The Chan-Zuckerbergs stopped funding social causes

Role of Taxation vs Philanthropy

• Many argue core social needs (e.g., education) should be funded via taxation, not dependent on discretionary billionaire charity that can be withdrawn at will.
• Supporters of taxation emphasize democratic accountability and long-term commitments that charities often can’t match.
• Others counter that government funding is also politically fragile and unreliable; recent political shifts cut both public and private social funding.
• Debate over efficiency: some claim charities are leaner than government; others note non-profit bloat, fundraising overhead, and abusive tax shelters (e.g., donor-advised funds) undermine that.
• Several commenters advocate higher top tax rates (citing 1950s-level marginal rates) and taxing capital gains/dividends like wages, or even taxing securities-based wealth, instead of relying on philanthropy.

Motives and Constraints of Billionaire Donors

• Strong skepticism that the couple ever truly cared about social causes: many see the projects as PR, “creative accounting,” or image management.
• Others argue wealthy tech founders are more politically constrained than past industrial monopolists because their fortunes are tied to volatile public markets.
• Some frame the retreat as cowardice or lack of backbone; others suggest a rational response to programs that appeared ineffective or politically toxic.

School Closure and Obligations to Families

• Parents in the thread emphasize the non-monetary harm: disruption of children’s stability and social context, even with a year’s notice and a $50M “parting gift.”
• One side argues that once you invite vulnerable families to reorganize their lives around your school, you incur a strong moral obligation to sustain it.
• Others insist charity should not become an indefinite obligation; given poor academic results and governance issues, ending the experiment is defensible.

Effectiveness and Risks of Philanthrocapitalism

• Past efforts (e.g., a large Newark education gift) are cited as examples where big philanthropic interventions were “squandered” or poorly executed.
• A referenced book and comments portray “philanthrocapitalism” as applying market/tech logics to complex social problems, often with hubris and limited accountability.
• Some say they’d rather billionaires buy yachts than run experimental social programs that can abruptly collapse.

Education Experiments and Systemic Issues

• The article’s description of “speech pedometers” and lax disciplinary rules is seen as emblematic of tech-solutionism in schooling.
• Broader debate touches on whether education is truly “broken,” or instead overloaded with ideological battles, behavioral problems, and constant policy fads.