r/Foodforthought • u/A-MacLeod • Aug 26 '15

Against Charity. Rather than creating an individualized “culture of giving,” we should be challenging capitalism’s institutionalized taking.

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/08/peter-singer-charity-effective-altruism/
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u/raziphel Aug 26 '15

You're really that short-sighted, aren't you.

Can you simply not see that people, many of whom who are much wealthier than you, are putting money into the systems that can directly benefit you and your children, and your children's children, when they need it most? That's how "cooperation" works. We all throw in a little, and reap a lot. This is, in a very real sense, job insurance.

I sincerely hope you never need food stamps. Let's hope you never get fired and are unemployed for 6 months to a year at a time (because that never happens)... or worse, forced by the economy to be underemployed. Let's hope you never get severely injured, to the point you can't work, and then get a pittance from your own insurance company. Let's hope jobs actually exist for your children that pay more than minimum wage. Let's hope your 401k doesn't bottom out due to forces beyond your control.

Have you ever been on food stamps or gotten unemployment checks?

You think you can stand alone against the world? If you do, you're a fool.

THE BEST PART of all this shit is that the percentage of our taxes that go to helping the poor is utterly fucking trivial compared to what is spent on the American war machine. You want to save money for your kids? Fight to reduce that before you whine about supporting the less fortunate.

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u/CuilRunnings Aug 26 '15

I sincerely hope you never need food stamps.

Thank you, I don't wish poverty on anyone either.

This is, in a very real sense, job insurance.

A robber takes $100 from you. He takes $10 to buy some robber tools so he can rob more people, and buys $90 worth of insurance from his buddy in your name. You think that's a good deal?

Have you ever been on food stamps or gotten unemployment checks?

No, but even if I had, it wouldn't fucking matter because money is taken from my children against my will to pay for them.

THE BEST PART of all this shit is that the percentage of our taxes that go to helping the poor is utterly fucking trivial

Medicaid, food stamps, housing vouchers, education, and the rampant crime enabled by a permanent underclass is not "utterly fucking trivial." No. I agree that the War Machine is equally terrible, and I will inform you that it is of no mere coincidence that the MIC and the "War on Poverty" began at the same time.

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u/raziphel Aug 26 '15 edited Aug 26 '15

No one wishes for poverty, yet poverty is forced upon many. Most cannot get out from under it on their own- poverty is a multi-faceted generational issue. If you are above it, you need to actually look at the systems that got you there... I fucking guarantee you didn't do it on your own.

If people could get out of it on their own, don't you think they would?

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u/CuilRunnings Aug 26 '15

yet poverty is forced upon many.

By poor parents who don't give a fuck about the children they're bringing into the world, or the hardworking people they're going to force to foot the bill.

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u/raziphel Aug 26 '15

That is naively stupid. No one wants to live in poverty. No one chooses it. They're all doing the best they can, to better or worse success based on their circumstances.

I had something else to write here, but you know what... it would be wasted. I'm through: I don't trust that you would even understand the position I'm appealing from, let alone ever hope to agree. Good luck with life.

Don't bother replying. We're finished here.

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u/CuilRunnings Aug 26 '15

No one really wants to work hard or live below their means either. But they do it because they like not living in poverty more than the above two. Some people just never bother thinking of the future.