OT: A Funny thing happened on the way home today

[Atrocities]

I gave up feeling guilty about finding money and keeping it a while back after years of finding money on the floor while doing floor maintenance for the big red S when I was a teenager, and putting it into the charity jars. Then one day I saw the store manager empty those change jars into a bag and then put that bag into his brief case. Since then, I have seen many of the "Trusted" store manager of many big red S stores steal that money. It was free money to them so they just took it. I have NEVER dropped another penny into those charity jars any where! In retrospect, I am very happy that I do not work for those corrupt, lying, chickens**t bastards any more. The big red "S" can kiss my fat white butt.

[Possum]

Atrocities said:
I gave up feeling guilty about finding money and keeping it a while back after years of finding money on the floor while doing floor maintenance for the big red S when I was a teenager, and putting it into the charity jars. Then one day I saw the store manager empty those change jars into a bag and then put that bag into his brief case. Since then, I have seen many of the "Trusted" store manager of many big red S stores steal that money. It was free money to them so they just took it. I have NEVER dropped another penny into those charity jars any where! In retrospect, I am very happy that I do not work for those corrupt, lying, chickens**t bastards any more. The big red "S" can kiss my fat white butt.

Omg, THAT'S HORRIBLE, Atro! But it does confirm my suspicions.

My cynicism with organised charities began with the United Way scandal, and reached its present peak when I learned that the Director of the California Red Cross is paid not just a salary of $600,000 per year, but various "allowances" that bring her total compensation to over $900,000 a year.

Most organised charities pass less than 50% of the money they collect on to the intended recipients, with the rest eaten up by huge salaries for top administrators, while most of the buttwork is done by unpaid volunteers. And if you think that sounds bad, remember that some charities pass only 10% of donations along to the needy, with 90% eaten up by huge salaries for their top administrators.

These days, I live by the adage that "charity begins at home".

[Suicide Junkie]

On the other hand, if you donate to PBW, over 95% of the money will make it.

[Atrocities]

Suicide Junkie said:
On the other hand, if you donate to PBW, over 95% of the money will make it.

And its all for a good cause. I wish I had money to donate, to PBW and SE.net. (Along with being able to buy some Shrapnel Games.)

[Randallw]

There is an ad here for the Salvation Army asking for help for the farmers stuck in a drought. Putting aside for one moment that it is marked as a community announcement, Why do they get away without having to pay?, I find it offensive because it is basically saying "Donate to us, we're better than the other charities". I would think all charities would be the same, it defeats the purpose of being generous if they are being stuck up and saying they're better than everyone else.

I consider charity to be intrinsically self serving anyway. I'm a cynic, and apathetic, in the classical Philosophical sense, and to me giving to charity is just a way of making yourself feel good by thinking your better since you give stuff to people. No one does anything without a reason. If you don't get anything out of it then why do it at all.

[Baron Munchausen]

Randallw said:
There is an ad here for the Salvation Army asking for help for the farmers stuck in a drought. Putting aside for one moment that it is marked as a community announcement, Why do they get away without having to pay?, I find it offensive because it is basically saying "Donate to us, we're better than the other charities". I would think all charities would be the same, it defeats the purpose of being generous if they are being stuck up and saying they're better than everyone else.

I consider charity to be intrinsically self serving anyway. I'm a cynic, and apathetic, in the classical Philosophical sense, and to me giving to charity is just a way of making yourself feel good by thinking your better since you give stuff to people. No one does anything without a reason. If you don't get anything out of it then why do it at all.

Well, the Salvation Army is much better than many other big-name charities. They are efficient enough that the US Government, and especially what used to be FEMA (what is it called now?) are studying them to try to make government disaster relief more efficient. So while it's true that there is lots of corruption in the charity system, it's not totally corrupt.

[Atrocities]

The only charities I will, and have, donate too:

Salvation Army
The Humain Society
Meals On Wheels
Good Will

[Baron Munchausen]

Suicide Junkie said:
On the other hand, if you donate to PBW, over 95% of the money will make it.

because PBW is a charity where adminstration is closely integrated with the implementation. And the donating community can see the results themselves. More points for 'small is beautiful'... and efficient, and accountable, etc.

[capnq]

Baron Munchausen said: PBW is a charity

No, it's not. Don't try to claim your PBW donations as a tax deduction.

[Baron Munchausen]

Well, not in the legal sense. But many of the people who donate will never get 'their money's worth' out of it.