Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunflower49
It's the things you mention that prevent me from giving. I'm just not happy in paying for something if I'm not fully aware of what it is.
I volunteer my time instead, but in the past I have done both.
I have been a charity shop worker in the past, and I still shop at them now-so in a sense I am giving my money in that way.
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But isn't that the whole problem with 'modern charity'.
Cameron has always banged on about the 'big society' where people help each other. (I got news for him, people have ALWAYS helped each other, long before his catchphrase vote grabber, people have always been 'Big' on helping others, especially amongst us working class). We've all cut our elderly neighbours lawn, picked something up from the shops for them, checked on them from time to time etc..etc..
Some charities are worthwhile, problem is too many others are aided and abetted to the extent of job destruction. Some of them, like the RSPCA, have become political (anyone tried taking a stray to them recently?), others use your money for crazy research or to undercut private sector job creation, many of these charities are creating so much money that they are paying bonuses to their paid staff just to balance the books.
Camerons argument is that there is no need for society to pick up the bill to ensure that people are cared for, that we should all take responsibility, he's not going to lower your taxes for the money he saves if we do, because thats reserved for his bankers, backers and other associated leeches to society. He's never going to cut his neighbours lawn because his nearest neighbour lives a couple of miles away and has a gardener. He's ok with the rise of charities, because he doesn't have to pay for it from the money you give him in taxes, you do..you pay your taxes and then you pay again for a charity to do something that your taxes were meant to pay for.
You are being altruistic, and fair play to you, BUT, although you are giving your time and spending your hard earned money to support the charity by buying from their shops, you are still complicit in this governments attempt to turn many paying jobs into volunteer positions, you are complicit in helping Cameron make cut after cut after cut to the detriment of many of the people these so called charities portend to support.
Charities spring up daily, it's not really that hard to become a charity, it's a tad harder to become a registered charity, but big business with an array of lawyers can easily overcome the restrictions placed by the charity commission.
Just a thought if a business indirectly runs a charity and then donates to that charity what kind of tax breaks that business gets on that donation?
One thing I've gained from the Graham Jones blog that I originally posted is that I will be extremely careful which charities I donate to in future, I will not just chuck my loose change into any old bucket in Tesco, and I will stay the heck away from any charity than can afford mainstream advertising or high street shops!