You should deploy on a humanitarian mission!

[Joelcool7]

Kasz216 said:

Convincing politicians to give taxed money to people is not the same as giving to charity.

It's the same as promising to give to charity ONLY if everyone else does.

In my opinion it shows a concern for people not wanting to fall behind others due to their own generosity.

As for international charitable orginzations and foreign aid?  Feh.

 

Not saying they don't need help in other countries... but shit.  There are people in your OWN country that need help...  and by helping them... you don't waste money on giant orinizations with need of tons of employees and marketing and all kinds of shit?

The best way to cost effectivly help someone?  Go out on the street and give a homeless guy some money or some food.  Go work at a soup kitchen in your own city, homeless shelter or a food bank or something.

It's just more efficent... and honestly, more likely to do more good since the country you live in is probably a lot more stable then another country and help is more likely to still help.

Just heard a neat thing about Dunbars Number on the radio today and it pretty well explains why smaller groups localized in specific areas are basically always going to be more effective.

 

We see disasters, and pour money in to that area shortly... ignoring the fact that people are dieing every day regardless.

It's something that really annoys me for whatever reason... people treating disaster areas as exceptions of the norm... when in reality, it's the norm for a lot of people... it's just more concentrated in one place for a little bit.

Well I myself volunteer with multiple organisations. Including an outreach program that gives meals to local homeless. The main difference I see in helping over seas versus here. Is the Canadian Government provides any citizen who cannot find work a welfare cheque. If they can't find housing their is low income housing provided by the Government. If they are addicted to drugs or alchohol their are several free programs to help them out of their addiction.

Their is no reason for a Canadian citizen to be homeless. Absolutely no reason. How do I say that, well I have been on income assistance several times. I have taken from the food bank when I couldn't afford food. But guess what the Canadian Government helps me out and I can afford to live in a shitty apartment with food and while sure I can't afford many new things. I have a higher quality of life then anyone in Thailand can hope to have.

Having worked as a security guard and helping feed the homeless I came to a conclusion fairly fast. The majority of Canadian homeless are so by choice. I know several drug addicts who were arrested while I was on duty for drugs, I saw them months later, the Government had ordered them into rehab free rehab and guess what they refused to go. This happened more then once. Also a majority of the pan handlers (Not druggies) I busted at the mall had apartments infact one pan handler had a job and after I talked with him a while I found out he was making more money at that job and pan handling then I was working as a security guard.

So do I think its important to help your countries poor before deploying accross the globe. Absolutely, but in countries like Canada with free medicare, welfare and great social services. Go somewhere that you can actually help.

As for Scotties idea that the Government should donate all the money. Well Canada's Government often matches donations during crisis but I think its our duty as citizens to help the globe not expect our Governments to do all the work. Example the Government of Canada is responsable for taking care of the citizens of Canada first and foremost, Canadian's pay tax dollars for the Government to take care of the country, not to go out and take care of the world.

Try explaining a 2% raise in taxes for charity. Oh today the Government descided to raise taxes by 2% to give it to charity. People would go m

Also Kasz just because people die every day doesn't mean we should ignore them. Your going to die sooner or later too, should everyone just say Meh and ignore you?

But people do have slight points, if your home country has slums and poor Government programs and the people are suffering then yah helping in a soup kitchen or youth program or food bank is a very good idea. If you live in a country like Canada I still think you should start in a soup kitchen or food bank.

Example I myself am considered poverty level in Canada. I make less then 21,000$ a year. But guess what with what little I make I still could afford to donate time and money to charity. Infact I make about 12k a year but I live far better then the majority of the world and as such I feel compelled to help those living in worse conditions then myself.

So I volunteer both locally and now internationally I think their is room and need for both!