In a new report, the Institute of Economic Affairs will argue charities have become a “shadow state”, because they are so reliant on around £12 billion a year of public grants and contracts.
The paper also reveals the Government is now spending millions of pounds on “lobbying itself” because taxpayer-funded charities have hired so many public affairs and media advisers.
It will say charities are less likely to criticise the Government if they are taking taxpayer cash, which can “give the illusion of grassroots support” for certain policies.
“These state-funded activists engage in direct lobbying of politicians and indirect lobbying of the public using taxpayers’ money, thereby blurring the distinction between public and private action,” it says.
The report claims 27,000 charities are reliant on Government cash, including those campaigning for issues with “no widespread support” such as foreign aid and temperance.
“Many so-called ‘charities’ are little more than fronts for state-funded campaigns or providers of state-funded services,” it says.
IEA report
We’ve been so focused on Crony Capitalism, maybe it’s past time we look at America’s Crony Charities.
h/t David Thompson
I could think of one or two “charities” that deserve neither taxpayer funding, nor tax-deductible donation status.
I peremptorily denounce myself as racist for even thinking of them, of course, but there you are…
Emdless feedback loops, all of which could be eliminated with a single piece of legislation. Which must happen but which shall never happen.
Interesting reading however the above does not take into account that the government doesn’t need to hire lobbyist. Their built into the system already.
It was Stalin, I believe, whp first coined the term Non-Governmental Organization.