I volunteer at a food bank twice a month, and I'll tell you something uncomfortable. The biggest checks on our wall are from wealthy donors, and the government grants take nine months and a full time administrator to land. Philanthropy is fast, it's flexible, and it shows up for unsexy local stuff that no federal program covers. I'm not saying that's how it should work. I'm saying that while it works, the people keeping my food bank alive include billionaires, and abolishing them without a replacement revenue stream just means fewer meals. Fix the system, but don't burn the bridge before you build the new one.
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