I grew up in Lakeville Connecticut, home to numerous private prep schools, such as Hotchkiss.
http://www.case.org/guide/hotchkiss_school.html#futuregoals
Hotchkiss has over the course of its history (a little more than a hundred years) emassed approximately $284 million in its endowment fund. The interest and investment earnings on this endowment has allowed for enormous construction projects, free tuiton for needy students, etc.
I mention this because I have always wondered why towns rely on taxes to provide critical services to their citizens, when long term investments would seem an obvious alternative.
I remember reading that Benjamin Frankin established a charitable fund for "young artisans" that grew to incredible size in the 100 years following his death.
While there are some potential pitfalls, none of these seem, to my mind, to obviate the obvious advantages that long term investing holds for small town governments instead of relying on tax revenues.
Why am I putting all this in the activist section?
Because I think the best activism actually entails doing something.
Because, in general I am tired of speeches and protests about "adequate funding" for things as basic as conservation, childcare, education, social services, drug abuse treatment, heating oil for seniors on tight budgets, etc etc.
Instead, I am interested in making Brattleboro of tomorrow a model as a provider of these services.
Because I know that there is no way in to persuade the town to start an investment fund using town taxes,
and despite the fact that I do not have access to large sums of money of my own to start such a fund,
I think that as a naive activist,
I am going to start a riddiculously tiny trust fund for Brattleboro, payable in incremental amounts, to the town in 100 years.
Is anyone else interested in this preposterous but logical idea?