Blog #8 – Should the rich be required to give to charity?
Wealth is an elusive thing, and if everyone could get it, everyone would have it. But then, if everyone had wealth, who would truly be rich? – Your mighty editor.
The blog topic – should the rich be required to give to charities? – is a pretty complex question, b/c there are several questions that must be answered when considering this topic:
– who should be considered rich?
– why are the rich required to give? Or should they be required to give anything?
– To what charities deserve $$ and why?
Throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century, the predominant attitude of the wealthy was that it was something special that made them rich. It could be God-given as in John Rockefeller’s belief “The Good Lord gave me my money.” Baptist minister Russell Conwell, the founder of Philadelphia’s Temple University, felt that God gave money to those people who would use money for good purposes (1).
Andrew Carnegie wrote in his 1889 essay, “The Gospel of Wealth,” that money accumulated by the rich is good for society and that the 
government shouldn’t interfere with this process. He also felt that for a wealthy person to pass on his inheritance to his heirs is “injudicious” and that “the condition of this class in Europe today teaches the futility of such hopes or ambitions.” Basically, the heirs will waste it. Nor should the rich man give it to the government to dispose of b/c the cases of that money being used well have been very few.
So, Carnegie feels that it is up to the rich man who has made the money to dispose o
f it as he sees fit.
“…the man of wealth thus becoming the sole agent and trustee for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer-doing for them better than they would or could do for themselves.”
In fact, he is favor of estate taxes (or in current conservative lingo – DEATH TAXES!) See this quote:
“Men who continue hoarding great sums all their lives, the proper use of which for public ends would work good to the community, should be made to feel that the community, in the form of the state, cannot thus be deprived of its proper share. By taxing estates heavily at death, the state marks its condemnation of the selfish millionaire’s unworthy life” (2).
Hoarding is no good, and Carnegie gave away almost his entire fortune – $325 million – with another $30 million set aside for other things. Rockefeller gave away over half a billion dollars!
Put yourself in their shoes:
1. Would you want someone, anyone, telling you who to donate $? Why or why not? Or is it your responsibility to donate your fortune before you die? Why or why not?
2. What current charities or causes would you think deserve your money?
Please answer these two questions – minimum of 200 words for both questions. Due Thursday 12/16 by the beginning of class.
Sources:
1. Capitalism in the Gilded Age – http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h849.html
2. Modern History Sourcebook – Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth – http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1889carnegie.html
Though I will undoubtedly donate to charity many many many times in my life, the idea of being told who to donate to, when to donate, and how much to give is absolutely absurd. No matter how “rich” one is, they should not be required to give to those that don’t have the same amount of money available to them. It is completely reasonable for it to be socially expected, an unwritten rule, but if one chooses to pass their money on to their children/heir that should not be shunned. Andrew Carnegie’s view on giving money to heirs is empirically false, as companies such as Ford and Motorola have been successful over many years even though they experienced passing of directorship from father to son(s). The idea of giving away one’s money just because someone tells you to is a contradiction of “the American Dream” because by submitting to the demands of others you are giving up the innate, god-given freedoms that are bestowed upon every person in this world. In terms of which charities deserve the money that is being donated it does not truly matter. If one wishes to donate then fact that they are donating to a worthy cause, as Carnegie put it, is most important. No one charity is more deserving of a contribution than another, assuming that it isn’t just a front for a profiteering organization (Ex. Kwame’s charities). If I personally were to donate my money when I was nearing my death I would likely donate to a society that either A) supports Israel (because of the fact that I am Jewish) or B) aims to actually fix a problem (give food to poor, find a cure for a disease) rather than just raise awareness for the problem. For example, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has raised approximately $1.5 billion. Out of this more than $1.1 billion has gone to raising awareness, while only about $180 million has actually gone to research for a breast cancer cure.
1. I would not have a problem with people telling me to donate my money if I was very rich and had a fortune. If you have so much money that you don’t even have a way to spend it all for yourself before you die, there is no reason that you shouldn’t donate that money to something that will in the long run improve the world. I would like leaving a legacy behind of doing good things for other people rather than just seeming selfish like all that I cared about was making money for myself. In my opinion it’s a responsibility to donate the money since your goal should be to help out others in your lifetime.
2. I would donate a lot of my money to Africa and Haiti since I know how awful the living conditions are in both of these places. Since they have many diseases that need to have money to get treatment for, they deserve to have assistance from people with a good amount of money. I would also give money to cancer foundations because since so many people have cancer, it would be really good if scientists were able to find a cure for it. This requires money for the research so I think it is a good cause to donate money to.
While I wouldn’t want anyone coming up to me and “telling” me to donate or where to donate, I think if I had ever amassed enough money it would get to a point where I would definitely start looking for worthwhile ways to give away the money and help other people. I think it would be a moral obligation to give back to the community because they were the ones who allowed me to get my money. However if anyone got up in front and demanded money from me, it wouldn’t matter for what cause, I would be annoyed and probably ignore them, also that’s not charity. Charity is when you give not because someone thinks you should but because you feel you should, so if someone came to me and was polite and showed me that my money could really do something for the benefit of others I would certainly give wholeheartedly. I wouldn’t say that is my responsibility to give away my fortune before I day, the total amount I give away isn’t something specific I would aim for, I would simply just give to the point where I really felt like I was helping and giving just as much if not more back to people, and I would probably set up funds so that even after my death I could continue to help out.
I think a good way to spend my money would be to make donations to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the stuff they went through can easily cause both physical and mental trauma. Also considering the way vets from Vietnam were treated when they came back was awful so the money should help so that doesn’t happen and they can hopefully have a little easier time readjusting to their daily lives.
To be honest, I think this is a fantastic question. Should the “rich” be required to donate? Are we talking specifically about donating money or about donating ourselves. Can a person be rich in ways excluding financial matters? Take for example having a roof over your head, your health, clothes on your back and food in your mouth. Doesn’t that make you “rich”? I think that people who classify by my standards as “rich”, don’t often realize how “rich” they are themselves for they may not be millionaires or as blessed as someone else and therefore, do not donate, or donate very little in terms of money and of themselves compared to someone who has everything, and can be very philanthropic.
I don’t think that people should be required to donate just like how I don’t think that people should be required to go around licking windows. If however a person feels they need to donate, either money or their time, or even in that matter lick a window, they should go for it. I say this because each person has a different view on the tasks in which they want to accomplish. Take for example Carnegie who didn’t give his money to his heirs for he knew they would waste it; therefore, he gave it to people, in this case many many people, who would value his money. I think the reason for this is heirs who get money from their hardworking parent(s) don’t appreciate it as much as the parents do because they have not worked and earned that money like their parents did. I know that when I got a job, I started to value the value of the dollar, and not just take it for granted like the times when it came from my parents’ wallets. I could also see the views of some about keeping the money in the family because it has more value there. It depends greatly on individual value
I also think that a person who gives even the bare minimum of what they have to offer deserves some credit. Even giving a little is better than giving nothing because a little goes a long way. On thursdays, I volunteer at Yad Ezra, a Jewish food bank because I think it is important for people to be fed. A charity should be chose only if it means something to the person willing to donate because morally it is good to donate for something you care about as much as the person or charity receiving the donation does. Every year I donate my time and a few hundred dollars to Yad Ezra because that few hundred dollars can fill a bag of food for a family in need. Me donating my time and helping others in need releases stress (maybe not a lot but some) for them, making their situations a little better. In the Jewish religion that is called doing a mitzvah or a good deed. Doing a mitzvah or mitzvot, for me, is very important and I think to many others but not to some. I think if people take a step back and look around every now and then, they could really see how blessed they are and how much they can give, if not of money, then of themselves.
