Well At Least It Ain't Food Stamps.

       Karl Rove Bamboozles The I.R.S. reads the headline in an editorial in the New York Times today. And that he did. He got the I.R.S. to grant tax free status as a social welfare organization to his Crossroads America, dark money political machine. Now his is not the first such political Super Pac to gain this coveted classification and I suspect it won't be the last, but it certainly is one of the most high profile such organization to be awarded the money tree designation.
       The Tax Exempt Social Welfare Organization designation was created for groups who's primary function is to provide, guess what, welfare to society. It means they can collect donations from anyone in any amount without telling anyone who the money came from. Now if that money is used to serve society for the betterment of society, then that's not too bad an idea. But if it then can be used to support politicians in elections, then that's not so much a good idea. In fact as an idea it stinks.
       Suppose you are someone from, oh I don't know, say Russia or China, and you wanted to get a certain politician elected president, you would not be allowed to donate money to that election. Its illegal. But since nobody knows who gives to a "Social Welfare" Super Pak, you could give any amount you want to be used to help get your favorite politician elected. Of course the leaders of the Super Pac would know it was you that gave that money and I'll bet that sometime in the very near future, in friendly conversation, he might mention your name to that politician. It's how things are done in polite society. That is to say that's how things are done in polite political society. Even impolite political society.
       But it isn't just foreigners, it's multi-billionaires who want to buy politicians so they'll get extra tax cuts and privileges, like denying climate change or special leases on national park lands to dig up coal or drill for oil or oh so many other ways to help themselves even if it hurts you and me.  It's the government's definition of Social Welfare that isn't food stamps.