The Groan talks today of the campaign, Give What you Can.
While I have no problem with Mr Ord giving away his salary – it’s his, he may do with it as he pleases, I don’t seriously expect a huge following for the idea. We are regularly bombarded by adverts and chuggers trying to get us to tithe some of our income for the cause du jour. From a personal perspective, the current charitable need foremost in my mind is that of staying solvent – so I refuse each and every exhortation to part with my hard-earned, just as I didn’t sign up to have some of my wages taken at source the other day, despite someone coming round to tell everyone how wonderful it is.
Not that I am uncharitable. I have given in the past and will, when I have spare funds, do so again. What I will not do is pledge anything nor tithe in any way. My giving is ad-hoc and based upon what I can afford at the time. Despite Mr Ord making the pages of the Guardian, tithing 10% of one’s income is hardly new and it hasn’t exactly taken off in a big way so far. Although, of course we all pay towards charity whether we like it or not. The government takes from us by force and divvies it up to all sorts of hangers-on who call themselves charities.
And, let’s be clear here, when I am in a position to be more generous – not one penny, not one mite, groat or farthing to Africa. Indeed, I will not contribute anything at all to foreign aid. Foreign aid is part of the problem, not the solution. Mr Ord may be feeling good about himself in response to all those adverts of starving babies, but he hasn’t solved anything, merely contributed to creating a culture of dependency, nor will he solve anything by giving his earnings to foreign aid. Africa will solve its own problems when it stands on its own two feet. What Africa needs is trade, not aid.
Anyway, the answer to the Guardian Editorial’s question:
An Oxford-based campaign, Giving What We Can, wants volunteers to commit to donating 10% of their earnings. It might sound unthinkable in straitened times, but is it really?
For me, at least, is; “yes”.
Updated to add: It should go without saying of course, that I do not contribute to any charity that accepts taxpayer’s money as I am already an unwilling contributor. They aren’t getting any more.
Agree with all your points, esp. Africa – that seems to have turned into a bit of a gravy train. My charitable donations tend to be to the various disaster funds – hopefully being used to help people who suddenly find themselves in dire situations.
A charity I give to when I can is Cerebra, a small independent charity to help brain damaged children. It is a genuine charity. I’ll also give to various independent animal charities. Both of these are frowned upon by Mr Ord’s lofty organisation. Let them frown, say I.
Since I currently ‘tithe’ about a third of my gross salary to the government (20% income tax, 11% NICs, dunno how much VAT, petrol tax, booze tax, fag tax when I have to buy in country) which seems willing to donate scads of cash to charities that subsequently lobby government to ‘do something’ (Smoking, salt, 80mph – it’ll make you fat doncha know?, living…) I’m happy in the fact that I already donate ‘at least 10%’ of my income to charity.
I’m less happy, however, about this arrangement.
Oops – I missed in my tax calculation employers NICS. 13.8%
If my employer didn’t have to pay that, then they (might) give it to me instead.
So I’m detriment by 20+11+13 – um… 44% of my wages? (Plus the other crap I mentioned..
Mountain Rescue!
Many years ago, got roped in to a big search – NOT funny.
RNLI.
Looking at the comments following the topic on the Guardian website suggests you are not alone – even among Guardian readers!
Indeed. I think this may be because people realise that Prof Ord’s motives aren’t entirely altruistic – it’s a massive case of “look at me! Look at me! See how generous I am.” Even if that isn’t a true reflection, it is how he comes across.
I also think – and agree with the majority – that the campaign excludes UK based charities is also a massive off-putter. You can give to the charity of your choice (how generous) but it doesn’t count towards your 10% if they don’t approve of it. Er…
Charity, to me, is something you do without making a fuss about it. The Widow’s mite and all that…
There were chuggers for the anti-smacking nutters of the nspcc in Huddersfield the other week. One of them made the mistake of inviting me for a cosy little chat.
After telling her that their so called charity had not saved a single childs life for decades and that they were nothing other than a front for anti-smacking nutters who wish to criminalize at least 94% of this countries parents, I did my bit of shopping.
Ten minutes later, I came out of the shop and every one of the buggers had disappeared.
Result!