Why don't you help others?

[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?

[cschin4]

Americans are very generous in personal donations and gov't donations.
As for just giving half, whom do you suggest it go to? And, there are plenty of corrupt organizations promising help that does not arrive.

[disneysteve]

We give plenty to charity each year, so we do help others who are less fortunate.

To address your question, though, I think you make a very good point: out of sight, out of mind. When we go to the mall, we don't see those starving children. We see the sale signs. Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" comes to mind. When shown the error of his ways, he became a much more charitable person.

Most people find it easier to donate money than time, and that's great, but in the process people remain distant from the recipients of their giving. Many schools in the US have started mandatory social service programs for their students where the kids go to shelters or otherwise get exposure to those in need. I think that may help some people make more of a connection between the money they spend and where else it could be going.

[myrdale]

I am no bible scholar, but this passage from John came to mind.

12:3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair.

The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 12:5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" 12:6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 12:7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 12:8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

I am not suggesting you are Judas, or that people buying stuff are Jesus, but if you want to give there are so many poor that you can give everything you have and it will never be enough.

I personally am trying to give $300-$500 to charities per year. Relay for Life, March of Dimes, our church's youth group to pay for summer camp trips, etc. However, you can not expect people to deny themselves the basics of clothing though and give every penny they make to the poor. I absolutely will not tith to the church. I believe my money does more good that way. At anyrate it is a personal decission everyone has to make if they if they can afford it.

[Scanner]

You know. . .you may disagree with my philosophy with charity but this is how it goes. . .I do all I can to keep from becoming one.

So. . .my plan is to first build wealth and instead of tithing 10% of my wealth per month to a charity, I'd rather bequeath 10% of my wealth to charity when my wife and I die, probably actually netting more in funds than the 10% per month. So. . .our estate will be split 30/30/30/10 between kids and charity. In fact, if we end up with a sizable estate. . .I kind of beleive that kids shouldn't be given too much ( I personally support an estate tax cap of $1,000,000). . .so the percentage to charity may climb higher.

The philosophy also is of the beleif that I am a better fidicuiary of money than churches and charities, which is often the case.

Of course, this also means because I don't donate to charities that I pay more taxes and I am content with that.

[sweeps]

trex, it may be helpful to set a positive example and tell us how much you give to charity each year?

Actually most of the folks on this forum don't spend money frivolously, and most give a good amount to charitable causes. You may get better results addressing forums where the big spenders hang out.

Also, regarding the sweater. What if I'm buying a sweater so I can turn the heat down so I can spend less on my gas bill, so I will have more money for charitable causes?

[cptacek]

When I give (beyond what I give to my church each week, which is not at the level of tithing, by the way), I give to Catholic Charities. According to Charity Navigator, it has a 4 out of 4 star rating and uses 95% of the money for actual charity, with only 3.6% of the money for overhead costs. AND it helps anyone, not just Catholics.
Charity Navigator Rating - Catholic Charities USA

When Hurricane Katrina hit, I was in Dallas at the time, and we got a lot of people from New Orleans staying in Reunion Arena. My church did a drive to help them out. You might think this strange, but I went and bought a LOT of, um, female hygiene products to give away. Cause if you are stuck in a huge arena with no privacy, no money, stressed out beyond belief, that is the last thing you want to have to worry about, and I bet not many people think to give that. Ok, so I'm weird.

[PrincessPerky]

give away money

New research reveals that when individuals dole out money for gifts for friends or charitable donations, they get a boost in happiness while those who spend on themselves get no such cheery lift.

Not sure how new the research could be, been hearing that better to give than receive line my whole life.

[LuxLiving]

Oh Princess P - you made me deep belly laugh and snorkle right out loud!!! Louder and longer than I have in a long, long time!!

HILARIOUS!!!

[jc3900]

Man Trex, I think this is like the 4th hot button thread you have started in the last month or so.

[Gruntina]

I am not sure I understand the whole picture you are asking us and it seems your intent or motives of your question is to have us argue a random point without the whole picture. Your message seems incomplete to me unless you assume all of us do not "give to others"?

Are you trying to say we should give more than what we have and leave nothing for ourselves? Yes we are human and Americans have surplus money that we help others as well as treat ourselves. But at the same time we are in a position that we can help others since we are not in the dire situations that some others that may going through (A victim is helpless in helping other helpless). We should strive to help others as much as we can but for an example if someone was saving coupons and watching for sales on groceries to stockpile to save money and prepare for future considered greedy when another person has not a single can of food in his/her cabinet? If not sharing yes that can be greedy, but should the person who stockpiled give away all his/her food simply because he/she was preventing food shortage and saving on cost of groceries?

[maat55]

Why do gov's spend so much money on ways to kill people? (Defence)
Why do thirsty people live in deserts?
Why do evil people harm good people?
Why does steel rust?
Why do bananas turn black?

Answer: Coruption. All because one women had to have a damn apple.

[Ima saver]

No wonder I hate fruit!! I never ate an apple in my life. (lol)

[Taribor]

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?

Behind those two kids are two more dying of HIV. Behind them are two more living in poverty. Behing them are two more needing an education.

Point is, I give to charity every paycheck, but I can't give to everyone. I/we work hard for our money, so buying that $20 sweater, knowing that I already give, does not make me feel guily one bit.

[disneysteve]

Behind those two kids are two more dying of HIV. Behind them are two more living in poverty. Behing them are two more needing an education.

That's exactly what I was thinking a little while ago. None of us can possibly give to everyone in need. Even Bill Gates would be penniless if he tried.

I think all who are able should do what they can to help those who are in need, but we each need to set a giving limit that we are comfortable with. Could I have helped feed the hungry instead of buying the computer on which I'm typing this message? I suppose so, but that would have been beyond what I'm comfortable with. Sure, most of us here live nice lives that could be a lot simpler and cheaper if we really wanted them to be. That would allow us to save more and give more. Maybe we should. Who knows?