Most familiar with recent world history are aware of the role the Brown Shirts in the corrupting of the German Weimar Republic into the Dritte (Third) Reich. In similar ways, various “private” groups and militias have been instrumental in overthrowing governments and in propping up other governments.

At the same time, “non-governmental organizations” (NGO) are viewed by government and media as organizations that support social, humanitarian, or environmental issues. And a very good thing. While most are “non-profit,” even NGOs can be organized as a for-profit entity. Most are considered charities and enjoy 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

Yet, they are (supposedly) organized independently from any government. They may operate at local, State, national, or international levels. They are very well-known, including such organizations as the American (and International) Red Cross, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and many more household names. They include professional organizations, de-facto guilds and monopolists.

But while officially not part of governments, in reality, they are both highly dependent on and influential in governments and political matters. First, of course, is their organization, as corporations (creatures of the government, at heart). They are therefore able to have limited liability for their members. But they also are therefore under the jurisdiction of governments.

The influence of such NGOs has been obvious for a century and more. Their advocacy for certain causes (the environment, refugees, people with specific illnesses or conditions) means that they are often lobbyists and highly visible in legislative assemblies, the executive branch of governments, and working with (or sometimes against) bureaucrats. Their power lies both in their money (which can be used both for campaign contributions and to pay media for attention) and the pressure members of their organizations (and their fellow-travelers) can put on government officials.

And very often, the NGOs themselves are beneficiaries of government largess. In the form not just of tax breaks but of both grants (donations) and government contracts. Often, their members are government employees. Also common, their senior leadership rotates freely back and forth between the so-called non-profit world and the power of government officialdom. In addition to the legal campaign contributions and heavy giving of time and effort, many have been very juicy sources of bribes to some politicians and other government officials.

At the very bottom of the pile of NGO-dom, the NGOs provide the foot soldiers for their cause and for (or against) governments. This can range from union bullies to strikebreakers, from chanting marchers carrying protest signs to club or IED-wielding shock-troopers.

Because of their nature and link with “special interests,” NGOs can be very wealthy and control vast resources. While “non-profit” that does not prevent their leadership from enjoying great wealth and very comfortable lives. (See “union bosses,” and “March of Dimes” and other organizations.)

It is not just government and dimes collected in tin cans or plastic bottles that fund NGOs. Often it is very wealthy corporations and foundations. But all of these push the NGO’s agenda and use it to carry out their own agenda.

One of these NGOs is in the news recently. Why? RFK, Jr., just went after the American Heart Association. Here is what he and others had to say about this well-respected and highly-influential advocacy and research group:

“It’s important that the American people know that sometimes they’re getting medical advice from people who have an economic stake in that advice. We have a responsibility to question that.

“The American Heart Association continues to accept millions of dollars from the biggest processed food makers in this country. It supported and fortified a dogma that vilified and demonized good food, and implicitly bolstered the economic and mercantile ambitions of the processed food makers that were providing its funding.

“These are the conflicts of interest that all of us — Marty, Jay, Oz, and everybody in this agency — came in to end and to expose.“

Of course, RFK Jr, both on his own and as a shill for Orange Man Bad, was immediately castigated for daring to slight such a fine institution. The AHA claims it spends “nearly 80 cents of every dollar on research, education, and outreach.” They have supposedly “invested 6.1 billion FRNs” in research since 1949. They award millions of bucks each year in active research awards: 20% of their budget. According to various sources, the AHA CEO gets over $4 million per year in compensation. Other officers are also blessed with such wealth.

But… there are other, more blunt words for such things as “education” and “outreach.” Call them advertising and propaganda and you may be closer to the truth. And as RFK Jr. points out (echoing the words of hundreds of knowledgeable people over the years) that education, outreach, and research has result in generating lies, false results, and politicized “science.” We cannot but suspect that similar to their leadership, their researchers enjoy nice rewards for the research that supports the objective of the donors. Not, of course, the few dollars here and there, but the millions from industry and government.

This is just one example of how NGOs support tyranny and totalitarianism.