giving to the relief effort, my dilemma

[Hamlette]

I read up on Bush's guru on "welfare" programs before the election, Marvin Olasky. He believes, apparently as does Bush, that government sponsored welfare is awful and private, religious sponsored welfare is the only thing that works. Compassionate conservativism (I think Olasky coined the phrase) sees a return to "19th century charity workers, whose religious beliefs made them compassionate and willing to deal intimately with the poor, rather than dispensing money to them through government agencies" as the cure for our problems.

I think they are wrong. But if we jump in with private contributions to bail out people in need don't we feed into this "theory"?

Won't Bush say "see, the private sector through their generous donations, can fix all problems?"

I know, I know. I've already given to the red cross for this and I'm sure I will again but it was much easier for me to send my money to Crawford Peace house and Cindy and Andy and Kerry and Clark than it is here, where I think government has to take over.

[cyberpj]

1. I've been having the same dilemma myself for same reasons.

I want to scream FU! - You stole the money meant for this!

But I don't want to screw those who need it.

thoughts?

[Hamlette]

2. glad to hear there are others like me

I'll continue to give but I'd rather fund it through an organization that really supports MY views to send in an army of volunteers and a bunch of supplies in the name of secularists who are pissed at the gov't forgetting its purpose. To protect us from REAL threats, not imaginary WMD.

[cyberpj]

3. surprised you didn't get more responses on this -

I'd rather volunteer in some way than give money right now, knowing full well that Bush admin took it away from this very cause -with credible reports saying THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

[Hamlette]

4. I think maybe the news is just too "fluid" right now (as CNN just reported

apparently no pun intended...or maybe that's exactly where the phrase came from?)

Anyway, there is so much to keep up with right now maybe lots of people aren't thinking policy right now.

[Cleita]

5. We all know that they are full of baloney and if they read

anything about how government social programs work in other countries, they would find relying on faith based programs is quite inferior in results to government sponsored programs.

Now I really don't have any spare change to contribute moneywise especially with gas, and probably our groceries as a result, going up in prices, I will be more cash strapped than ever. But I am going to give blood and I'm going to do what I can by writing my elected representatives to please allocate the money needed to get the people in those states through this.