The Sun Herald | 02/09/2005 | Beware of robbery masquerading as charity

The Sun Herald | 02/09/2005 | Beware of robbery masquerading as charity: "Beware of robbery masquerading as charity

By Walter Williams


Charity to man's fellow man is praiseworthy, and Americans are the most generous people on Earth. According to a quote by American philanthropist Daniel Rose in 'An Exceptional Nation,' an article in Philanthropy magazine (November/December 2004), 'American private charitable contributions this year will exceed $200 billion, equal to about 10 percent of the total federal budget; that some 70 percent of U.S. households make charitable cash contributions; and that over half of all U.S. adults will volunteer an estimated 20 billion hours in charitable activities.' Americans contribute six or seven times more than some of our European neighbors.
What about President Bush's $350 million commitment for earthquake and tsunami relief - is that just as praiseworthy? Let's look at it. Charity is reaching into one's own pockets to assist his fellow man in need. Reaching into someone else's pocket to assist one's fellow man hardly qualifies as charity. When done privately, we deem it theft, and the individual risks jail time."