When did we stop being able to hold two things in our head at once? Taxes on the wealthy should be higher AND philanthropy, especially thoughtful and effective philanthropy, should be encouraged.

Critique is healthy, as is debate about philanthropy (and it's not remotely new -- been going on a long, long, long time long) AND the best critique doesn't paint everyone with the same brush, but instead is nuanced and differentiated.

Philanthropy that is top down and focused on policy influence can be anti-democratic and problematic AND philanthropy that elevates the perspective and voices of the most marginalized or allows folks to organize in community or around common issues is vitally democratic.

This is a plea for nuance. For recognizing and remembering the work of nonprofits, supported by philanthropy, and not dissing all giving just because some givers have acted badly.

We need our nonprofit sector and philanthropy and we need them to be yet better. We need government and we sure need it to be better. And we need business and it definitely needs to be better. We will be best as a society when each sector plays its distinctive role ... better.