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I think another thing to think about with charity is control and agency. Charity is, I'd argue inherently extremely undemocratic. Most people will never be able
by ATsch 7y ago
I think another thing to think about with charity is control and agency. Charity is, I'd argue inherently extremely undemocratic. Most people will never be able to afford philanthropy in any meaningful way, so Charity means subjugating yourself to the control and decisions of richer and more powerful people. There are more and less extreme cases of this, of course. I vaguely remember a eugenics charity in the US that paid "lesser" people to sterilize themselves or perform abortions. However, even in less extreme cases, the top down control of charity is inherently oppressive. It allows rich people to "vote with their wallets" on the lives of the general population. Sure, everyone can technically vote, but some people have a million times more votes than others.
Does this mean we should outlaw charities? I don't think so. This only becomes a problem in a country where there is extreme wealth inequality and the rights of the general populace are not guaranteed. Charity seems like a good way to stuff small holes in a general welfare system, but it shouldn't be the welfare system.
- Kaiyou 7y agoCan you answer why this is a problem in terms of costs and benefits presupposing that there is no inherent value to human life? If you argue with certain moral beliefs at your core your probably only reaching deaf ears from key figures that could help change things. Appealing to someone's self-interest is more efficient.
- ATsch 7y ago> presupposing that there is no inherent value to human life I mean, you can argue anything if you make your assumptions ridiculous enough. If your approach is to let other people die because that's more efficient then sorry, I'm not very open to your arguments about self-interest. (I don't want to engage in too much character assassination but: There's this joke that within the first few pages of the comments of any Libertarian account, you will find them defending pedophilia in some way. I'm pleased to say that this rule still applies)
- Kaiyou 7y agoYour problem seems to be, that you need arguments to convince someone to do something that you want him to do. I don't care if you're not convinced. I don't need you doing something for my benefit.
- nilskidoo 7y agoAs a former bell-ringer for the SalArmy across two time zones, the people who give the most are always the ones who look like they need it the most. No different from how the biggest tippers always themselves work in the service industry. The lower class isn't surviving because of WIC or unemployment insurance, or from the .ooooo9% billionaires part with in exchange for additional tax breaks, but from others out here in the streets.