Philanthropy II
The economics of charity are an interesting topic, but I'd like something more empirical for the time being. Do YOU give to charity? Do you give regularly? Do you have a plan as to how much you will give and to whom? What do you think happens to money you give to charity? What motivates your giving? Is it guilt, or pleasure?
Nathan
posted by Nathanael D Snow @ 6:52 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
You do know there is a lot of issues with survey data, especially voluntary surveys.
Umm...I give to charities. I think I give a pretty good amount and don't really keep up with the percentage of my income (not tithing).
I think people give because they get something back in return. Whether it's because they feel guilty, good, or altruistic doesn't matter to me.
I know, I am screwing up the survey. Sorry
I give regularly to my place of worship, above 10%. I worked for 8 years earning below minimum wage educating low income no income students in downtown Durham.
I give what I can, when I can, and do so because I believe it is the only real way to solve the welfare problem.
For anti-statists to propose welfare tightening measures we have to be prepared to face the consequences. There will be a lot of people who need help. Liberals are right when their hearts bleed for those whom have become dependant upon government programs. These people made economically wise decisions considering the options available to them. So did all of us when we chose a state supported university.
So, charities need to be in place and well funded BEFORE welfare is cut. Altruism is not enough, hence I no longer work in Durham...
The challenge is that if both charities and the government are offering money to people, how do we convince them to take from only the charity and not the government? It is impossible. I believe in this more than anybody else I know, and yet I am on a Pell Grant, my student loans are government subsidized, and my kids are on medicaid.
If the government got out of the charity industry, it would be much more efficient.
The only thing that might be strong enough to make me quit my government addiction (did I mention that I'll be getting almost $5000 this year in tax returns even though I didn't pay any income taxes because I've got two kids? and yes, I do tithe on that $5000) is conviction. Conviction that the government is a pagan establishment and every dollar I receive form them is as meat sacrificed to idols - profane. I would have to willingly refuse to accept the money.
But that just gives the government more money to do other stupid things with. In justification of my partaking of the profane I quip to myself, "Never feed a tyrant."
I'm in a wretched state of affairs. What's more frustrating is that most people in my situation think nothing of it. They don't wrestle with the ethics at all. They ARE pagans, and they are happy that way!
Nathan
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