Too often today governments believe they know better than their citizens and create systems that overtly and/or effectively limit possibilities. In the US this is yet another example of how far we have come from the original concept of a limited government with specific enumerated powers envisioned and created by our founding fathers.
Use charitable giving as an example we see a system rife with government involvement. The government in its infinite spends billions of dollars per year on all sorts of schemes to "help' impoverished folks. Similar to the post on health care a couple of weeks ago I want to stress that I am sensitive that there are people who for a variety of reasons will need assistance at some point in their lives - and life circumstances could lead me to needing assistance as well. I am certainly advocating against people getting the help they need, however, I am arguing strongly against the government being involved in that assistance.
For a little background I looked at the US Census Bureau website at government transfer payments, specifically looking at government transfer payments by type. According to this data about $2.1 trillion was spent in 2009 on transfer payments of which about $348 billion was spend on Income Maintenance Benefits Payments (food stamps, SSI) and Unemployment Benefits. I absolutely do not believe that the same government that brought us FEMA and the Hurricane Katrina response should be anywhere near a checkbook.
Put choice back in the hands of individuals. Do people need assistance? Absolutely. Should people be forced to assist? Absolutely not. Since given a choice some will inevitable choose not to assist does that mean people will be left destitute? No, of course not.
According to the United Nation Office for Partnerships in 2007 American's donated $306.4 billion to charitable causes. About 2/3 of the population donates to charity with giving totaling about 2.1% of GDP. Also according to this same source there are a little over 1 million charitable organizations in the US - what an amazing diversity.
Certainly there are some who donate to charity solely for the tax benefit but I would argue most give out of a sincere desire to help those less fortunate than themselves. If the federal government ceased making transfer payments (the Federal deficit would immediately no longer be a problem) and correspondingly lowered taxes imagine the firepower that would be directed back to the hand of the individual. While there is a huge range of capacities and capabilities within charitable organizations some of this windfall would certainly fall to these organizations to steward and effectively distribute. Outside the realm of specific organizations imagine what we as individuals could accomplish by assisting our neighbors when times were tough completely outside a formal process.
Federal and local governments are anything but efficient, which other than supplying an endless number of jokes, is a terrible to allocated limited resources. Recognizing this we should re-envision how to best help those locally, nationally and internationally. Governments should step aside and individuals empowered to choose based on their passions, ability and desire how to best help their fellow man.
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