Final answer:
The purpose of making a quasi public entity open to the public is to provide public goods and services for the general welfare of society, not to cater to the interests of the upper class. This aligns with the fundamental principles of government to promote general welfare, ensure equal access to crucial services, and uphold a representative democracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of making a quasi public entity open to the public is not to allow the upper class to show their contribution, to obtain relationships of patronage, to restrict access, or to maintain exclusivity for the upper class, as these options suggest a more elitist and exclusive motive. Instead, the most relevant reasons for such openness align with the philosophical and practical functions of government as described by thinkers like Hume and in terms of what government corporations aim to accomplish. The primary purpose is to provide public goods that benefit everyone and to ensure that crucial services and regulations are in place for the general welfare of society, not just a select group.
Historically, the need for government involvement in the economy or public works arises from several factors, including the requirement to provide services that are too important to fail or because they are not profitable for private entities to provide due to their non-excludable and non-rivalrous nature. Scottish philosopher David Hume argued that the provision of public goods, such as streetlights and national defense, is a key purpose of government, as these are resources that benefit all and cannot be withheld yet are not depleted by individual use. Governments, therefore, have the authority to impose taxes to fund these goods for everyone's benefit.
Creating entities that are open to the public supports the idea of a government that is responsive to the needs of all its citizens, not just the elite. Public access to quasi-public entities ensures a representative democracy where everyone has the chance to be heard and served equally. This is aligned with the principles of creating a virtuous city or nation, as proposed by philosophers like Al-Farabi, where the aim is to give citizens the opportunity for true happiness through equal access to public services and goods.