Wouldn't private charties be more efficient than government?

Question

Charities use dedicated voulenteers. Government employs indifferent bureacrats.

Charitable giving comes from the heart. Government redistribusion comes from coercion.

Answer 1

Most charities are much more efficient than the government. You have to be careful though, some are not what they seem. Do your research and make sure the charity you give to is one that uses a good chunk of donations for the intended cause.

Answer 2

Sure, and it mostly comes out of the pockets of the poor as is shown by study after study of giving in this country.

Don't get me wrong, having lived both here and in Europe, I can assure you that we are the best as far as volunteering and charitable giving. Unfortunately, it seems to come mostly from the not-so-rich. Let's not forget that Mr. Bill Gates (the richest man in the world) didn't start his charity work until the media pointed out that he wasn't doing anything in that regard.

As far as efficiency is concerned, check out the salaries given to the people who run the US Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The last time I checked it was something like $250,000 vs $19,000 a year. Overall, a much higher percentage of donations to the Red Cross goes to running the machine than at the Salvation Army. What that means is that much less of your dollar goes to actually help people if you give to the Red Cross than if you give to the Salvation Army.

Now, for the personal experience bit. During the Afghan-USSR war, I got involved with a group that took caravans of food, material for making clothes and school supplies into Afghanistan. Guess who wasn't there... The Red Cross because it was illegal. Yes, the Russian made it illegal to go into Afghanistan without some sort of permit which of course they wouldn't give to anyone. A bunch of people went in anyway to try and help but not the Red Cross.

This is not meant to be a diatibre against the Red Cross however. It is just trying tro show you that charities are as subject to political and financial BS as most companies.

The worst offender in the charity busines though is the Catholic Church. It is the richest RE owner in the world. It's also got a fortune in antiques in its vaults and in its bank. WHY? Sure, you should have a certain amount of money put away to keep the business going no matter what, like any other foudation but the catholic church acts as if you could take it all to heaven with you...

So, to answer your question, NO. Charity is not better than the goverment because there are as many greedy people involved in charity as in the gor=vernemnt. True, goverment redistribution comes coersion. But it is coersion from the people and the last I checked we have a goverment of the people for the people.

Answer 3

In fact, every study of private charities vs. public welfare programs shows that the administrative costs of private charities are far, far higher than the administrative costs of government programs. The administrative costs of Social Security as a percentage of the funds that are distributed are much, much less than any private pension program. The administrative costs of Medicare are much less than any private medical insurance. The administrative costs of the Earned Income Tax Credit, or food stamps, or other welfare programs, are much less than private anti-poverty programs.

Not only are the administrative costs of private charities much higher, but private charities use an astonishing amount of the monies they raise for fund-raising and so-called educational purposes, and a lot less than you might think actually goes to the purposes that you think you are donating the money for.

Answer 4

Not really. What happens when the economy goes sour, and people don't have money to give to charities or time to volunteer? Those are the times when people need the most help. A combination of both is best.

Answer 5

Private charities are definitely more effective and efficient.

Answer 6

Yes as our government is not working so lets try it as we are on our own ....

Answer 7

Yep! That's why charities are tax exempt or tax deductible.

Answer 8

Yes they are more efficient.