Haitian Disaster Shows World Come Together... Late as Always?

[Twistedpixel]

mrstickball said:

Fortunately, when I was in school, I was able to spend a significant amount of time doing some of these activities. I spent the greater time of 3 years working at a food pantry part-time (maybe 10hrs a week or so) helping carry groceries up and down stairs for disabled people, and helping obtain groceries at one of the largest food banks in Ohio (Mid-Ohio food bank).

So I'd 'like' to think that I have a little perspective on the problem. People are human - both volunteers and those receiving help. There were people that came in for food assistance that had no right using it, some came in that were going to sell the groceries, some were going to use what they got to suppliment getting a job, and then some were going to use it in the right way as they were truly needy. When you work with people in those regards, you do understand the fullness of the problem. In my own case, I'm hoping to spend Thanksgiving Day at a local firehouse running an event for the homeless of the community and those that have no family - like a city-wide event for the needy.

Not everyone can give the time/money needed to helping the poor. I am the first person that says we need to do more. However, the problem is that its not just about doing more, its about getting more out of aid. When giving to countries or people, the best things you can do are give things that aren't direct aid. I have multiple friends that make bad decisions with credit cards and money, causing bankruptcy, poverty and other issues. Me giving them money doesn't help (I gave one friend $3,000 to pay off all of his credit cards, and he's still in debt). The best thing that can be done in some situations is to teach better habits. Its like Kasz said about drug users and gamblers - you don't help them by giving money to them, you help by rehabilitating them. Much in the same way for those less fortunate - yes, assistance is greatly needed in direct ways like food, shelter and clothing, but that can only sustain a person for so long. You have to also teach them how to acquire food, shelter and clothing. In America, you can do that with adult education, litteracy classes, and job employment opportunities.

Knowing those things, there is no difference in rendering aid to a poor person in America as there is in Haiti, Zimbabwe, Kenya, or India. You have to start with sustainable living practices, then educate, then employ, then they grow. Some can be upset, but the simple fact is that not everyone that you can aid will use it in the way it was meant for.

I would give more to people but I find that giving to the SPCA can be more productive in terms of overall suffering alleviated and I never feel that im making sacrafices for people who would never do the same for me. Every person whom I know whom is impoverished is impoverished because of their own actions or attitudes. For example, I recently helped get my friend out of an abusive relationship with a woman whom was a complete nightmare. She only works up to but no more than the required level to keep the maximum 'government aid' as a single mother. She recently got a credit card with a $1000 limit and instead of buying a fridge which she needed she spent it all on junk. I met many truely nasty individuals when I worked with the poor so thats the reason why I respond in a more limited fashion and prefer to work with the animals, disabled, elderly. The people whom I know are most likely in the situation due to circumstances outside of their control.