Don’t give to charities that send you solicitations.

Sit down, think about what charities you want to support, and send them checks. Tell them not to send you any material, as most good charities spend 25% of their funds on fundraising, and bad charities spend much more.

I budget 5% of my take-home pay for charity, and send automatic monthly contributions to four organizations – a mix of local, national, and global, and a mix of issues important to me.

America is not a government. America is a country of people founded on the principles of less government over what they had experienced in England. Peple back then were not looking for handouts and were more likely to obey and respect the common laws.

Our founding fathers would puke if they saw what America has become.

Anyway. I live in the United States, and I think it’s a great country. But I’ve also lived in the United Kingdom, and I think that’s a great country too, full of good people who “try to get it right” just as much as Americans do. (There are plenty of other great countries, I’m sure – I just haven’t lived in any of them.)

There are some areas where America is the best in the world, and lots of other areas where other countries do better. “Most powerful” does not always equal “best.” Sometimes I wish more of my fellow Americans would realize that.

I will say it again: America is still the greatest country in the world. Depsite political problems, economic upheaval, wars, etc., we are still the greatest force for good and prosperity in the world. Just look at what happens when our economy falters. We may not get it right every single time, but Americans will always try to get it right. We have built history’s most sucessful country. Unfortunately, we have lost our bearings and forgotten some of the principles upon which this country was founded.

America will rebound better and stronger IF we remember the guiding principles that made America and its ideals the hope of the world.

Its especially healthful for men because it brings down the iron level in your blood.

Depite the current craziness of the markets, America has always rebounded and come back even stronger. It is up to AMERICANS to make sure this happens. Waiting for someone else to do it never works.

Count your blessings and make your world better.

Johanna, your comments about donations and charity are the very reasons that I am so loath to donate. If an entity needs my donations, but aren’t willing to take what I am willing and/or able to give, my time, my materials, my products, but instead only want money… why in the heck would I want to donate to them.

You project a very moralistic and self-righteous attitude about giving… as if giving FREELY to whatever cause I would like is not the entire point of giving. I pay taxes so that the federal government can fund programs such as welfare, medicare, medicaid etc. That is all I am required to pay by the state. Charity is extra, and I may have a very black heart, but your attitude sets me running far away from donating anything.

As for people who are not able to give money. Your judgmental attitude clearly shows how unwilling you are to consider that there are many things you do not know about your neighbors and coworkers. No one *ever* knows how someone spends their money. They could be supporting elderly parents, nieces, newphews or grandchildren no one else will. They could be riding the poverty line, but pride keeping them from accepting help. Those that say no, could in fact disagree with your charities aims, the way they use the money, or feel more passionate about another cause. Or they might already tithe 10% of their pay to their church. I don’t know if you consider that a “worthy” charity, but that is definitly “giving”.

As for those who give their time, that you so callously reject, perhaps the elderly are living on a restricted income, perhaps the teenagers have no other way to learn important job skills Perhaps that mother you are snearing at really can’t afford to donate to your chartiy, much less feed her children.

“I’m challenging Trent’s claim that there are lots of people who can’t afford to donate any money at all. If you think you are such a person, what exactly are you spending your money on instead that’s so important?” Food, shelter, healthcare, education, daycare. Just to name a few.

There are a lot of places that rely exclusively on volunteers, too, and don’t hire for anything except the managerial positions. My teenagers and I go over to the local Habitat store now and then to help them stock shelves and clean the store. The only 2 employees there either manage the store or process all the inventory, as well as manage all the volunteers & donations. They can’t get enough help in there. It doesn’t take too much research to find some places that would rather have help than money for some tasks.

Anyone who’s looking for someplace to give time can always check volunteermatch.org to see if there’s anything listed there in their area. Food banks, Habitat, the library, and schools are always good places to call to ask if they might know who needs help, too.

Shevy, of course I’m not suggesting that charity workers themselves should tell potential donors, “You need to stop buying so many toys so you can donate to us instead.” Of course that would be offensive, stupid, and counterproductive. But as a non-charity-worker, I’m challenging Trent’s claim that there are lots of people who can’t afford to donate any money at all. If you think you are such a person, what exactly are you spending your money on instead that’s so important?

The question of how much belt-tightening is enough is a good one. I think CaGirl has a good approach: Just donate something, and then increase that amount each year as your situation improves. That’s what I do. I just got a raise, so I just increased my monthly donation to Oxfam.

I know Trent had a post a while ago about being paid to donate plasma, but I’m talking about whole blood used for transfusions (which, if I recall correctly, cannot be “paid for” due to Health protocols.) Your local Red Cross or hospital can give you more info.