Although I would donate to charities if I had such a large fortune, I would not want to be told I HAD to donate a certain amount of money to a certain charity and by a certain time. It is my right to do what I want to with my money, as long as it is not illegal. If there were to be a law created that required persons making over a certain amount of money to donate a certain percent of their salary to charity, I would get very mad. I would do it of course, but I would hate to do it because it was the law instead of just doing it out of the goodness of my heart. Some people don’t want to give their money away. Maybe they think it would be better if all the money stayed in the family, which I don’t personally approve of, but I would respect their decision. It only makes sense, if you have more than enough, to give to those who have less than enough.
If I were to give to a charity I would give to one that helped stop animal cruelty and child abuse. I think it is plain wrong for someone to think that because they are better, they have to hit/abuse a child or animal. They have no control, they can’t stop their abuser. Their minds are so innocent that someone can take advantage of it. It’s not like a child can just run away, most of the time they don’t have anywhere to run to, and animals just don’t know any better. I think it is sick of people to abuse others that have no power and the abuser knows that all too well.
Ben Hafen, 4th Hour
While I’m personally all for charity, I absolutely loathe the notion of anybody telling me what to do with my money. It’s my money, I earned it, and I will do with it whatsoever I desire, regardless of what you say. They’re welcome to give suggestions, although I’m very likely to simply tune them out without a single qualm. However, I do believe that the wealthy are required to give something back to those who aren’t quite as fortunate as they. If one has too much money, they have too much power, which can be too easily corrupted or abused.
Before donating money to any charity, I would want to know as much as I could about a charity. As with Kwame Kilpatrick, some people set up false charities, or just pocket the money received. Once that’s finished, the charities I’d donate to are ones that have more lasting effects. For example, I’d consider a charity that funds further research into cancer and possible cures thereof, or funding public resources or services, such as libraries or police departments. Charities that also help fund emergency supplies and the likes for third-world countries or places that have been devastated by natural disasters are also to be taken into consideration.
1. I think that it would make me upset if the government told me that I had to donate my money. I don’t think that the government has the right to tell someone how to spend their money. If you earn the money then it is rightfully yours and you should be able to spend it as you see fit. I think that it is upon the person to donate their money. A wealthy person should donate their money to a person or organization that needs it. I think that it should be on the owner of the money to decide who gets it and what it is used for when they die.
2. I think that charities today that deserve a donation are organizations that benefit sick people. It is important today because medical bills are so expensive that people can’t afford them on their own. Other worthy organizations are ones for homeless people because it is important for people with excess money to help those who can’t help themselves. Lastly I would say that it would be important to give money to places that help children. For example hungry children, or abused children because they are too small and weak to do anything for themselves.
If I were to have created a vast supply of wealth be it magically or through hard work and effort I would not object to giving portions to charities. However I would become very quickly irritated if I had people randomly popping up in my office telling me who to donate to and how much to fork out. To me those people would seem like salesmen bent on guilt tripping me into donations. However I am for estate tax/inheritance tax so my offspring wont be spoiled and made lazy by my wealth. Do not mistake me for being cheap I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Carnegie and have little desire to disgrace myself by dying rich. I would set aside some of my money for my offspring and to ensure the business would be able to survive once I’m gone. Then I would give away to numerous charities and sponsor many public events. A few choice charities (in addition to the Red Cross World Wildlife foundation and the usually crews) would be Prevent Cancer Foundation, the Cancer Research Institute, Foundation for AIDS Research, and the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute.
I prefer charities that work with health and well-being mainly because diseases like cancer and AIDS are hurting everyone in several aspects of their lives. That and causes that support GLBTQs are in need of as much support as possible in these trying, generally unsupportive times.
In conclusion I would be irritated if I was constantly nagged to donate money. If left alone I would probably end up donating it to those charities anyways and it is ones responsibility to donate a majority of ones total wealth to charity.
1. No one likes to part with money. If there is no direct benefit to the person who giving away the money, and they don’t want to give away the money there is sure to be disappointment. I feel like the government should make you the wealthy give to charities, but they should have a choice in what kind of foundation they are giving to. I feel like the government has laws in place for a reason. I could follow a law that told me that I had to give a portion of my income to charity, but I would need a choice in the matter for me to be compliant. It is not necessary for a person to give away all of their money before they die. If they work hard enough to amass wealth to pass down to later generations than they should be able to. I believe that how rich you are solely depends on your income. Tax laws today have to do with how much money you make, and that concept seems to work just fine. I believe in spreading the wealth. I believe that richer people should give more back to the community just because they can. If you ask people who cant even put food on the table to donate to charities its not going to sit well.
2. I believe that charities that have to do with mentoring, have programs that help build character, and help a person become a productive member of society deserve funding. These programs help build the future of the nation. What kind of country would this be if young minds never got molded and shaped, we wouldn’t have half of the inventions and ideas that we have now. Programs like The Boys AND Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scout, an even after school activities help mold and shape young minds. When people give funding to these programs they are funding the future of this country. There are many other worthy causes out in the world today as well. Hunger campaigns, programs that give immunizations to people who cant afford them should be funded as well, but I believe that in order for this country to continue to be a leader in global affairs people have to continue to in vest in youth programs because the twenty five percent of children will one day become the seventy percent of adults, and they should be prepared.
1) I wouldn’t really want anyone to tell me where to donate my money. I would be donating if I amassed that wealth, but I feel that if people are telling you how to donate it, it’s not really charity. After setting aside some for my family, I’d probably donate the rest. What good is it when I’m dead anyway? And my family can always earn more for themselves.
2)I’d donate to veteran organizations, global relief programs (CARE) and Catholic organizations that help with things such as feeding children and helping the sick and needy. I volunteer at Give Kids A Smile, so I would donate to medical things, because everyone deserves a chance.
While, I think that it is important to donate money to charity, I do not beleive that someone should be required to give their money away. Forcing someone to give away all their money would be unfair to someone who would rather keep their money. It is their decision to donate or keep their wealth, and I believe we should respect that decision. However, I think that giving the money away is the best thing to do because all the money that you have could be better used by people who actually need the money.
If I were a millionaire I would not want to be told that I had to donate my money. We live in a free country and being forced to donate money would not be very free. I personally think that if you have the money it is your responsibility to donate some of the money and contribute to society in some way. If you lived in the society and earned your money from selling to the society it is your responsibility to support it and give back. However, I don’t think it is the government’s business whether a millionaire donates or not. Donating should be a choice, otherwise it’s not even really donating it is forced generosity which is an oxymoron. I also don’t think the government should be able to decide for you where your money went; if they let the millionaires choose where the money would go the government would have to decide what constituted a charity.
