The "Employment Policies Institute" sounds nice. Why don't you like them?

The Employment Policies Institute was founded by Rick Berman, a long time restaurant industry lobbyist and CEO of Berman & Co., a premier public relations firm. It is part of a movement of "PR nonprofits": nonprofits created by public relations firms, hired by corporations to change public opinion that affect their bottom line.

The Employment Policies Institute has been a high-profile sponsor of research and arguments against living wage and minimum wage policies. It began its life with a grant from Philip Morris & Co., and has since been supported by undisclosed corporate donors. It generally advocates against legislation that threaten to raise labor costs or otherwise hurt the profits of the restaurant industry.

It's no coincidence that the Employment Policies Institute adopted the same acronym as the liberal Economic Policy Institute. It is consistent with their history of attempting to mislead the public. See Berman & Co.: 'Nonprofit' Hustlers for the Food & Booze Biz for more information from PR Watch.

Unfortunately, it is a common strategy of PR firms to form "non-profits" with the exclusive mission of boosting the profits of their financial backers. These organizations, hiding behind their "non-profit" label, often pose as groups of concerned citizens but generally represent no wider concern than their own self-interest.

But doesn't everyone have a right to express their opinions?

Everyone has a right to free speech. But when organizations speak only to make money for their financial benefactors, the public deserves to know and treat them with the appropriate skepticism. And when those organizations hide their financial allegiances, they do not participate in our democracy, but attempt to hijack it for their own purposes.

How can I find out more about this disturbing trend?

PR Watch is the premier "watchdog" of the public relations industry and puts together extremely interesting books and newsletters.

MediaTransparency.org is an interesting information source on the funding of mainly conservative nonprofits and advocacy organizations.

If Not for Profit, For What? Conflicts of Interest in Nonprofit Research and Advocacy is my take on the problem, and is an introduction to the ethical and practical problems it creates.