Where Should Charity Come From?
Tad DeHaven posts at Cato on charity and the Federal Government, recalling James Madison's contention that "Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government":
"The Father of the Constitution" wasn't being cold-hearted when he took this position during a 1794 debate in the House of Representatives over federal aid to refugees. Rather, he was merely recognizing that "the government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects." Charity just wasn't one of the specified objects. Of course, future politicians decided otherwise.Today, most young Americans grow up in federally subsidized schools offering federally subsidized meals. They are inculcated to view the federal government as a benevolent caregiver that exists to provide Americans with housing, food, health care, and even income (to name just a few). Madison's unfortunately quaint notion that the federal government isn't supposed to be engaged in "charitable" activities would probably leave them dumbfounded.
I single out children because this week a private charity that I am involved with, the Purple Feet Foundation, is giving select inner-city sixth graders an opportunity to take hold of their futures now. Instead of promoting dependency, these kids will spend the week engaged in educational activities that will hopefully inspire them to utilize their individual talents to succeed in life. The Foundation does not seek, nor will it accept, taxpayer money. I believe this sets a good example for these kids.
Those of us who desire the limited federal government that Madison envisioned are often accused of being uncaring about those who are in need. In fact, the opposite is the truth: we recognize that government programs are wasteful, ineffective, and counterproductive to the aims that they are trying to achieve.
Consider Bastiat's words:
"Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all."
We've gotten so reliant on government providing all that we don't realize that we can provide...just little old us. My friend Lawyer Tom, who's done well for himself, started a program downtown with a few of his successful buddies to feed the homeless.
I write in I See Rude People of a program I started -- WIT: What It Takes, to demystifying "making it" for inner city kids:
Once a month, I go to a Los Angeles high school and talk for a couple hours to try give the students a sense of what's possible, even for kids who don't come from privilege, if they're willing to work hard. I don't have Federal funding -- or any funding. It's not even a formal program, just me and a teacher who doesn't seem to mind me bugging her to schedule me in to speak to classes.
Here's another excerpt from the book, of what a regular commenter here, Robert Werner, did after a friend of his bought a new computer just before Christmas:
She asked him what she could do with the "perfectly good" one, only a few years old, that she was replacing. Werner thought about it, and advertised it on Craigslist, offering it free to a charitable organization, somebody who couldn't afford a computer, or to needy kids.Within 24 hours, nearly 50 people responded. Of these, he felt nine were truly in need -- which left him with a problem. He couldn't leave the other eight in the lurch. On his blog, Pelausa.blogspot.com, he published a call for people to donate their old computers, and got five. A few weeks later, the Vancouver Courier and BCTV did stories on his project, and within a few days, 800 offers had poured in, and people were dropping off computers at his apartment round the clock. Werner and his friends, neighbors, and colleagues worked like crazy to refurbish them, his mom stuck a big red ribbon around each one, and he and a friend spent Christmas driving around delivering them.
One of these computers went to Tanya and Radu Sitar, Romanian emigrants who'd arrived in Vancouver just two months before with their two young twins and little beyond the clothes on their backs. Their computer allowed them to apply for jobs online, to stay in touch with their families in Romania, and helped them get to know their new country and culture. After getting the computer, Tanya told a TV news reporter about Werner and his team, "I can't...I can't...thank them...probably I will never find a way to thank them, but I know there is a god."
Werner realized there were many people lacking the means to buy a computer, and many people and companies with computer equipment to donate; they just needed to be connected. He turned his little Christmas project into the all-volunteer BC Digital Divide (BCDigitalDivide.org), taking in three-to-five-year-old computers, refurbishing them, and giving them out to needy families. Werner, who had a fulltime software consulting business and a new company in the works, couldn't maintain the level of involvement he had over the holidays, so he put the word out for volunteers. Up popped Bruce Steven, the Mr. Fix-it of the Vancouver School Board, and Bob Rogers, a 70-something retired BC Tel employee. These two now do the bulk of the work, but countless others, including Werner, pitch in as well.
Werner marvels at the difference the donated computers have made in people's lives. Tanya Sitar used the computer her family got to land a job as a teacher's aid. A few months later, the Sitars were able to afford a new computer of their own so they gave the donated computer to a newly arrived family from Romania. Werner was thrilled. "As you can see, one small act of kindness inspires another, which inspires another, and so on. Too many people wait for others or the government to reach out that first time, when they themselves fully have it within their power to do a lot on their own."
What? The government hasn't shut him down yet?
He's competing with established charities - surely he ought to have to buy a pasteurizing machines, get 13 different licenses, and have his rabbits inspected?!