If I were able to donate my money, I would donate the money to organizations which help kids who are abused, neglected, or homeless (like foster homes or Boys and Girls Club). I also think giving money to help build schools and libraries is a really good idea. I would probably also give my money to organizations helping to make peace in the Middle East. I think these causes are worthy because they would really help the society now, but also in the future.
If I had a particularly large fortune, I would not want anybody to tell me where to donate it. Of course, it is up to the person to decide if they are “rich” enough to donate, but there is a certain point where a single person (or family) doesn’t need that much money. Carnegie and Rockefeller both donated a lot of money, but I don’t believe anybody told them where to donate it. If I worked hard to earn a fortune, no one has the right to tell me where to donate or spend it.
I feel that The Salvation Army, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, Michigan Opera Theater and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp are all charities and causes that deserve donations. While money donations are helpful, there are other ways to benefit those less fortunate, such as providing professional care free of charge, or spending time in a soup kitchen, which anyone can do whether you have thousands of dollars to donate or just free time. On the flip side, sometimes you are told (or “strongly encouraged”) by an employer or client customer who to donate to, and in those situations you would really have no choice. Making charitable donations should be something you want to do; you shouldn’t have to be told to donate a specific amount to a specific group.
While, I think that it is important to donate money to charity, I do not beleive that someone should be required to give their money away. Forcing someone to give away all their money would be unfair to someone who would rather keep their money. It is their decision to donate or keep their wealth, and I believe we should respect that decision. Not to mention the fact that the rich person who is only giving because he has to is giving for the wrong reason. He is only giving for himself so that he is not seen as a bad person and not because it is the right thing to do. However, I think that if the money is given away for the right reasons, it is the best thing to do because all the money that you have could be better used by people who actually need the money rather than by a rich person who doesn’t actually need the money.
As for who the money should be given to, I think that people should only give to charities who actually give the money to who they say it is going to. Too many people scam people by raising money for what they say is for a charity, but then only some of the money actually goes to the charity, or the person pockets the money altogether. Charities such a The Salvation Army and Make A Wish Foundation are good charities because they raise a lot of money that actually goes to help the people they say they are going to help. These are the type of charities we should be donating to. We can donate to any cause, but we should check to make sure that the money actually goes to that cause and isn’t pocketed.
To me, it only makes sense that the rich should donate their money. While forcing them to donate just seems unnecessary, I do believe that they should. If they have all that money, then they should give it to people who really need it.I think that to be classified as rich, someone needs to have a massive yearly salary, probably at least $1000000 annually. Of course, they would need to be convinced that they’re donating to something good, so there aren’t any specific ones to donate to, but usually ones for starving people around the world as well as advancing green technology are good ones. If you ask me, they shouldn’t give too much of their money to charity, though. They should probably give a maximum of 15% of what they earn, I know I would if I were rich.
1. I would definitely not want anyone telling me to donate my money to charities if I worked hard and earned it. Of course if I had enough to go around I would 100% consider donating some money to charities but for a law to be put into place saying you have to is quite unfair. If you earned the money by working hard then you deserve to spend it any way you like whether it be for charities or helping out your own family or treating yourself. I can understand people down on their luck who have been working hard and lost their jobs, or people who become or are permanently disabled but for people out there that just won’t try it’s obnoxious that there would be a law saying rich people must support them. Especially since some of them are scamming the system. In conclusion, rather than the government making a law saying the rich must give money to charities, they should come up with a better tax system and learn to allocate tax dollars rather than gifting themselves with more than excellent pensions and huge parties. However, I do think giving to charities is a great thing to do and if a person decides they actually want to give to a charity then by all means they should!
2. I would volunteer rather than give money because you don’t know what your money actually goes to and I would want to know what I was truly contributing to. I would most likely volunteer at a place where you help kids out or play with them. Honestly, I would love to be on extreme home makeover. Not for 15 minutes of fame but because their faces at the end are seriously amazing and I would love to know I have contributed to that. I just think repairing someone broken home is the beginning of restarting someone’s whole entire life and making it better and to know that I helped do that would be phenomenal. Of course, that will never happen in a million years so instead i will donate money or my help to charities that work with kids that are sick or from broken homes and maybe participate in a Habitat for Humanity project.
1. I think it is a persons responsibility to decide whether to give away some of their money or not. If someone dies with a lot of money it is morally right to give some away even though not everyone will do that. I would not want any money telling me to donate my money because it is my property. Personally, I would donate some to charity, but if in my mind I had specific reasons to keep my money and give is to my heirs I would not want anyone tell me what to do with it. Also, giving money to your heirs could be very beneficial, for example, J.P. Morgan Junior doubled his fathers fortune after he was awarded it in his fathers will.
2. I think the ASPCA or a humane society deserves my money because tons of animals are abandoned or mistreated everyday and I want to do anything to help that. I would also give to some to Big brothers and Big sisters of America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, National Hemophilia foundation and Guide Dogs of America because all these organizations give to things I care about. This is what really rich people like the men above should do when they die, but they should still have the choice.
People who tell you what to do or what to give usually are the self-righteous ones who think they have the capabilities to govern your money. The only person with the true wisdom and experience with the money is the one who worked to earn it. I would never donate to anyone who asks for money, because it always hides greed that is easily perceivable. For example if I had amassed more money than I personally needed, then I would investigate the charities or people who claim that they were in need. This sounds like reluctant thoughts, but the fact is that too many opportunists or scam artists exist, so charities have to be investigated to make sure that the hard earned money that you sweat for does not go to satisfy the hunger of the wealthy. In the issue of donating an entire fortune, there are the special cases. First if the family is living a healthy relationship as family members, it should be the responsibility of the parents to provide their children with jobs and educations of their own. Second, similar to Carnegie, the rest of a person’s fortune should only and only be donated in a fashion where it will benefit the public in a non monetary manner. So a hobo should not be given money, but food, shelter, and help to obtain a job. Giving money to the desperate only ends up with them spending it on things that will alleviate their suffering, such as alcohol, parties, and drugs. Sometimes the little money that they get is taken by other companies. The current charities that would deserve money are the ones that go to simple yet massively important causes. Food and work are the two categories. Food banks provide ailing families with something that without they would never have a chance, while companies like Jackets For Jobs provide people who don’t have jobs bonuses to help them acquire this crucial necessity of our modern culture’s way of life.
I feel it should be my choice to decide where I should donate my money. If I had great fortunes I would want to donate to a cause that is close to my heart, I wouldn’t feel comfortable donating my fortunes to a cause that I knew nothing about, or one that I was not passionate about. I would feel less inclined to give to a charity that I was being forced to donate to without my own opinion in the matter. The only person that I would maybe consider donating to their charity if I was told, would be my mother because I trust her judgement and we are both interested in the same causes so I know that her choice in a charity would be very wise. I feel that it is not my responsibility to donate all of my fortunes before we die. I believe that it is my responsibility to donate my fortunes throughout my life to the charities that need it the most in the moment.
I think that AIDs awareness and the fight against AIDs in Africa deserves my money because AIDs is a huge killer in african communities and If the African people had the education on the prevention of AIDs those deaths would be prevented. Also if there was proper education on prevention of AIDs that there would be less children born with AIDs who have to struggle thier whole lives with the disease.
