Jeff-Governmental “philanthropy” is really more like mafia help.

“Maybe someday, you can do a favor for me…”

Yes, Ive always thought it odd about religions that profess to care for the poor and heal the sick, yet spend most of their money on big churches and congregational retreats.

Thanks for dropping by.

The average Christian only gives about 2 percent of their income to charitable causes. I’m a Christian, and this is embarrassing. I doubt we are much better than non-believers in that field. Maybe if we set a better example, others in the private sector would see the good being done and follow suit.

H.I. – And thanks to you for dropping by too!

Thanks for your visit to H I and for your comments.

Regards …

Windspike- Yes- it’s too much to ask for complete integrity and purpose of mission when the big bucks are waved in front of your eyes, and obviously there always has to be a balanced decision. The sad part in this equation is on the part of the giver. It seems to me that unencumbered giving provides a better image than one of jaded acceptance.

KWW- It is curious, this subtle strong arm approach from charities, isn’t it.
And government aid, especially the humanitarian kind, should not be tied to governmental policy. We created world organizations to handle these tasks, but they too have proven to be corrupt as well.
No surprise if the story about the luxury resorts is true. It’s shameful of the corporations to take advantage like this, but even more shameful for governments to condone it.
See you later.

ShaeNC- Agreed. Another casualty in the quest for the biggest profit at anyone’s expense.
And I agree with you regarding religious charities.
Glad you dropped by.

I like the idea about businesses chipping in by offering better working conditions. Foreign aid might not be so necessary in some places if American businesses did not perpetuate the need.

Speaking of giving, a recent news story concerns me: “Deepening the Faith”, discusses Bush’s further efforts at institutionalizing “faith-based” initiatives. Religious charities are great, but I do not want them funded by tax dollars.

Government involved aid has caused harm to the populations of the most poverty stricken countries in the world. The money only enriches the lives of dictators while the people are given the responsibility to repay the World Bank.

I was reading something about the Tsunami victims a couple of week ago. It seems that major corporations are making deals with the Indonesian govt. to build luxury hotels along the water’s edge where the destroyed fishing villages used to be. Familes (survivors) who have depended on fishing for centuries are being forced into slums in the city with no way of making a living. Condi Rice praised the corporate deals.

If you overlook his mob connections Frank Sinatra’s way of giving seems to me a good model. He would hear about a situation or need and pick up the cost without ever letting the recipiants of his charity know who had come to their aid. He did not need or want the recognition. A simple kind of generosity.

That is, if Starbux gives a certain amount to a local cuase, their lable is all over the coffee pot. If Bill and Malinda Gates give millions for vaccines in Africa, the publicity they get for it is free.

The NSF and others that grant to research agents on College Campuses often want to push a particular agenda…just ask Phillip Morris.

I have oft said, perhaps the way to push change with in our culture is not by means of soft funding, but by endowing such agancies as schools, research engines, public hospitals,etc…

Unfortunately, Gordon and Betty Moore via their foundation and others with their foundations, all want to push some kind of agenda, but who’s do deny the cash? If someone gives you a hundred million bux for your venture, would you turn it down, even if it came with some strong rope instead of small strings attached?

The first thought I had while reading this post was the tired old slogan: I can’t wait for the day when education has all it needs and the Air Force needs to hold a bake sale for a bomber…

I’ll leave it there.

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