Is Charity Duty? (Darwin, choice, evolution, America, God)

[skills101]

Do you believe that we have a duty, as humans, to give to our fellow man? To give to charity, where there's no concrete reward?

As for me, I've never been in the business of charity. I believe that those who need charity got themselves into that position by themselves, and therefore, need to find their way out by themselves. I always say that if you want to become successful in America, there is always a way. There will always be that McDonald's down the street, and there will always be that one-room apartment to rent when you have the money, and there will always be the community college waiting for you to sign up.

As a side comment, I believe that we are already being forced to give to charity. Part of the taxes we give goes to welfare, to the homeless whom I believe are there by choice. Do you agree that we should be forced to give to welfare?

Whenever I pass through Los Angeles, I always see a few bums with a half-full beer in their hands, and I think "My money is going to him??" And then I see the single mother with four filthy-dressed children trailing behind her, and I think, "I can't believe I have to pay money to her, who made and continues to make all the wrong decisions in life."

As Andrew Carnegie said, "And while the law of competition may be hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it ensures the survival of the fittest in every department."

[Jayhawker Soule]

Social Darwinism is a filthy distortion.

[skills101]

Originally Posted by Deut. 32.8

Social Darwinism is a filthy distortion.

Is that not what America so valianty pariases? I don't know about you, but whenever I went to school, you would always see a quote posted in the classroom saying, "work hard with perseverance ad you will become successful," or anything along that line? Are we not a capitalist country, where the strongest live in luxory and the weakest work as weiters?

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Deut. 32.8

Social Darwinism is a filthy distortion.

I agree with Deut on this one. Social Darwinism is not only a filthy distortion of evolution, but it is also a remarkably foolish view of how our own species has managed to survive.

[Jaymes]

I'd suggest reading Nickel and Dimed... it's a book about a woman who left the middle class to work at minimum wage and see how she could get by. It's pretty interesting and eye-opening.

Random sidenote: Did you know if the minimum wage had continued to climb like it had for the past 20 years or so, it would now be over $15 an hour?

[Scuba Pete]

Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

I think I will agree with God on this one. OK, OK, I always agree with God! So shoot me!

[huajiro]

Originally Posted by skills101

Is that not what America so valianty pariases? I don't know about you, but whenever I went to school, you would always see a quote posted in the classroom saying, "work hard with perseverance ad you will become successful," or anything along that line? Are we not a capitalist country, where the strongest live in luxory and the weakest work as weiters?

You think the way you do because you have had some sort of example. Imagine someone who grows up around gangs, drug dealers and violence. Someone who has been beaten their whole lives, raped, etc....their thinking is very different.

I think we should give charity...but to people that are truly qualified to receive it. We give too much charity to people who abuse it, that is the problem.

[Lintu]

I think it is our duty to help people. Not everyone has the same access to quality education and the like. Those of us who did have it are privileged.

Poor people are not poor because they are lazy or do not want to succeed. I'm sure there are some lazy poor people out there, but there is SO much more to it than that.

[skills101]

Originally Posted by huajiro

You think the way you do because you have had some sort of example. Imagine someone who grows up around gangs, drug dealers and violence. Someone who has been beaten their whole lives, raped, etc....their thinking is very different.

Everyone has choices, and it is their choice to get into gangs, drugs, and violence, or to work hard at life and become successful. Unfortunately, there are those who choose the first, and those are the people who get welfare checks every month. As for those who are abused as children, they always have the perrogative to knock on a counselor's door, and get some help.

Originally Posted by huajiro

I think we should give charity...but to people that are truly qualified to receive it. We give too much charity to people who abuse it, that is the problem.

I agree wholeheartedly. I don't call that charity though. Charity is getting, what you described is earning.

Originally Posted by Lintu

Poor people are not poor because they are lazy or do not want to succeed.

Sure, there are a ton of hardworking people out there who don't have the nicest homes, who aren't lazy... but like I said before, they just made bad decisions, and we should be the ones to pay for it? Hardly...

[Jaymes]

Originally Posted by skills101

As for those who are abused as children, they always have the perrogative to knock on a counselor's door, and get some help.

I'd wager you're either being a complete ******* about this, or you don't know anyone who was abused by their parents. It isn't that simple, especially considering the crappy job that some child welfare agencies do.

Sure, there are a ton of hardworking people out there who don't have the nicest homes, who aren't lazy... but like I said before, they just made bad decisions, and we should be the ones to pay for it? Hardly...

Let's do some math.

Minimum wage is $5.15. Work days are supposed to be 8 hours, unless you work overtime. 7 x 8 = 56.

56 x 5.15 x 4 = $1153.60

That is IF you work every day of the week. If it was a five day week, it would be a mere $824. Considering the high cost of rent, the high cost of gas, the cost of food, the cost of pretty much every damn thing, that's not succeeding. That's scraping by.