Africa has a huge problem with AIDS because most people there can't read or write. They have NO IDEA how disease spreads. So, they get sick. They die.
It really comes down to whether you want to help feed the starving and stop people from needlessly dying or not, until such time as they are sufficiently educated to make the choice of condoms or not for themselves. Personally, I'm quite happy to pay taxes for this. I'd FAR rather my taxes went on that than some politician's trip to tartan day in New York, apparently, the Scottish parliament spent a quarter of a million pounds (350k bucks) on this.
You would NOT have to pay MORE taxes, it's a question of the govt reallocating its budget for new carpet in govt offices, maybe buy slightly less expensive paperclips, hey, maybe not make the state of California pay 3 times the usual price for energy from Enron and their ilk....
The govt is there to manage the state for everyone. There is no reason that you HAVE to be nice to other people. You can walk straight past someone starving to death jingling your change in your pocket if you want. Fine. But stop asking "why does everyone think being nice is a good idea" because I think the answer there is obvious.
If you can't understand why people don't like you for being a scrooge or a meanie, or coming across as one, then you need to visit your nearest church and talk to the reverend about christian values.
My charity donations are done via a direct debit at the start of the month. It's like voluntary additional taxation. Because that 15 dollars or whatever a month is taken out before I see it, I don't miss it. However, I might not be able to spare 15 out of my pocket in the street in the middle of the month. Most people are shitty at organising their time and money. This is why charities here increasingly encourage people to set up this kind of transaction instead of soliciting direct donations in the street.
In France, you pay your income tax once a year. Or is it twice? YOU have to save it up until they ask for it. That is NO FUN and lots of people can't manage it and end up in the financial shithole regularly. We know that if everyone was perfect, they could find that extra 5 dollars for a starving family, but they are not, they cannot manage their way out of a paper bag, so the govt does the management for them. Smae with foreign aid. Most people would not mind if they found out 10 dollars a year of their tax had actually been used for something useful. They might not be able to give it to you on a given day though.
The other reason is, you would be AMAZED what a dollar is worth in the 3rd world. We're talking enough to feed a family for 2 days. Anyone who has ever gone on holiday in Thailand, India, Egypt etc will notice this. So your money goes a LONG way.
You don't have to be nice. But it's nice to be nice.
circusgirl
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