I, personally, would hate the idea of someone telling me what to do with my money, if I were put in their shoes. Right now, seeing as my family is lower middle class, I would say that they should give their money to charity, but I would hate that being done to me. There are already taxes on just about everything, if I were forced to give away the remaining money I had, I would be furious even though it’s going to a better cause. I would want to fix mine and then my family’s problems, and then I would give to a charity. Having to give it all away when you just got it would be cruel.
As to what charities to give it to, I don’t really think any charity is undeserving. If it truly helps a cause then it’s worthy in my book. Things like helping to cure Cancer or a mental disorder, or helping children in Africa, or the hungry or homeless would be a good idea. As long as it’s not something that wouldn’t benefit anyone or would go straight to someone’s greedy pocket to waist on something not nearly as important it doesn’t matter who you give it to.
I would not like someone telling me what to do with my money. I earned it, and worked hard so I wouldn’t be appreciate someone else telling me what do to with what I earned. Although living in excess is common nowadays, telling someone to donate takes away part of the gift. Donating and helping those less fortunate than you shouldn’t be forced, because part of the whole experience is feeling the need to help. When you are forced into something you usually don’t want to do it just because you have no choice. If you have a lot of money and you feel the need to help those less fortunate than you that’s great, if not that’s your choice. A lot of celebrities and wealthy people do donate their money, but it doesn’t make them a bad person if they don’t. It’s a choice, and should remain that way. For others it might be a really personal decision to give back to the community, especially if they benefitted from charities and such while growing up. Making people with money give it away kind of takes the magic of the thoughtfulness and care out of the gift. It makes the whole donation thing impersonal and it doesn’t show that we have faith or that we really want to make a difference if everyone with money is forced to do it.
If I had excess money to donate to charities I would definitely give money to organizations that help homeless or abused children all around the world. But first I think that I would give money to environmental organizations because if we don’t preserve the world and all it resources than there won’t be anything left so all of this would be irrelevant. But think that if we as a whole don’t take care of future generations and show them the good in people that eventually there will be no hope or ambition left. Organizations that help poverty and lack of education in developing countries and places around the world is important too. If we don’t try and help and show how our nation or even just individuals care for them even though they are not part of us, than if/when they do become stable those places will help others and the chain will just continue. Kind of like those commercials where one person is nice and so the chain of niceness goes though different people all witnessing someone else being a decent human being. Really we are all humans and no matter what part of the world we are form or what we look like we should help each other get back on our feet when life has been rough.
I personally think that it would be stupid to force people to give to charity if they are rich. The person who is being forced to pay has a right to the money he or she earns. Every person in America who earns an income legally already has to pay income tax. If you want to help the country it is easier to place a larger income tax on people with larger incomes then force them to give to charity. Most of the wealth at the time was help by a very small amount of people and whether or not those people deserved it was debatable but they acquired it legally through hard work so they had a right to keep it, spend it or give it to charity without government interference. Another problem would be figuring out who is obligated to donate. J. P. Morgan, one of the most powerful robber barons had a relatively small amount of money compared to Rockefeller or Carnegie. Considering a large number of very wealthy people donate to charities and different causes on a regular basis it might be a way they sleep better at night knowing they freely helped someone without as much as then. Making in a law for them to donate could take away that piece of good that they see in themselves. If it were necessary to donate to charities and causes I think I would like to have my money donated to cancer research. Also I would like money to be donated to help children who have either lost parents and can’t pay for their education or families that can’t afford to send someone who deserves to go to school.
REDO: To be honest, I think this is a fantastic question. Should the “rich” be required to donate? Are we talking specifically about donating money or about donating ourselves. Can a person be rich in ways excluding financial matters? Take for example having a roof over your head, your health, clothes on your back and food in your mouth. Doesn’t that make you “rich”? I think that people who classify by my standards as “rich”, don’t often realize how “rich” they are themselves for they may not be millionaires or as blessed as someone else and therefore, do not donate, or donate very little in terms of money and of themselves compared to someone who has everything, and can be very philanthropic.
I don’t think that people should be required even if told to donate just like how I don’t think that people should be required to go around licking windows even if someone tells them to do it. If however a person feels they need to donate, either money or their time, or even in that matter lick a window, they should go for it. I know that If I were being told to donate to something and I knew it was a legitimate thing and I had some care about what I was donating to, I would. If i were told to donate just to donate for no real reason other than being nice, I would not for there would be no value in it for me. It does not make sense if there is no value; at least for me. I say this because each person has a different view on the tasks in which they want to accomplish. Take for example Carnegie who didn’t give his money to his heirs for he knew they would waste it; therefore, he gave it to people, in this case many many people, who would value his money. I think the reason for this is heirs who get money from their hardworking parent(s) don’t appreciate it as much as the parents do because they have not worked and earned that money like their parents did. I know that when I got a job, I started to value the value of the dollar, and not just take it for granted like the times when it came from my parents’ wallets. I could also see the views of some about keeping the money in the family because it has more value there. It depends greatly on individual value. Personally, I think me and Carnegie share a similar idea on inheritance
I also think that a person who gives even the bare minimum of what they have to offer deserves some credit. Even giving a little is better than giving nothing because a little goes a long way. On thursdays, I volunteer at Yad Ezra, a Jewish food bank because I think it is important for people to be fed. A charity should be chose only if it means something to the person willing to donate because morally it is good to donate for something you care about as much as the person or charity receiving the donation does. In that sense, Yad Ezra clearly deserves the money. Every year I donate my time and a few hundred dollars to Yad Ezra because that few hundred dollars can fill a bag of food for a family in need. Me donating my time and helping others in need releases stress (maybe not a lot but some) for them, making their situations a little better. In the Jewish religion that is called doing a mitzvah or a good deed. Doing a mitzvah or mitzvot, for me, is very important and I think to many others but not to some. I think if people take a step back and look around every now and then, they could really see how blessed they are and how much they can give, if not of money, then of themselves.
It seems that the acceptable thing to do these days for wealthy, old businessmen nearing their expiration date is to donate their vast fortunes to popular charities. When they donate their millions, the news of their donations don’t stay secret. They are praised by society for donating and many times these charitable donations are seen as ways that the wealthy can try and wipe their slates clean from the evils they did to reach the top of society. If I were ever in the top 2% of the wealthy class and I was beginning to age, I would definitely want people to tell me which charities I should donate to. Wealth is found by a very selective, lucky group of people and is usually passed down from generation to generation. I would want every child to have a shot at becoming wealthy, as there are millions of children that are growing up in situations that don’t allow them any realistic shot of an education or hope of escaping their problems. It would be my responsibility to the community to donate vast mounts of my wealth to the community that bought my products and brought me to the position that I came to be in.
There are so many charities helping the world, and most of them are worthy of having all of the money that I have. I would have to say that UNICEF and Baobei would be the 2 charities that I know I would donate to in a heartbeat. UNICEF works in 3rd world countries to protect children and give them education and hope for a bright future. Baobei is a Chinese charity that my mom founded that takes babies with deformities that were given away by their parents and gives them surgery in major cities and puts them up for adoption. Its an amazing charity and is growing rapidly and I would donate generously to it.
