My cynical nature over charities and donations

[sapphi_snake]

Kasz216 said:

Nah, the only time I get depressed is when I see a homeless guy and I don't have any money on me.

Which happens more often now that I use a Debit card for all my purchases.  So I pretty much only keep cash on hand to hand it out.  Or when i ride the bus.

Nothing that depressing to me to know that you helped someone get through another day.

If you can ever get your hands on a TV show called Sports Night.  I'd suggest the episode "The Quality of Mercy at 29K."

A speech a character named Isaac gives out about the subject explains it better then I can.

 

Edit:  Found a transcript.

 

Dan: Isaac, you got a second?
Isaac: Sure. What's on your mind?
Dan: You make a lot of charitable donations, don't you?
Isaac: I try.
Dan: Who do you give your money to?
Isaac: I used to give money to the Democratic Party.
Dan: Not anymore?
Isaac: Well, you get your heart broken enough times, you learn your lesson.
Dan: Who do you give your money to now?
Isaac: I give it here and there. There are plenty of good causes.
Dan: That's the problem.
Isaac: Hmm. Danny, every morning I leave and acre and a half of the most beautiful property in New Canaan. Get on a train and come to work in a 54 story glass hi-rise. In between, I step over bodies to get here. 20, 30, 50 of them a day. So as I'm stepping over them, I reach into my pocket and give them whatever I've got.
Dan: You're not afraid they're going to spend it on booze?
Isaac: I'm hoping their going to spend it on booze. Look, Danny, for these people, most of them, it's not like they're one hot meal from turning it around. For most of them, the clock's pretty much run out. You'll be home soon enough. What's wrong with giving them a little novocaine to get them through the night?

But why shouldn't we try to help these people turn their lives around? Wouldn't that be a better strategy, mainly in the long run?