Comments on: The Singer Solution to World Poverty (circa 1999) http://darrenhe.com/blog/the-singer-solution-to-world-poverty-circa-1999/ Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:49:32 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: darrenhe http://darrenhe.com/blog/the-singer-solution-to-world-poverty-circa-1999/comment-page-1/#comment-88 darrenhe Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:57:53 +0000 http://darrenhe.com/blog/?p=373#comment-88 Of course, it's normal to have some "socialist" tendencies - after all, our government is far from purely capitalistic. For example, welfare, Medicare, and those HUGE government bailouts. I think each person really has to weigh it out for themselves. On one hand, you have morals, ethics, compassion, and sense of righteousness. On the other hand, I think the world is approaching a zero-sum game: by giving money to someone else, you are decreasing your own net worth and well-being relative to both the person you are helping and the people are not donating to charity. I'll still donate to charities that I feel are a good cause (not that I have lots of disposable income), but it leads me to question whether I truly donate out of goodwill, or if I donate to look good or make myself feel better. Of course, it’s normal to have some “socialist” tendencies – after all, our government is far from purely capitalistic. For example, welfare, Medicare, and those HUGE government bailouts. I think each person really has to weigh it out for themselves. On one hand, you have morals, ethics, compassion, and sense of righteousness. On the other hand, I think the world is approaching a zero-sum game: by giving money to someone else, you are decreasing your own net worth and well-being relative to both the person you are helping and the people are not donating to charity.

I’ll still donate to charities that I feel are a good cause (not that I have lots of disposable income), but it leads me to question whether I truly donate out of goodwill, or if I donate to look good or make myself feel better.

]]> By: "A" http://darrenhe.com/blog/the-singer-solution-to-world-poverty-circa-1999/comment-page-1/#comment-87 "A" Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:49:46 +0000 http://darrenhe.com/blog/?p=373#comment-87 The argument is 1-sided and appears problematic from an incentives standpoint. Or is it just a vision issue? (Or do I have socialist/communist tendencies?) What do you think is (are) the solution (s)? What should people work towards? Should everyone do it as they see fit? The argument is 1-sided and appears problematic from an incentives standpoint. Or is it just a vision issue? (Or do I have socialist/communist tendencies?) What do you think is (are) the solution (s)? What should people work towards? Should everyone do it as they see fit?

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