The LA Times reported today on a foundation that is set-up to collect funds from private donors to send CA Governor Arnold and others on international field trips to bring home the bacon for California. The article essentially questions the legitimacy of charitable dollars used for this purpose which generally involves lifestyles that only the rich and famous (like Arnold) can afford.

You know, there are humongous numbers of nonprofits around that accomplish all kinds of missions serving all kinds of constituencies. I might be jealous of Arnold's lifestyle. I might be more jealous that Arnold has friends who he opens doors for. And finally, I might be jealous that the friends also get tax deductions (whoopti-doo) when supporting the Foundation that supports the friends who go on the trips. But, am I unhappy with the fancy museums and hospitals and universities who all spend really huge bucks doing stuff that only benefit the few, probably some of the same donors that support Arnold's foundation? Bottom line, we really should be looking at the whole charitable tax code but we probably won't. There are folks who gain enough to trickle enough to not want the apple cart to tip.