Revisions to SDMB rules 7/29/2024

[Measure_for_Measure]

In the beginning of this year I pitched a thread to the mods on the topic of best places to contribute to support American democracy via the Democratic Party, or something like that. (Following helpful feedback by What_Exit, I decided to rewrite the post. Then I procrastinated. )

1. How to best allocate one’s charitable spending is one of the many great debates of our time. I would like to know whether the new rules (and new thinking by the staff) permit a Consumer Reports style comparison of various charities. Such comparisons would include but not be limited to discussion of expense ratios.

See this GD thread for why expense ratios are of limited benefit when evaluating charities:

Methinks effective altruism has been tarred with a wide brush

The arrest and conviction of crypto criminal Sam Bankman-Fried has given effective altruism a bad name. That’s unfortunate, as it is a movement worthy of support. Some might argue that the best use of charitable expenditures is the local or national ballet or their cat and at any rate it isn’t our business: charity is about how it makes the giver feel and they have a right to do with they want with their money. Look, most of philanthropy is devoted to enticing well-heeled donors to give more, n…

See this ATMB thread for policy on charitable fundraising as it existed last November:

Is a thread discussing the most cost-effective way to donate to a political cause allowed?

I suspect this has been asked before, but I’m not finding anything. Not something soliciting donations. But also not something asking in general terms about what is effective in politics. Asking: if I want to donate $X or volunteer my time to a specified political objective (let’s not be coy, the objective to stop Trump and the Republican Party at the next election) what is the most productive way to do it.

2. How would this be modded? Is it consistent with best practice?

“Those who care about global warming, the future of American democracy, and the future interpretation of Champion v. Ames, should review their finances and consider donating accordingly.”

“Oh, and you can figure out where to best direct your charitable spending at this SDMB thread: …”

Calls to action like this, I understand, are disallowed:

“Give to the DNC, DCCC, DSCC, DLCC. Links are here.” [Note that all 4 are official Democratic Party organizations.]

So you can advocate action in a general way, and you can discuss the best ways to act, but you can’t do both at the same time. I’m hoping that is the policy.