I would not like anyone to tell me that I had to donate my money and who I had to donate it to. It’s no one’s business what anyone does with their money. If I was a millionaire I would happily donate most of my money to charities of my choosing. Keeping it all would be selfish. What could anyone do with billions of dollars anyway? There’s only so many iPads and mansions a person can buy. Those lucky enough to be rich should feel morally obligated to help out those not as fortunate as them. But if it was a law that people with a certain amount of money had to donate a set amount of it to a specific charity, I’d be annoyed. I may not support the charity, or think that another organization needs my money more. I earned it; I should choose how I spend/donate it.
I don’t think that it’s a responsibility of the rich to donate their fortunes before they die, though it would be great if they did and personally I would. It’s more of a responsibility for the rich to arrange for part of their fortunes to be donated after they die. Once you’re dead, you don’t really need money any more, and while it’s understandable to leave enough to your family so that they can live comfortably, if someone had a fortune like Rockefeller or Carnegie, there would still be a lot left over.
I would donate to Heifer International (an organization that provides a poor family in countries like Uganda and El Salvador with animals such as geese, goats, and honeybees that can improve their quality of life and eventually that of their whole village), the Humane Society, Yad Ezra, cancer research, and to public libraries.
I think it is difficult to say that someone “has” to donate something to anyone. Its a wonderful idea, of course, that everyone donates their money to those less fortunate than them, but then the question arises, how much to donate? If you make half a million dollars a year should you donate the same amount of money as someone who makes 25,000 dollars but still the same amount as someone who makes 4 million? I think its impossible to tell people to donate without many rules and regulations on that, and while it would be nice to have everyone just selflessly donate out of the goodness of their hearts, its probably not going to happen. So, after a very longwinded introduction, I would not like someone telling me to donate money simply because I think that the idea of somebody deciding the amount has too many doubts to actually work. I would donate however and probably even before I die just because I think nobody needs to have insane amounts of money; it just makes people do stupid things. When there are people dying I dont think I could waste my money on a goldplated toilet seat or something.
I would donate my money to charities for children, especially abandoned/abused or hungry children. None of these children asked to be put into this world and given the hardships they have so I would want to do as much as I can to make their lives better.
1. No, I wouldn’t want anyone to tell me that I have to donate money. Just because I’m rich doesn’t mean I am obligated to give. It would bother me that I could possibly get criticism because I won’t give to charity. It’s not that I won’t give to charity, it’s just I don’t want people to tell me I have too. If definitely isn’t your responsibility to give before you die. I feel that if you want too than you can, but it would mean more to leave it to your family. They were the ones that stood by your side during your life and supported you no matter what.
2. If I was super duper rich I would want to donate all my money to Gift Kids the World Foundation. My sister is in the foundation, and it really is a good cause. They give kids a chance to do something they really want to do before they pass. It really is a good cause and I know I would feel good giving to it. And, since I live in Detroit, I would give money to the foundation in Detroit and the money stays here for the kids.
I think that the rich should not be required to give to the poor. If you are a millionaire or a billionaire who is just sitting on his/her wealth, the good thing to do is to help those less fortunate than yourselves (I mean, WAY less fortunate, because at that point, who is more fortunate than you?) If I were in their shoes, I wouldn’t want some person or group or organization telling me how to use my money. I earned it! They have no right to tell me how to live my life. In fact, as an American, I have the right to spend my money however I please. I do think, however, that if you have no family or a very small one, and you have the money, donate before you die. It’s not like it’ll help you any. And it’s good to leave behind a good legacy, not one of someone who hoarded his money until he died, and then got buried with it. I’m not too familiar with charities myself, but I would probably donate to the humane society because I love animals and they work very hard to not only save animals in bad situations, but then they find said animal a new home where they can be happy. Good for them, I say. That’s all. Thank you.
Although I think that it would be really nice and helpful if more rich people gave large sums of money to charity, I don’t think that passing a law forcing them to donate would work. It would just make them upset and they would find loopholes and use their power to get back at the people who made that law. I would NEVER want anyone trying to tell me what to do with my money, or to just give it away. (My mom often encourages me to donate to the “Mom Does All the Chores So She Should Get Money Fund” which I don’t want to give money to, even though she may deserve it.) This produces the opposite effect of what was intended and makes people hoard their money more. However, I do believe that if you are rich, you should make an effort to give your money to causes that you think are worthwhile. You should leave some money for your heirs, but it shouldn’t be an extreme amount because then they’ll be dependent on that and probably won’t bother to work. Since you can’t take it with you when you die, you might as well put it where you think it would be put to the best use. When donating, you should give to the charities that seem important to you. Some that come to my mind are Haiti, anything that helps starving children, prevents child abuse, and money that goes to research cures for cancer and other diseases. So, although the rich should not be forced to donate to charities or to give to colleges or libraries, they should be highly encouraged to give away some portion of their wealth before they die so that future generations can benefit.
If I were a self made millionaire, I would feel like it was my responsibility to give a lot of my money away to charitable organizations. However, even thought I support it, I would be very resentful to anyone (particularly someone who wasn’t as wealthy as I was) to anyone telling me I HAD to donate. If I was ordered to give my wealth away, I think I would feel that the people making those requirements had no idea how much I had worked and struggled to reach the point of having so much money. I do think it is the responsibility of the rich to give away money to help those less fortunate than themselves, but I think everyone has that responsibility, so defining “rich” isn’t a very worthwhile debate to start. I also think giving money isn’t enough; too often I feel like wealthy people retreat to their paradises and just dispense money to calm their conscious. If these people truly want to be charitable, I think they should give their time as well as their money. If I were wealthy, I would want to set up a foundation that offered guidance and a supportive community for at risk inner city girls, where they could go to learn ways to “make it” in the world and have successful lives.
1. Even though it is a good cause, I would not like someone to tell me who to donate my money to, or even if I should donate my money. Without a doubt I will donate my money to many different charities throughout the course of my life, but I would not like to be dictated in what to do with my money. I don’t think that there is anyone that can be considered “the richest” person in the world. Even if someone is very wealthy, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are rich. They could be rich in money, but not in the things that actually matter in life. “Money doesn’t buy you happiness” is a good quote to relate this to because even if you are extremely wealthy doesn’t mean you are happy and a good person. This also works vice versa, if someone is extremely poor doesn’t mean that they aren’t happy, they could get their happiness in different ways that what is normally thought to be. The rich aren’t required to give money to anyone. They earned their money through many years of work and some might be so selfish that they don’t want to share their wealth with anyone. On the other hand, I think that they should give their money, but no one is forcing them. I get a satisfaction whenever I share my items with people so I assume most other people do too. It makes me feel good about myself and hopefully other people feel the same way.
2. In my opinion, I think that there are tons of worthy charities out in the world that deserve money. There isn’t a “bad charity” unless there is one for a no good reason, for example, a charity for someone’s new wardrobe when the clothes they have are perfectly fine. One charity that I think deserves my money is the Michigan Humane Society. Being a huge animal lover, I can’t resist dogs and cats, especially those in need. We got our dog from the Rochester Hills Humane Society, and we still support the charity. Many animals are abused and neglected for no reason and usually the type of animal that most people want to get is a pure-bred breed that has good expectations. Money donated to the animals helps provide them with temporary homes, feeds the animals, and works on animal cruelty investigation and emergency rescue. This is a good cause because most of these animals can’t help themselves and they rely on humans to take care of them, especially if other humans are abusing them.
