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In Reply to: did you notice? posted by Acheick on September 21, 2005 at 11:09:39:
In an earlier post I argued that people who donate money in a crisis want transparency, that is, they want to know that the organization they give to is a credible and accountable one, and that the money they give goes directly to aiding victims in practical ways. I also argued that when you volunteer to help in a crisis you do so without expecting any remuneration. It is unethical, if not illegal, for TF and other unaccountable or fraudulent entities to use tragedies as a pretence for soliciting donations which then go towards administrative costs or personal gain.
A radical concept, as proposed by Naomi Klein, is that the $10.5 billion released by Congress and the $500 million raised by private charities for hurricane Katrina victims, doesn't actually belong to the relief agencies or the government; it belongs to the victims. The agencies entrusted with the money should be accountable to them.
You can read more about this concept in this article, "Let the People Rebuild New Orleans":
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050926/klein
