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http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/singermag.html
What do you think? It's hard to argue with him.
Sins of omission...
What do you think? It's hard to argue with him.
Sins of omission...
What do you think? It's hard to argue with him.
from the website above - Singer's viewLooking farther down the track, he sees the small figure of a child very likely to be killed by the runaway train. He can't stop the train and the child is too far away to warn of the danger, but he can throw a switch that will divert the train down the siding where his Bugatti is parked. Then nobody will be killed -- but the train will destroy his Bugatti. Thinking of his joy in owning the car and the financial security it represents, Bob decides not to throw the switch. The child is killed. For many years to come, Bob enjoys owning his Bugatti and the financial security it represents.
Anyway, I often think about how there's too much food in richer countries, while kids in Africa actually dies from starvation. Unfortunately, it's not going to change until our governments change their priorities
I look at them as fellow men. I don't like seeing them suffer. Very natural reaction, I think.danoffWhat makes it your problem?
That's true. I think the quickest way to solve many problems in Africa is to start with their leadership.danoffDidn't you men nothing is going to change until their governments change their priorities?
I look at them as fellow men. I don't like seeing them suffer. Very natural reaction, I think.
I note that despite the fact he is Australian that he only mentions that Americans should be giving away their money.SingerSo how does my philosophy break down in dollars and cents? An American household with an income of $50,000 spends around $30,000 annually on necessities, according to the Conference Board, a nonprofit economic research organization. Therefore, for a household bringing in $50,000 a year, donations to help the world's poor should be as close as possible to $20,000. The $30,000 required for necessities holds for higher incomes as well. So a household making $100,000 could cut a yearly check for $70,000. Again, the formula is simple: whatever money you're spending on luxuries, not necessities, should be given away.
I do see what you're saying. I also agree that if you don't want your tax money spent on rebuilding Africa, you'd feel cheated. But if that's what the majority in your country decides, what can you do? I don't like taxes, but I deal with it. It's not like they'll take your firstborn. If you don't like how your country is ripping you off, and are not happy with what they provide, maybe it's time you move on to a new country. Unfortunately for you, majority rules(most of the time ).danoffThat's very big of you. Feel free to dig into your wallet and hand over as much money as you want. Just remember that you probably could have given more and that makes you a murderer (according to singer).
But as soon as you advocate having my government do something about it, you're advocating using my money without my permission to spend on your own personal charity because you don't like seeing them suffer. How about you let me decide that for myself? Keep the government out of charity and where it belongs.
I do see what you're saying. I also agree that if you don't want your tax money spent on rebuilding Africa, you'd feel cheated. But if that's what the majority in your country decides, what can you do? I don't like taxes, but I deal with it. It's not like they'll take your firstborn. If you don't like how your country is ripping you off, and are not happy with what they provide, maybe it's time you move on to a new country. Unfortunately for you, majority rules(most of the time ).
Yeah, I'm not a smart person like you. You read me like a book!danoffThat was fast. Usually it takes a little longer for folks who are advocating forced "charity" to fall back on the "What can we do, it's the will of the people" argument.
Fortunately that argument doesn't hold water. The will of the majority should not be used to violate the rights of the minority. That includes property rights. That's why we have a bill of rights in America. That's why we have a limited government - because majority rule is unacceptible in many aspects. The government is the people, and the people must be limited in their power over each other or they will infringe the rights of others if given a chance.
So again, I say that the proper and right thing is for government to remove itself from the charity business and leave it to private organizations and private donations - where we can each contribute as much or as little as we feel we should - and where we can each decide what cause to contribute to.
I agree with you there. I've also heard stories about how charities can rip you off. Say you donate some money for food to give. Crooks will take that money to their partner, who has inventory of expired food that has no value in the U.S.(ie just about free), pay ridiculous amount of money for it, then sends the food to where it needs to go. Obviously, most of the charities doesn't operate this way, but it is one of the ways they can rip you off.BlazinXtremeI don't really bother with these kinds of charities, there are many problems that affect the whole world more then starvation. I focus my giving to cancer research because it has affected me through my family. And I believe in giving time over money, because with time I can see results where as with money I can't.
I think the guy is off his rocker to tell you the truth. I didn't read the entire thing but I shouldn't have to give my money to something I don't seem fit. Also I shouldn't have to give because I'm an American. Is it my problem that I make a good living and I'm wealthy? Well I guess it would be but its not something I complain about. I worked hard and so did my parents for money. I will give it where I deem fit.
As I've said in the "America" thread, I don't believe the private charities and donations would work.
You want to pay tax, only on things you, your family uses, nothing else.
I know I'm going to sound like a communist, but I think I'm bit more of a team player.
If you are not happy to be living in the USA, I think you're out of luck! I don't know of many country that can provide its' citizens with the amount of freedom, luxury, riches, protection, etc. that USA can.
singer solution = let the Americans pay for it .
We need to help support farmers in poorer countries to meet the demand.
Only then will the Africa be fed.
African farmers spend months cultivating their fields, they are about to sell it at a market, BAM we dump heaps of free food on the villiage, the farmer loses his income, and Africa become even more dependent on us.
We should support the farmers, making Africa less independent and more prosperous, rather than damping our excess on Africa and putting the farmer out of business.