1. No, I would not want anyone telling me who to donate money to or if I should donate money at all. I think it is each individual person’s right to spend their money as they want. Everyone has different things that are important to them so they should be able to decide where there money goes. Even if a person is really rich, it doesn’t mean the money doesn’t belong to them; it means they worked to get it and have all the rights to where it goes. Telling someone how to spend their money is just like telling someone what to eat or what to wear. Some choices really should just be left up to you. I also don’t necessarily think it is your job to donate your fortune before you die. If your family is in need, you should be able to leave the money to them. It also makes sense to leave it in a will so you have it when you’re alive but it goes to a charity/family member when you die. You should be able to decide how much goes where and when. In general I think if you make the money, it is yours to keep, spend, or give away as you please. No one else should be able to tell you where your money belongs.
2. I think that cancer research is a really worthy cause right now. Everyone knows someone that has had cancer and many have had close family members affected by it. My mom, grandpa and uncle are all cancer survivors and my other grandpa passed away from it. There is some amazing research going on, but it needs funding. Shortly after my grandpa passed away, a man that lived on the same island as him in Florida, John Kranzius, designed a cure for cancer, and not just one type. He developed a way to specifically target cancer cells and kill them off and results have proven it to be effective on many types of cancer. It has only been tested on animals now, but it has definite potential. If one man could come up with that, there is so much out there that can be done. With proper funding, cancer may not be a problem in the future. I think all charities that go towards cancer research are great causes because it helps people all over the world, not just in one specific area. Finding cures for all different types of cancer would save the lives of so many people in so many places, making it a very worthy cause.
In regards to the first question, anyone telling me who and what i should donate to can go sit on a tack. That isn’t to say I wouldn’t, as that is the complete opposite of what i would do. From a moral standpoint, it is the right thing to do and I would donate a portion of what I could spare if I were that rich. That is because there is no earthly way to even begin to spend all of that money on yourself. For example, If I had 1 Billion dollars, 1/54th of Bill Gates’ net worth, and I spent $1,000 every single day, it would take 2,739 years to spend it all, and that is disregarding interest in a 1.2% quarterly compounding savings account, in which case it would take over 3,000 years. I know for a fact I won’t live that long, and even if it were possible i would kill myself before then. In short, yes, i would donate, but I don’t want some holier-than-thou knowitall telling me that I have to give my money to anyone.
Currently, The first and foremost problem that needs attention is undeveloped 3rd-world countries. However, instead of continuing to dump money into relief, I would tackle the root cause of undeveloped infrastructure which is corrupt government and money management. If I had enough money, I would pay whatever I could for the armed forces to overthrow corrupt regimes that don’t distribute income to civil services, most prominently water treatment and education. form there, I would donate whatever is left over to start housing programs, and money to purchase farming implements and livestock.
If I was “rich” and had more than enough money to support myself and my family, I would without a doubt donate money to a number of charities. Although I would donate, I wouldn’t want to be told who and how much to donate to, otherwise it wouldn’t even be considered donating. I like to feel that I did something good for someone from the bottom of my heart because I made the choice to do it, not because someone else made the choice for me. It’s good to have the satisfaction of knowing that I was able to do something that improved a cause that I cared for. It’s not even the fact that I would want to create a good reputation for myself, but that I would want to give back to those who are less fortunate than I and didn’t have the same opportunities that I did. I don’t think that it’s your responsibility to donate your fortune before you die, because maybe you have other plans for your earnings, such as solely keeping it within the family. While I don’t agree with these plans, if you had enough money to donate, it should still be the person’s decision to donate, not someone else. While I think that all charities deserve money, I would donate to the ones that are most important to me. I would donate to the American Refugee Committee and the Global Hunger Project and many more. I especially want to donate to the Chaldean Refugees of Iraq because I am Chaldean. It troubles me that millions of Iraqis have been forced to flee from their homes to a neighboring country without taking anything with them, but the clothes on their back. I’ve also always felt bad for people who didn’t have the money or the means to get food, because I live in a society where food is just casually thrown away when you’re full. The people who don’t have food have to dig through the garbage that we throw our extra food in. It’s just sad to know that we waste so much food, when some families cherish every crumb they get.
If I were a millionaire, I would certainly donate my money to charity before I died. However, I wouldn’t want to be told specifically what I needed to do with my money and who I needed to give it to. It is my choice to donate and do the righteous thing with my money, not the governments. People who worked hard for their money should get to pick what to do with it. If someone wanted to give their money to their family, that would be fine even though it might not be the noble thing to do. I would perfectly understand why they would want to keep the money in their family. If the government told people what to do with their money, they wouldn’t be giving back from the goodness of their hearts they would be simply following the rules. It defeats the whole purpose of being a good person if you are told you have to be that way.
I would donate my money to hospitals to help cure harmful diseases such as cancer and I would also want my money to go to cancer research because many people die from cancer each year. Another charity I would give my money to is the Humane society because I believe that all animals shouldn’t have to live in a harmful world.
1. Personally, I wouldn’t want someone to tell me who to give my money to. I would want to be in control of my own money and for what I use it. This doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t donate my money to any charities or foundations, if I had an excess of it, I would. I just wouldn’t want someone to be telling me: “No, you can’t buy that.” or “That person doesn’t deserve any funds, choose someone else.” If I think someone deserves the money, but someone else disagrees, I would want to still be able to give it to them.
2. I think that many charities worldwide deserve to receive donations from the rich. I would donate most of the money I’m willing to donate to the charities helping those in need, such as the poor, homeless, and sick. I would donate another large part to foundations that were created to find the cure to a disease/medical condition. Many people in the world suffer from diseases that doctors cannot do much for because of the lack of knowledge about it. If one of these foundations finds the cure to one of them, it could prevent many deaths and lead to another discovery and advancement in technology.
(1) Everyone has to make personal choices at some point about how they want to spend their money. No one can tell them how to do it. Some like late-18th century millionaires like Andrew Carnegie and John Rockefeller obviously have quite a bit more than others (e.g. 12-hour day factory workers). A poor man could give away a dollar and be far more generous than a lucrative business owner dropping $1000 to get his name on a bench. Does this really need to be the case?
At one point in the late 19th century, 90% of the wealth was distributed among a measly 10% of the people. In other words, if ten people happened upon a $10 bill at that time, one man would claim $9 for his own while the other nine rationed out little more than dimes. Perhaps the first man deserved more of a share for his hard work, but although life isn’t fair, that, to me, is ridiculous. It is not as much to me that big names like Morgan and Vanderbilt should have given away their wealth, it is that that amount of power should have been unattainable in the first place. No man should have power over the people’s government because of his riches. Life is unfair; but these monopolies swerved far off natures path, and the hardy factory worker deserves a euphoric moment in the light too.
Those men who took over without holding a seat in office earned their money, but they do not truly need it. My recommendation to the rich man would be that he should donate as much money as he feels comfortable donating, while maintaining a comfortable amount for himself so he can live a life he has worked hard for. He should give some to his kids so they have a safe base but the rest he should give away to people who need it more than they do. Make the decision now how to make the best use of the money instead of passing it on to your children and forcing them to make the decision how to give it away. Donating is a way to even out the wealth so it doesn’t get too unfair.
