Why don't you help others?

[Snave]

While I do give to charities, I also believe in helping myself. I hope to never be a burden to my children when I am old. Therefore, I save diligently for retirement.

[Snave]

I try to give often - there will always be a charity that I wish I could give more too. However, the reality is that it is not possible to help everyone.

[Taribor]

Originally Posted by trex

So what your saying is that because we can't save everyone, it's OK to not save the ones we can? That doesn't make sense to me.

No, what I am saying is I give to the charities and the causes that are important to me and it is part of my budget, but I cannot give to every cause out there and I don't accept guilt trips from those who think I am bad for spending money on material items rather than giving it all away (not that you suggesting I do).

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by trex

That is the essence of my question. We know we should. If the person was right there we would. But since she isn't, we don't. I want to know why this is the case so maybe we can make changes to address this.

It isn't that simple, though. There are millions of needy people in the world. What if every store you went into had them lined up near the register? Would you buy nothing but the bare essentials you needed to survive and give everything else to the poor and infirm? I certainly wouldn't. That isn't how I would want to live. Does that make me a bad person? I don't think so. Just makes me human. I don't think I'd be able to maintain the motivation to work as hard as I do if I wasn't getting to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

[getforfree]

Originally Posted by trex

Millions of people die each year due to lack of clean water. All it takes is $10 to give clean water to a person for an entire year. If you walked into a store planning to buy a sweater for $20 and when you did, there were also two young children who would die without clean water by the sweater, I assume you would forgo the sweater and give the girls the $10 for clean water (I hope). Knowing that every time you buy something, you could save a life instead, why do you spend money on other things and not save those lives?

Why? Because I work way to hard for my money, and succrufise way to much, to be able to make those money. I am okay working and sucrifising my sleep, my health and all that for my family and my kids. But doing all that for somebody else? No way! If I wanted to have less money or give less to my kids, I would just work less and spend more time with my kids.

If you look at it this way. Most people have these choices:
*work an hour overtime at my work and give my earned money for that hour to charity
*work that same hour overtime and buy something nice for your family or your kids or put it towards your saving goals
*don't work overtime and spend that time resting or doing something fun with your family

I would more likely choose second option, maybe the third one if I am very tired or don't feel well, but never the first one. I think every person is obligated to take care of their own family first, and untill that is met, don't even worry about helping somebody outside.

And like they saying you have to teach your kids to share, I am not even going to try that. It should be absolutely up to them to make that decision. If they want to share they can, but it they don't feel like they don;t have to.

Usually even the most greediest people share with the ones they love.

[cschin4]

I want to know why this is the case so maybe we can make changes to address this.

And the essence of your change is what? More forced taxation? Requiring people to "donate"? Sorry, this is just an excuse for more socialism.
As for putting people on a guilt trip for enjoying the fruits of your labor. You are off base. People work for themselves and their families. That is the true motivation to work and also a noble one as well.

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by trex

Did you ever see the movie Schindler's List? At the end he cries out that his ring could have saved another person if he had just given it away. Each of us could say the same thing with every purchase we make.

True... Even if he had he used it to save another person, still he had somehow must came up with the ring. Just the guilt factor for not using something he already had to further provide more help in a dire situation that he was in. If he had never had that ring, he would not have felt guilty but then again he would not have had the extra chance to save another life. He just didn't react to that thought in time.

Missionaries that we have around the world are sponsored from those who have money. They do the ultimate physical sacrificed giving up their life to help others but still it could not be done without people back home providing funds and communication. Don't underestimate a small gift in disguise when sometimes it is a big thing.

[Thrif-t]

I've got to say I've been trying to help more people in my area that have met dire circumstances....like the mother died no life insurance, father needs help with the kids...you see in the obits to donate to some bank memorial fund. I feel my money goes straight to the person in need not an organization that takes a cut for overhead. So far this year we've donated to the family of a police officer that was shot by a criminal and left a young family and to a high school classmate who died of cancer at the young age of 41 and left 3 small children...I'd love to be able to help everyone but can't so I will continue to help those in need where I can.

[PrincessPerky]

What if we all gave up all the exras..no more luxury TVs..no more fancy cars...no more eating out? No more tenth sweater to fill the closet.We could then give that money to those in need.

And we could also watch the economy spiral down..no TV no need for the fancy TV salesman..or cable company...no fancy car, less car salesmen, less mechanics...ect. No eating out, no waitress, busboy, cook, hostess, manager...nor the builders to build the restaurants...No more tenth sweater no more 'closet organizer' business (or 'self storage' places). you get the idea.

So now we have a huge unemployed population and not to many left making any money to give.....I am too lazy to do a complete economic math model, but I am fairly certain if everyone started giving more than around 10% the economy would down turn so bad the resulting donations would be LESS than the current habits of Americans......

Disclaimer...I am not suggesting spending oneself into debt helps those in need in any way...I am simply saying some spending on self/family helps one make more. (DS's computer that he uses to resell ebay stuff comes to mind)