A civilized country doesn't need charity

[Sean Hayden]

Eurotrash love to say this, what say you? Is there a place for charity in a civilized country?

I think more can always be done, and getting things done involves money. So regardless of whether or not a government meets the needs of its citizens, it's probably a good idea to provide a way for those who'd like to contribute even more, to do so. There may also be times when the government will not fund something which many believe deserves the funding. They may ask for charity. Is that uncivilized?

[Rum]

Well it seems the best country in the world doesn't do them any more.

I take a rather more pragmatic view. If something needs doing and it is important and the government decides in its wisdom not to fund it or under fund it then great - go for it. I'm not even sure if in an ideal world all such things should be funded by government in any case. I'm all for saving whales and dolphins (we do actually have a monthly debit for that), but I'm not sure I'd want to contribute to a home for retired Lords and Ladies (there used to be a charity called 'The Society for the Aid of Distressed Gentlefolk' here...and I applied to it when I was a young social worker as I recall for a client).

The end does justify the means in this case. Happy to oblige by the way Rachel!

[Scot Dutchy]

Totally. How much reaches the target? From the very first big appeals how much reached those kids in Africa? Hardly any. THe geo's of the charities were paid six figure salaries.

http://charity.lovetoknow.com/What_Perc ... to_Charity

[cronus]

Charity is a Christian invention. Great for funding crusades, not so good at funding public sanitation systems. People will donate to things, if they believe they should and that can be through taxes and other peoples money, not that it is since with fiat currency it all belongs to the issuer - either the federal reserve in the US or the Crown here. Never encountered a civilized country. Do they exist?

[Rum]

Ancient Egyptian and Greek charities.

http://philanthrocapitalism.net/bonus-c ... nt-giving/

[cronus]

Ancient Egyptian and Greek charities.

http://philanthrocapitalism.net/bonus-c ... nt-giving/

We all know Christianity is a rip-off from Ancient Egypt. Doesn't change a thing.

[Rum]

Ancient Egyptian and Greek charities.

http://philanthrocapitalism.net/bonus-c ... nt-giving/

We all know Christianity is a rip-off from Ancient Egypt. Doesn't change a thing.

Nope - not a thing. As usual you posted incorrect misleading nonsense. No change there.

[cronus]

Ancient Egyptian and Greek charities.

http://philanthrocapitalism.net/bonus-c ... nt-giving/

We all know Christianity is a rip-off from Ancient Egypt. Doesn't change a thing.

Nope - not a thing. As usual you posted incorrect misleading nonsense. No change there.

That's a perspective. It's your perspective. We all have truths. Yours is a sub-set of the whole, exactly like mine.

[Seabass]

Dividing countries into civilized and uncivilized is reductive and binary and stupid. But I do think it would be fair to say that the more civilized a country is, the less there is a need for charity. I agree with Rum however, that I don't think you can ever totally eliminate the need for charity because some people will always want to fund things that most don't.

[Brian Peacock]

Charity begins at home.

[Sean Hayden]

Totally. How much reaches the target? From the very first big appeals how much reached those kids in Africa? Hardly any. THe geo's of the charities were paid six figure salaries.

http://charity.lovetoknow.com/What_Perc ... to_Charity

Yes, people steal. I take it the two charities in your country aren't considered corrupt?

[Sean Hayden]

Charity is a Christian invention. Great for funding crusades, not so good at funding public sanitation systems. People will donate to things, if they believe they should and that can be through taxes and other peoples money, not that it is since with fiat currency it all belongs to the issuer - either the federal reserve in the US or the Crown here. Never encountered a civilized country. Do they exist?

Have you considered starting a charity to help educate the people of London about the proper disposal of cooking waste, so they can avoid the next big fatberg, or worse...

[Sean Hayden]

Charity begins at home.

[L'Emmerdeur]

Well it seems the best country in the world doesn't do them any more.

Ah, I wonder what country that is. I know it's not the Netherlands.

[Rum]

Well it seems the best country in the world doesn't do them any more.

Ah, I wonder what country that is. I know it's not the Netherlands.