(2) Three charities and causes immediately come to mind when pondering where I would donate my money; and each for a different reason. The first cause that I would donate to would be the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). Since I have Crohn’s disease, I am better able to understand the struggles faced by many people in a number of countries. My own discomfort and uncertainty are just a reminder of what so many of us are fighting for. In addition to benefitting me, donating here would be a good choice because the money would go directly into grants given to doctors to do research. This research could, in turn, win the battle that 1.5 million Americans are fighting today.
The second cause to which I would donate would be Partners In Health (PIH). My reason for donating money to PIH is simple. At a time (after my Bar Mitzvah) when I had money that I truly didn’t need, my parents encouraged me to give it to those who needed it most: the people of Haiti. For the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere to face a large scale natural disaster is totally unfair. We should all do our best to give at least a portion to someone who needs it far more than we do, rather than spend too much on our own personal endeavors. It’s tougher than in sounds but how important is an x-box if others don’t have food?
The final cause that I would donate to would be cancer research. Millions of lives have taken a turn for the worse or ended because of this out of control spreading disaster. I would not only donate to this cause because of the number of personal acquaintances I have who are fighting it, but because I view this as a leading problem, to which everyone should lend a hand.
APUSH BLOG:
If I were as rich as these men, I would not want anyone ever telling me what to do with my own money. This is money that I earned myself, working at whatever business I may own. I want to be able to decide for myself exactly where my money goes. It’s ridiculous that some people believed (and some still do today) that they have to donate their money because it’s “fair”. Every single person in America had the same chance to get just as rich as these four men. These four worked intensely hard to get to where they ended up, so they should be able to choose where their wealth goes. Also, If I had accumulated the same wealth as these four men, I would donate to charities that help give people opportunities in music or the arts, such as charities like VH1’s Save the Music campaign. I feel that the arts are a gateway to pure self expression, and everyone should be given the chance to have a creative outlet at their disposal. I would also donate to charities that give people the chance to play baseball. For baseball players (including myself), I know that there are few things on this Earth is more relaxing than working out and playing baseball. These are the types of charities that deserve my money.
I would not want anyone telling me what to do with my money. I believe that through the achievement of accumulating wealth, a person gains the right to decide what to do with the money that they have earned. Nobody else in the world should have the right to decide what you should do with your money. If you are forced to give your money to a certain charity against your will, then what was once charity through the conscious act of freely giving becomes theft from the person that forces you to give it away. If someone wants to give away their money of their own free will then they should by all means do so, but nobody else can force someone to. I personally would give away and donate almost all of my money, but this should be my own personal decision and not the decision of anyone else. I think that just about the greatest thing a person can do after becoming amazingly wealthy is to donate their money, but I do not think that it is their responsibility to do this. If they truly earned their wealth and achieved greatness through their own means, then they do not owe anyone anything for thier own success. The idea that people of great success need to give back only seams appropriate if they had an overwhelming amount of help in achieving their success. I do not believe that guilt is an appropriate motivator for charity. People should not give their money away because they feel that they owe it to the public, but because they want to help other people.
The current causes/charities that I believe deserve the money are universities. I think this because education is what allows people to be successful in their lives. The best thing that can be done is to help people become more educated and more successful. My motivation for this decision is similar to that of Carnegie’s creation of many libraries so that people can learn and become successful. I want to help other people to have opportunities to become successful. If everyone has a chance to do their best and become as successful as they can it is better for everyone.
1. I do not think I would want anyone to tell me what I have to do with my money. It is not their money, and they do not have the right to force what I should do with it. Also I think it is very rude for someone to be intruding so on personal issues. Also for the second part I don’t think it is your responsibility to donate money. Also if I were to be rich I would want to help the community, and want to leave behind a legacy of me being kind and compassionate. Also I think it is something you should do, not something you are forced to do. Even though I believe this I think it is very important to donate to the community and to give back to those around you, and make the world a better place then when you go to it.
2. I think that it is not whether it deserves my charity, it just what cause reaches into me the most. If I had an fortune I would donate money to homeless people to help make their lives better and improve on which they live. Also I would donate to animal pounds so they would not have to put down dogs and can help them find a home. The biggest thing that I would donate to is my temple. This is because I have received a great education, and I want further generations to receive one. Also I want to help continue my religion and beliefs.
1.I would not like anyone to tell me when and to whom my money should be donated to. That would be my money and, therefore, be my responsibility. I would still donate money throughout my life and when I die, I would donate a majority of my fortune to charities, but I’d still leave some behind for my family. To have people saying when and how to spend money is not right. Money belongs to the person who makes it, which means that person is the one who makes the decisions for how and when it is used. It is always important to give back to the community, but it is also a good idea to help out family as well. In other words I would be the one in charge of how my money is used.
2.Some current charities or causes that I think would deserve my money would be a donation to the Karamanos Cancer Center in Detroit. They are a hospital dedicated to the research and treatments of cancer, which I think is an amazing thing. Millions of people are affected by cancer, whether they have it or know someone who has it, and for a place to be spending all their time to try and help people through such a tough situation truly deserves a good donation. I also would like to donate my money to the city of Detroit. I would donate to the different shelters and soup kitchens around the city, as well as helping fix up the once magnificent buildings that once lived in this city. There are some truly amazing buildings that are being left to decay, and seeing them is so sad. Those causes, I think, are good for donations.
Charity is a benevolent act of goodwill toward anything or anybody. You can either give your money or your time. It is a right to do whatever you consent with your money as long as you aren’t doing anything illegal. I would strongly dislike it if someone sat me down and told me what to do with my money. If I were very rich and had a fortune I would happily donate my money to charity without any doubt. I see it as an act of repayment to the people that got me to this high position in the first place. I would preferably leave behind a legacy of doing the right things rather then seeming selfish and egotistic with my fortune. I agree with what Andrew Carnegie did which was donate 90% of his money before his death to charities instead of placing it into the hands of his heirs. I wouldn’t simply do it to obtain a good image, it would be for a good cause.
I believe that a lot of charities need to receive more from everyone and that none should receive less if its for a good cause. I would certainly give up both my time and money to charities. I would probably go to the homeless shelters and help distribute food. I have already given my time as a benevolent to the Gleaners food bank in Pontiac a few years ago and would love to do it again. For my money, I would give it to a cancer foundation or any health foundation looking for a cure. Too many people have cancer and scientist need the money raised to fight against it.
In my perspective, rich doesn’t necessarily have to be wealth in money. Many family’s and people are rich in health, and happiness, which causes people to feel the urge to give. However wealth in $$$ could very well be an optimum reason for the obligation to give. I believe that if somebody has substantial funds and is financially stable, they should 100% be required to give to specific charities.
