Charity is more of a symptom of than a cure of poverty. Nations that kept the 'charity is a big part of welfare' model typically have high levels of poverty, e

Charity is more of a symptom of than a cure of poverty. Nations that kept the 'charity is a big part of welfare' model typically have high levels of poverty, even if they're wealthy. The US is the standout example of this. Nations that treat it as a basic function of government, and a right of the governed, to be able to eat and receive medicine, don't usually have a problem with that kind of poverty. I think it's about how people think of their rights. If somebody has a right to something, they can't receive it as a gift. It is theirs, no matter who holds it. If it isn't a right, then it can always be legally withheld. Charity celebrates the gift-giving side of the equation, but it conceals the darker side: that charity doesn't make sense if it isn't backed up by people taking property rights more seriously than basic needs. If basic needs are protected by law, it's not a charitable donation, it's a tax.