Demand for charity exceeds supply


It's a sad economic truth, but a truth none the less. We need to get government out of the charity business
There is one more subject I want to touch on this morning because it has become an insidious way to expand government in the name of compassion.

The demand for charity will always, always exceed the supply.

There are many reasons, but the biggest is the effect of charity on marginal behaviors.

We've seen this in government programs before.

If insurance companies won't write policies for flood plains and the government does, the immediate effect is more building in flood plains. And later, more destruction from hurricanes and tornadoes.

If single motherhood is a near economic impossibility and the government provides programs that ease the difficulty, there will be more children born to single mothers and fewer fathers willing to stick around.

If single gay men can pursue a risky lifestyle while having their medical treatment subsidized by the government with no questions asked, more will engage is high risk behavior and AIDS will spread.

The question is not if people deserve compassion and charity. The question is if it is compassionate to shield someone from the consequences of their own choices.

If I choose to help someone, that is charity. If government takes money from me to "help" someone, that is extortion. If it is done to support a behavior that I do not agree with, that is even worse.

Provide "money for nothing," and tomorrow there will be even more people lined up, plus the ones you helped today who just want a little more.

State sponsored charity takes away my moral choices.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Mon - December 4, 2006 at 09:01 AM  Tag


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