I guess I get what your are arguing now, but it seems like a false analogy. He isn't using his money to prop up an unproductive industry/product, he is giving it away. To the point where he doesn't even allow people to know it comes from him.
You call his goals 'unpopular' ... I personally think that helping restart the higher education system in Ireland to be a fairly admirable goal. Is there anyone out there that honestly campaigns against Big Education? Using his money and influence to help bring Sein Fein to the table seemed admirable. It's not like this guy is handing out eight balls to the poor.
OTOH, you earn points for coming up with an argument that charity is really price manipulation and subsidy in disguise. But I'll make this argument... it's his money to spend. You also have money to spend. If you happen to like buying a steak for dinner instead of dish of corn, are you manipulating the market by deliberately supporting a less productive product? (from an acres/cost to calories standpoint)
You call his goals 'unpopular' ... I personally think that helping restart the higher education system in Ireland to be a fairly admirable goal. Is there anyone out there that honestly campaigns against Big Education? Using his money and influence to help bring Sein Fein to the table seemed admirable. It's not like this guy is handing out eight balls to the poor.
OTOH, you earn points for coming up with an argument that charity is really price manipulation and subsidy in disguise. But I'll make this argument... it's his money to spend. You also have money to spend. If you happen to like buying a steak for dinner instead of dish of corn, are you manipulating the market by deliberately supporting a less productive product? (from an acres/cost to calories standpoint)