On Charity

I have never felt any particular pull toward giving money to charity. I used to pay tithes and give offerings to the Mormon Church, but that was out of a sense of religious obligation. I have given and will give money to nonprofit organizations like the Mises and Libertas institutes, but I don’t consider that charity. I don’t give money to beggars and panhandlers, and I don’t give money to relief funds. Why not? I’m not entirely sure. Partly, I don’t believe that money given to charity is always spent in the most helpful ways. But the bigger reason for my abstention from charitable giving is simply that I don’t believe other people deserve my hard-earned money more than me and my family do. I am incredibly wealthy by world standards, but upper-lower class by American standards. I don’t have expendable income. Perhaps if I were a millionaire, I’d feel differently. But I’m not, nor do I ever expect to be. I much prefer trade and exchange. If I think you could use some money, I’ll offer you a job to earn it, and respect you more when you accept. And that’s today’s two cents.