Every year men and women suffer from an un-treated cancer, with sufficient funds from the wealthy people, I believe that a cure for cancer could be discovered. Only very little money is obtained through charity funds for more frequently occurring types of cancer. Another charity program I would deem appropriate to bestow my funds upon would be hurricane and disaster relief programs, such as the one in Haiti and the Katrina clean up efforts. These charities lack necessary funds to clean the areas affected by the natural or mankind brought disasters. These programs offer a plethora of ways to donate, in both large and small amounts. Overall, speaking in the ratios of giving, I believe that one who is ‘rich’ should be required to donate a minimum of 10% of there earnings in one year to the proper program, therefore the amounts vary and for example, somebody of Bill Gates’ net worth will be giving more then your successful business.
I do believe that the rich should be obligated to donate, but shouldn’t others feel compelled and duty-bound to give back, even to their community? Small-based charity groups often make a large impact on a city or town. For example, every year my family and I donate used toys to Cots, a Detroit program that distributes toys to young children who lack. I believe that the rich should be the only people MANDATORY to donate money, but anybody has the ability to contribute, not just with money, but also with things like nonperishable foods and used toys.
-Lenny Gross
I would never want someone to tell me what to do with my money, so why should that be the case for the wealthy? The government, or anyone else for that matter, cannot tell me how to spend my money right now with my status as a low income earner. That shouldn’t change if I became wealthier, as all citizens should be treated equally. If the government forced the wealthy to donate some of their money, it would be discriminatory. The rich have earned their money so they should be able to do with it what they please. It is their money, so it is up to them how they spend it.
However, there is still a moral obligation and responsibility of the rich to donate their wealth. Just because they don’t need to doesn’t mean they shouldn’t. Failure to give away their immense riches would lead to a poor reputation and bad legacy.
Also, I support the estate tax because it is a more acceptable way for the government to insure that the wealthy donate their money. If the rich hold on to their money, some of it will be taken away through taxes, and end up with the government as opposed to a good cause. In addition, the estate tax prevents complacency in the upper class. Without the so-called “death tax,” some members of the upper class might become lazy and only live off their inheritance, not make a living for themselves.
If I was donating money, I would tend to focus on charities that make a large impact worldwide and those that are close to me personally. I believe the most important part would be to spread the wealth around to many different charities supporting a wide variety of causes. I would attempt to make a difference everywhere from my community with my church and local food banks to internationally with organizations such as the American Red Cross. I would also like to donate money to struggling charities in order for them to be able to survive longer and continue their support of those that they serve.
Andrew Hausman
2nd Hour
1. Though I think giving back is a great way to spend your money, I don’t think I’d want anyone telling me how to donate mine. Whether I’m rich or not, the government shouldn’t interfere with things like what we do with our money and where we invest it. The obvious obstacle that the government would have to tackle is determining what is considered ‘rich’. The word ‘rich’ means different things to different people, and there is no way to measure wealth. Maybe someone makes a lot of money, but they may want to use it toward other personal causes, like ensuring their kids’ future, or helping out family members and friends in their time of need. It shouldn’t be rich peoples’ duty to donate to charities; you would hope that if people had that kind of money in the first place, they’d want to give on their own, without someone forcing them to. I think it’s noble to give away your fortune before you die, but it shouldn’t be your responsibility. Many people would want the remainder of their fortunes to be kept in the family, and handed down through generations; it’s true, however, that just as many people would want to donate their money. It’s a fine line to walk.
2. Any and every good cause would be deserving of my money, if I were ever able to become that rich. There are many worthwhile charities out there, including those for cancer awareness and medical research. Cancer research is really important to me, and illnesses like those touch the lives of so many people every single day, sometimes more often than once. The cancerous predators are the ones that we can never stop fighting, and money towards these causes will only further our knowledge and hopefully bring an end to these sicknesses.
Personally, I think that there is an obvious solution to this problem, I say that the rich shouldn’t have to donate to the poor. There are a couple of reasons I say this, first, is that history shows governments and people ruling have always been, and always will be corrupt. Going on this basis there is no way to guarantee the money supposed to be going to charity would make it there without being riffled through. Secondly increasing wellfare would produce an even larger reason for americans to sit in their heated rooms watching tv all day, at the current state we’re in they get free food, shelter, and now cell phones. It’s already enough incentive to do nothing, increasing the amount of money given to them (if the government choses to give the charity money to the poor)wouldn’t create anything good (I’m not saying all wellfare is bad, going to cripples and such, but a vast majority of the people who accept government money could find jobs if they put any time into it). A third reason is that if you started with nothing and earned the money to own huge fortunes, no government man should be able to tell you to spread the wealth, there’s a reason America has always fought communism. The final reason I have against having your money forcefully taken from you is personal choice, you have the right to keep what you earn, and you also have the right to give it away, it’s completely up to you.
2. Also the Charities that I’d chose to donate to would be veterans because if they go off and fight to protect our country, risking their lives, they should have some appreciation for what they did when they get back directly from the people that they have protected. Also because of the terrible things they may have done overseas, they deserve a good deal of our appreciation. Another cause that I’d donate to include natural disaster victims, there was absolutely nothing that they could do to prevent losing what they’ve worked for their entire lives, so they also deserve our help. A final cause I’d donate to would be poverty in other countries, the people there have a lot less opportunity than we do, and they’re a lot worse off.
I believe that wealthy individuals should donate to charities, but on their own terms. The government cannot and should not be able to tell people to donate money and where to. In my opinion, if I was let’s say I was a millionaire, I would donate money but want to have options on the amount and charity to which will receive the money. The money should be given for the right reasons and that is determined by the giver. As Andrew Carnegie said, “To Die Rich is to Die Disgraced.” I don’t think one has to give all their money away by the time of their death but should definitely have tried to help make a difference in the world.
I believe charities that stand for human rights are the most deserving of donations. We often look past the fact that we are fortunate to have what we have when there are many people in our own country that struggle to survive or suffer from abuse. Victims of abuse and cruelty can find help from organizations such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers assistance and guidance to those who feel violated and hurt. Their website has information and ways to contact for assistance.
I feel the rich should’nt be forced to give back, and I feel this for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that there is no where in the constitution that says that anyone has to give back to charity, thats why its charity because its completely volunteer. Another reson is with the wealthy buisnuss owners not giving back they keep more money, expand buisness, and provide more jobs which helps the economey. The third reason is there is enough people that give back and im sure if it got to the point that there was not enough given to the poor the government could figure out a way to make people give back, but thats not the case and plenty is given back to the needy.
If I had to give back to a certian type of charity I’d give to i’d be saint parcillas and a charity that gives back to vetrans that need the help.
If I put myself in the shoes of a rich person in American in the 19th and 20th century, I would definitely not want anyone telling me who to donate my life earnings and remaining wealth to. I wouldn’t want this because as an American I believe I have the right to spend my money or distribute it however I want as long as it abides by constitutional law. I wouldn’t want anyone telling me I had to give up my wealth to a bunch of charities, leaving nothing behind for my children or relatives to inherit. I do not believe it is my responsibility to donate my fortune before I die because even though I would hold a powerful position in society, I’m not obligated to give my money back to the community, however, I believe I would give some of my money to charity, the government nor society can force it upon me. If there was a current charity that I would give a huge donation to would probably be the American Heart Association, some organization for cancer research, and possibly the Salvation Army, or even Gleaner’s Food Bank in Michigan. These are organizations that have a major effect in the community and are attempting to save lives on a daily basis to the best extend that they can.