3 ms·

Isn't a think tank basically the same as lobbyists, e.g. legalized corruption? Think tanks push an agenda, which creates laws beneficial to the business interes

by nikster 13y ago

Isn't a think tank basically the same as lobbyists, e.g. legalized corruption? Think tanks push an agenda, which creates laws beneficial to the business interests of the think tank's backers, which creates $Bns in profits. In that view, think tanks are probably the most profitable business there is. Certainly the highest ROI when it works out. Politics can be bought for hundreds of thousands, but bring in billions.

tvanantwerp 13y ago
I work at a think tank, and no, this is not what think tanks are. (Not most, anyway.)
briandh 13y ago
No. In the US, many (most?) think tanks are 501(c)(3) nonprofits -- NCPPR included -- and cannot make lobbying a primary activity [1] More broadly, think tanks are groups of like-minded people expressing their opinions, typically about how governments should be run. The fact that they accept donations in order to be able to work full time on the cause and to extend the reach of their advocacy, and that many of those donations come from individuals or organizations who stand to benefit if some of the think tank's desired policies are implemented, does not make them "legalized corruption". [1] http://www.irs.gov/Charities-%26-Non-Profits/Lobbying http://www.irs.gov/Charities-%26-Non-Profits/Lobbying
- MaysonL 13y ago
  They can't lobby per se, but propaganda is what they do for a living.
username223 13y ago
Think tanks are better than lobbyists, because they let interests launder their money. X, who has an interest in Y, can make a donation to e.g. Heritage, which will then spit out PR in support of Y. But that usually comes across as "Heritage supports Y" and "X donates to Heritage," not a single fact that "X supports Y." And since Heritage flacks for hundreds of Ys, X has plausible deniability. And if you want to see the amazing ROI available through corruption, take a look at Duke Cunningham's bribe menu.

by nikster 13y ago

tvanantwerp 13y ago

I work at a think tank, and no, this is not what think tanks are. (Not most, anyway.)

briandh 13y ago

No. In the US, many (most?) think tanks are 501(c)(3) nonprofits -- NCPPR included -- and cannot make lobbying a primary activity [1] More broadly, think tanks are groups of like-minded people expressing their opinions, typically about how governments should be run. The fact that they accept donations in order to be able to work full time on the cause and to extend the reach of their advocacy, and that many of those donations come from individuals or organizations who stand to benefit if some of the think tank's desired policies are implemented, does not make them "legalized corruption". [1] http://www.irs.gov/Charities-%26-Non-Profits/Lobbying http://www.irs.gov/Charities-%26-Non-Profits/Lobbying

MaysonL 13y ago
They can't lobby per se, but propaganda is what they do for a living.

username223 13y ago

Think tanks are better than lobbyists, because they let interests launder their money. X, who has an interest in Y, can make a donation to e.g. Heritage, which will then spit out PR in support of Y. But that usually comes across as "Heritage supports Y" and "X donates to Heritage," not a single fact that "X supports Y." And since Heritage flacks for hundreds of Ys, X has plausible deniability. And if you want to see the amazing ROI available through corruption, take a look at Duke Cunningham's bribe menu.