The huge gifts made by the likes of Bill Gates and Ted Turner are prompting questions about the accountability of philanthropists and the private foundations they establish. Subjects like biotech, narcotics legalization, and other emerging topics could lead to the potential for some serious mischief by rich people who were never elected to anything by anyone. Don't get me wrong.
Foundations are necessary.
Turner and Gates do some great work. But that isn't a substitute for a strong and vigorous civil society and a government that has the capacity to respond to the needs of its citizens. Some nonprofit observers also say there's a fine line between giving to do good and giving to further one's own aims. Some critics, for example, contend that much of Gates' philanthropy is motivated by a desire to improve the image of Microsoft as it fends off accusations of unfair business practices. Other experts worry that the international visibility of individual mega-donors has lessened pressure on governments around the world to provide solutions to a range of social problems.