Just wait, it'll come...
a_random_guy at August 9, 2011 11:26 PM
Only partially offtopic---
Just to say it out loud: Props to the Tea Party. They'd have been owed a tremendous kiss of gratitude even if the stock market hadn't rebounded so greatly today. No matter what anyone tells you, the S&P downgrade and budget battles to come are NOT evidence of political failure.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at August 9, 2011 11:37 PM
Kaus said we did OK in Wisconsin.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at August 10, 2011 12:01 AM
But what about the childrens? What about their education?
Oh yeah, I went to two different co-ops, one english teacher that five families pitched in for, and one accreditation association that saw me pass 5 AP tests. Come to think of it, I spent very little of my homeschooling education getting my schooling at home.
Elle at August 10, 2011 1:12 AM
"probably I will never find a way to thank them, but I know there is a god."
Why is it so easy to say "thank god," and so hard to say "thank YOU" ?
gharkness at August 10, 2011 3:15 AM
Something wrong with your article link today Amy? I keep getting brought to the creature from the slack lagoon.
Angel at August 10, 2011 5:22 AM
There is much less private philanthropy in Europe, where the prevailing ethos is that it's up to government, not individuals, to care for the less fortunate. I think the destruction of private philanthropy is also a goal of the Left in the US. Witness efforts to limit the deductibility of charitable donations for people of higher incomes. All good things must flow from government, and only government, they believe.
DrMaturin at August 10, 2011 5:47 AM
Something wrong with your article link today Amy? I keep getting brought to the creature from the slack lagoon.
The links here go to Cato and to my book on Amazon (via Dr. Helen's account -- somebody I like should make that money).
Is yours an off-topic comment? Best to email me if there's a problem with the site.
Amy Alkon at August 10, 2011 7:39 AM
Love what Kaus wrote, Crid, at the link you posted:
http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/10/unions-fail-again-in-wisconsin/#ixzz1UdZ9mo6T
Amy Alkon at August 10, 2011 7:41 AM
I have done a lot of charity/volunteer work, and from my experience have noticed the main indicator of sucess is attitude. But not just the attitude of the reciever but the attitude of the giver as well.
If the reciever feels, that they are recieving something special, something that is extra, and temporary they will recover and prosper. If they feel they are getting what they are entitled to, or deserve, they will never recover.
How does the givers attitude work into this? Well the givers attitude often leads the recievers, to mimic the givers attitudes.
Unfortunately government promotes the attitude of entitlement, shoot they even do advertising about how you are entitled to food stamps to try to drum up more buisness.
This is what is destroying people.
It is the main reason why gov't should be completely out of the charity buisness.
Joe at August 10, 2011 10:06 AM
I agree with Joe. And this is interesting:
There is much less private philanthropy in Europe, where the prevailing ethos is that it's up to government, not individuals, to care for the less fortunate.
See, I think it's up to individuals to care for the less fortunate, and it's also up to individuals to restrain the government. As Crid has pointed out on various other threads, I'm very thankful to the Tea Party.
Pirate Jo at August 10, 2011 3:42 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/08/10/where_should_ch.html#comment-2414005">comment from Pirate JoAs Crid has pointed out on various other threads, I'm very thankful to the Tea Party.
Me, three. And of course, people paint them as racist, etc. They have to, because how do you argue with the idea that we shouldn't have government we can't pay for?
Amy Alkon
at August 10, 2011 4:09 PM
Writ large, and securely, at freegeek.org.
Sam at August 10, 2011 4:29 PM
Sam, thanks for the link - what a great idea.
Elle, I'm glad that worked out for you.
Public education may be the only refuge - if that - for many kids who would otherwise have no opportunity to escape or transcend their parents and do more than survive.
Michelle at August 10, 2011 5:24 PM
I am incredibly Libertarian. I think ALL charity should be privatized.
Then, if you feel strongly about a particular cause, YOU can fund it.
And, before anyone gets all "you're such a bitch" on me, I moved to Colorado (at 27!) with a boyfriend, most of my worldly possessions, and $1000 in my pocket.
I got a JOB, worked my ASS off, and scraped and clawed my way to two Bachelor's degrees, and a really nice job.
The state never gave me ANYTHING. Nor did I ask for it.
I'm all about a hand UP, but NOT a hand OUT.
My grandfather was incredibly wise. When welfare first started paying unwed girls to live with their children, he said, "Oh, nothing good can come from paying women to keep their babies."
I think our current social welfare situation kind of proves his point. I fail to see how orphanages are cruel - three meals a day, an education, and consistency. Most welfare mothers cannot offer that.
Just sayin'.
Daghain at August 10, 2011 9:44 PM
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