Sir Patrick Stewart, the star of Star Trek: The Next Generation, died yesterday at his home in Los Angeles following a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. He was 86. A statement from his rep confirmed the news. “We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home […]
I keep seeing comments that he was a socialist, but these kinds of organizations are oppositional to public, collective funding and decision making around health care and research.
Contrary to “from each according to their ability”, they rely on discretionary donations from individuals/corporations, the largest of whom are overtly using it to evade taxes which would otherwise be distributed according to public policy. The donor economy allows these people to have arbitrary power far exceeding their expertise.
And rather than “to each according to their need”, decisions are made with far less accountability than a state or other public institution would be subject to. In particular, groups who represent different diagnoses are put in the strange situation of competing with one another in popularity contests. Which leads to vast waste of resources on promo, PR and pointless activities which advertise the fundraising projects. And god help you if you have a disease without a big advertising campaign, that wealthy people don’t feel like using a tax shelter.
I suggest if you are feeling a grief that is soothed financially, send it to someone in mutual aid, or put it in your pocket and hand it to the next person who asks you for change on the street.
I keep seeing comments that he was a socialist, but these kinds of organizations are oppositional to public, collective funding and decision making around health care and research.
Contrary to “from each according to their ability”, they rely on discretionary donations from individuals/corporations, the largest of whom are overtly using it to evade taxes which would otherwise be distributed according to public policy. The donor economy allows these people to have arbitrary power far exceeding their expertise.
And rather than “to each according to their need”, decisions are made with far less accountability than a state or other public institution would be subject to. In particular, groups who represent different diagnoses are put in the strange situation of competing with one another in popularity contests. Which leads to vast waste of resources on promo, PR and pointless activities which advertise the fundraising projects. And god help you if you have a disease without a big advertising campaign, that wealthy people don’t feel like using a tax shelter.
I suggest if you are feeling a grief that is soothed financially, send it to someone in mutual aid, or put it in your pocket and hand it to the next person who asks you for change on the street.