to take care of their families and enjoy life without the
complexity of politics or business.
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.
----------------
This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project.
Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name.
Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list.
Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
