The Uselessness of Private Charity

[Whaleboy]

So you are not practising what you preach?

So?

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by David Floyd
None - why should I, when I'm already forced to give through taxes for social programs?

So despite the fact that taxes have gone down, resulting in a deficit for charities, you feel no desire to help take up the slack? You aren't going to donate anything to charity until you pay zero taxes?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Whaleboy
???

A basic belief is an underlying assumption of a belief system. It requires no justification, like axioms or postulates.

Basic beliefs need to meet certain creteria, but they are quite evident.

Originally posted by Whaleboy
No it doesn't.

1. Take 1% away from a very rich person.
2. The money feeds and clothes 1000 poor.

QED

Originally posted by Whaleboy
Rawls sucks. I mean come on, justice is fairness? What was he sucking?

Good retort

[David Floyd]

Imran,

'Cause you've benefited from society's protections.

The "least fortunate" certainly aren't contributing to my protection.

Dissident,

I think of it as lunch money to keep them from bullying you and breaking into your home

That's what police and prisons are for. I'll pay for more police and more prisons to lock thiefs up than I'll pay for social welfare programs. Need doesn't justify stealing, and those who steal belong in prison, period.

UR,

1. It's a basic belief.

Not one held by me, and even if it were, it's a PERSONAL belief that should be carried out on a voluntary personal basis.

2. Utilitarian: helping the least fortunate members leads to a greater overall happiness.

Then again, letting those who don't contribute starve to death simply means more for those who do contribute, right?

3. Rawlsian: the Original Position and Veil of Ignorance leads to this conclusion.

Oh bull**** - Rawls "Veil of Ignorance" is a load of hypothetical **** that has nothing to do with the real world, and it's a position that expressly ignores morality in favor of what amounts to the general will.

So you are not practising what you preach?

I've always said that I'd be more than willing to consider donating voluntarily once I'm no longer forced to do so by the government.

1. Take 1% away from a very rich person.
2. The money feeds and clothes 1000 poor.

QED

And what does "happiness" have to do with the strength of a society, especially when that happiness is created by forcing those who earn money to give it to those who don't? Why not just let the poor die if they can't support themselves, or find private help? If they aren't around, their happiness is irrelevant, right?

che,

So despite the fact that taxes have gone down, resulting in a deficit for charities, you feel no desire to help take up the slack? You aren't going to donate anything to charity until you pay zero taxes?

My taxes haven't gone down, and no, I'm not willing to donate to charity AND get screwed by the government. The way I see it, the taxes I'm forced to pay into social programs are my contribution, and if the government misuses what it takes, that isn't my problem. If they were interested in efficiency, they'd privatize the whole thing.

[pchang]

Most libertarians would not donate any of their money to charity, ever.

[JohnT]

Che, in another thread you mentioned that you declared $46,000 on your 1040 this past year.

Do you have medical bills? Large debts? Because I'm trying to figure out how somebody who makes close to $4,000/month can't make the ~$200/month power bill.

Ahhh, here it is.

For most people a flat tax would mean a massive increase in the amount of taxes they pay. I paid 8% on my income of $46K last year (not including SS). I'm not eager to nearly double it because you think it would be better.

So, $46,000 plus Social Security?

[David Floyd]

Most libertarians would not donate any of their money to charity, ever.

Why?

[pchang]

Originally posted by JohnT
Che, in another thread you mentioned that you declared $46,000 on your 1040 this past year.

Do you have medical bills? Large debts? Because I'm trying to figure out how somebody who makes close to $4,000/month can't make the ~$200/month power bill.

I think he made $46000 over 9 months or so. When you set up a budget for $60000 a year, you can run into trouble when the income suddenly turns off and you end up about $15000 short of your projection.

[pchang]

Originally posted by David Floyd


Why?

Empirical evidence from all the libertarians I know. Please refute with personal evidence. I would like to be proved wrong.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by pchang
I think he made $46000 over 9 months or so. When you set up a budget for $60000 a year, you can run into trouble when the income suddenly turns off and you end up about $15000 short of your projection.

When your income drops from $60K a year (worked 10 months last year, five this year . . . so far) down to $15K a year, it becomes more difficult to make ends meet.

[David Floyd]

Empirical evidence from all the libertarians I know. Please refute with personal evidence. I would like to be proved wrong.

Sure. In the past, I've donated money to United Way, the Salvation Army, and various churches.

[pchang]

Good to hear

[David Floyd]

So consider yourself at least partially refuted.

[Dis]

libertarians are cheap bastards. That's why I'm a libertarian.

[Ben Kenobi]

When does it begin where you live?

Trains and buses start at about 6am round here, despite the fact that they've given the trains to the bus company.

It's the same here.

Since I start at about 6, that's not very helpful.