Could Private Charity Replace Social Programs?

[bobbybondsfan]

Of course. There is 0 incentive for any government program to get better. In business, there is competitors that force businesses to adapt. Only reasons monopolies exist is because of government

[isingmodel]

Of course. There is 0 incentive for any government program to get better. In business, there is competitors that force businesses to adapt. Only reasons monopolies exist is because of government

This is why you're red, brah.

[KyleAaron]

Consider: why are you asking this question using an anonymous handle in a forum with thousands of other people with anonymous handles? Why do you not ask your next-door neighbour? Why do you not ask the people or leader in your house of worship? Why don't you ask the guys you play soccer with each week?

Charity works well in a small local society where everyone knows their neighbour. It doesn't work well in times when people have to drive 45 minutes to get to work, and nobody knows their neighbour.

People are nowadays very mobile and atomised. Write down how many different places you've lived in your life. Now write down the names of the neighbour either side of each place over those years. Most people will struggle with the first one, and the second will be impossible. Now look at your Facebook friends list, and figure out what fraction of the people on it live within an hour's walk of your home. If you have local shops, ask yourself how many of the shopkeepers know you by name. If you don't have local shops, think on that and what it means for the local community - there won't be much of one. Write down 10 religious or community organisations within an hour's walk of your home - if you can.

In such a mobile and atomised society, people are disconnected and alone, and so those in need will miss out on charity simply because nobody knows them.

Government did not make people mobile and atomised. We as a society chose that lifestyle by getting cars, TVs, mobile phones and so on. We stopped shopping at the corner store and drove to the mall. We left our families and churches and bowling clubs. Because we chose a mobile and atomised society, private charity will always be patchy, inconsistent and less effective than it could be.

Unfortunately, that leaves only government to step in, they don't have to know or care about you as a person so long as you fill in a form.

I wish it were not so, but that's the society we've chosen to live in.

[bobbybondsfan]

This is why you're red, brah.

Says the guy who thinks that only government could have produced the internet. Everything I said is fact. There is zero competitive pressure on the dmv or any bloated government program. No monopoly can exist if government didn't hand out favors. I think your socialist friends are leading the world in killing in world history

[chaunce54]

Consider: why are you asking this question using an anonymous handle in a forum with thousands of other people with anonymous handles? Why do you not ask your next-door neighbour? Why do you not ask the people or leader in your house of worship? Why don't you ask the guys you play soccer with each week?

Charity works well in a small local society where everyone knows their neighbour. It doesn't work well in times when people have to drive 45 minutes to get to work, and nobody knows their neighbour.

People are nowadays very mobile and atomised. Write down how many different places you've lived in your life. Now write down the names of the neighbour either side of each place over those years. Most people will struggle with the first one, and the second will be impossible. Now look at your Facebook friends list, and figure out what fraction of the people on it live within an hour's walk of your home. If you have local shops, ask yourself how many of the shopkeepers know you by name. If you don't have local shops, think on that and what it means for the local community - there won't be much of one. Write down 10 religious or community organisations within an hour's walk of your home - if you can.

In such a mobile and atomised society, people are disconnected and alone, and so those in need will miss out on charity simply because nobody knows them.

Government did not make people mobile and atomised. We as a society chose that lifestyle by getting cars, TVs, mobile phones and so on. We stopped shopping at the corner store and drove to the mall. We left our families and churches and bowling clubs. Because we chose a mobile and atomised society, private charity will always be patchy, inconsistent and less effective than it could be.

Unfortunately, that leaves only government to step in, they don't have to know or care about you as a person so long as you fill in a form.

I wish it were not so, but that's the society we've chosen to live in.

It may be a bit short sighted to believe that the government hasn't had a hand in it. The laws and regulations they make have many far reaching intended and unintended consequences.

[Stizzel]

It may be a bit short sighted to believe that the government hasn't had a hand in it. The laws and regulations they make have many far reaching intended and unintended consequences.

Also charity collected at gun point is theft

[Dave22reborn]

Says the guy who thinks that only government could have produced the internet. Everything I said is fact. There is zero competitive pressure on the dmv or any bloated government program. No monopoly can exist if government didn't hand out favors. I think your socialist friends are leading the world in killing in world history

It is interesting, the DMV has existed for decades, it's going to be 2020, and it still runs like ****. "Now calling A27."

[Aesthetical]

Take away the tax deductions and see how charitable people really are.

[ImBunky]

Take away the tax deductions and see how charitable people really are.

It's not like you are getting everything back, just whatever your effective tax rate is.