If We Want a Civilized Society, Charities Can't Fill the Void Left by Government

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/10/09



Last week, I made an online donation to the Greater Boston food bank. After doing so, I spent several minutes trying to process how I felt. I didn't feel virtuous. What I felt was intense anger.

The donation was following the example of my friend Suzanne Fischer, who had pointed out that the government shutdown meant that WIC was suspended. If you're unfamiliar with it, WIC is more formally known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, and it provides supplemental food vouchers and support to nearly 8.9 million people, mostly women and children under the age of five. Without it, they're going without food and formula.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr is reported to have said, now famously:

I like to pay taxes. With them I buy civilization.
Taxes aren't the only way to pay for civilization, of course: community groups, charities, and churches also contribute. But I consider myself a fairly prudent consumer, and I want my money to be used well.

[TheMastersNemesis]

1. Ultimately The GOP Is Determined To Shut Down All Domestic. Charities Will Have To Take Care Of All

domestic problems. They also believe that all health care for the poor should be taken care of by churches based on donations.

[rurallib]

2. what many forget is that many people won't give to charities

whose mission they disagree with.
When you see that right wingers are giving to charity are they giving to inner city food banks or their church? Most likely their church. The number who will be giving to the inner city food bank are often not enough to sustaim.

This is one of the biggest focuses of government - to help those who will probably get little aid from anywhere else.

[leftstreet]

3. DURec

[Lars39]

4. WIC has been suspended.

Just wanted to repeat that. Actually want to shout it about.

I have a family member whose son is developmentally delayed because the babysitter was diluting his formula.