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I'm "rich" by my third world country standards. I used to make individual (humble) donations when I was younger and lived in the same standard as the majority o

I'm "rich" by my third world country standards. I used to make individual (humble) donations when I was younger and lived in the same standard as the majority of the population. Nowadays I don't. The more I earn the more the government takes (now almost 50%), so it feels to me I'm already doing a forcibly donation, as there are countless wealth distribution programs (which didn't exist when they would be of use to me, and I did fine without them). I have zero intentions of making any kind of donation, only if it works as a tax reliever. I do however make regular donations to free software organizations and other organizations that produce something that I use or like.

JamesBarney 11y ago
When and where did you grow up?
- necessity 11y ago
  Brazil in the 90's, before Plano Real. Welfare only really kicked in with Lula in 02. At first it was great, helped a lot of people in need. It began to spin out of control later though, together with gov. spending, credit incentives and inflation.
- Swizec 11y ago
  I come from Slovenia. We also have a progressive taxation rate with no cap. If I didn't run my income/expenses through a business entity, I would be paying 56% in taxes, mandatory pension, and state-mandated healthcare. I wonder why all the software engineers I know form sole proprietorships and get paid through those ...
tajen 11y ago
When donating there's also the problem of getting spammed. Happened to me, at my employer's address, and they resold my address to partners after I had written an explicitly strong warning in the donation form, and I've promised never to trust charities since then.
- vlehto 11y ago
  I have similar attitude. My commute used to involve walking past street fundraisers. They would show me some starving kid or something else equally tear jerking. On the other hand helping would be noble thing to do. On the other hand these fundraisers are practically bullying people, and I would be funding that too. Making thousands of people feel guilty first thing in the morning has to have some large scale psychological effect. Likely not for good. If I give, I want to do it on my own terms.
zo1 11y ago
I am of a similar opinion. We are already taxed a ridiculous amount, and have absolutely no say in how that money gets spent. In fact, I've even made constructive suggestions about how people should be allowed to at least pick the ratios with which each section/budget of government their taxes go to. And then, seeing everything from wasteful wars, to corruption, to useless government "projects" and "committees". Meanwhile, there are so many people starving and dying on the streets, being murdered and assaulted, and dying in preventable car accidents, amongst many other things. I honestly can not take a state seriously that simultaneously wants to guilt me into paying more of my "fair share" because 'think of the poor', while on the other hand it doesn't fix the basic, universal needs of our society, including the poor. It's hypocrisy, and I refuse to be double-taxed, or blamed for lack of social-program funding. Sorry for the rant. But I live in a society where 90% of the population pays no income tax at all as they're under the lowest "progressive" taxation bracket.
dikdik 11y ago
I am of a similar sentiment. Why try to plug holes (charity) when we should building a better ship (social programs, tax incentives, etc)? Trying to work on a small scale is noble, but not at all efficient.

JamesBarney 11y ago

When and where did you grow up?

necessity 11y ago
Brazil in the 90's, before Plano Real. Welfare only really kicked in with Lula in 02. At first it was great, helped a lot of people in need. It began to spin out of control later though, together with gov. spending, credit incentives and inflation.
Swizec 11y ago
I come from Slovenia. We also have a progressive taxation rate with no cap. If I didn't run my income/expenses through a business entity, I would be paying 56% in taxes, mandatory pension, and state-mandated healthcare. I wonder why all the software engineers I know form sole proprietorships and get paid through those ...

tajen 11y ago

When donating there's also the problem of getting spammed. Happened to me, at my employer's address, and they resold my address to partners after I had written an explicitly strong warning in the donation form, and I've promised never to trust charities since then.

vlehto 11y ago
I have similar attitude. My commute used to involve walking past street fundraisers. They would show me some starving kid or something else equally tear jerking. On the other hand helping would be noble thing to do. On the other hand these fundraisers are practically bullying people, and I would be funding that too. Making thousands of people feel guilty first thing in the morning has to have some large scale psychological effect. Likely not for good. If I give, I want to do it on my own terms.

zo1 11y ago

I am of a similar opinion. We are already taxed a ridiculous amount, and have absolutely no say in how that money gets spent. In fact, I've even made constructive suggestions about how people should be allowed to at least pick the ratios with which each section/budget of government their taxes go to. And then, seeing everything from wasteful wars, to corruption, to useless government "projects" and "committees". Meanwhile, there are so many people starving and dying on the streets, being murdered and assaulted, and dying in preventable car accidents, amongst many other things. I honestly can not take a state seriously that simultaneously wants to guilt me into paying more of my "fair share" because 'think of the poor', while on the other hand it doesn't fix the basic, universal needs of our society, including the poor. It's hypocrisy, and I refuse to be double-taxed, or blamed for lack of social-program funding. Sorry for the rant. But I live in a society where 90% of the population pays no income tax at all as they're under the lowest "progressive" taxation bracket.

dikdik 11y ago

I am of a similar sentiment. Why try to plug holes (charity) when we should building a better ship (social programs, tax incentives, etc)? Trying to work on a small scale is noble, but not at all efficient.