Re: Question on Charity

[Dale Coberly <coberly@PEAK.ORG>]

see below

On Thu, 3 Jun 1999, Bob Carlitz wrote:

> 			QUESTION ON CHARITY
> 
> 
> Many of those advocating privatization have argued that both charity
> and family should play a greater role in a reformed Social Security
> system.
> 
> 1. Do you favor a privatized system which eliminates the current
> system's redistributive benefits formula (which gives relatively
> higher benefits to lower-income people)?

no. absolutely not.
> 
> 2. Under the present system or some of the proposed alternatives,
> will some people be forced to choose between food, lodging or
> medicine in their daily budgets?
i don't know.
> 
> 3. Will charitable organizations be able to fill the gap between
> the needs of the poorest sector of the population and the benefits
> provided by government programs?  Should this be the solution to
> this problem?
no, and no.

this whole idea is based on a brain-damaged view of money and free
market religion.  social security was born out of the depression when
it was realized that the so-called free market was uanble to solve
real problems in time to meet critical human needs.  it recognizes that
not all contributions to our collective welfare or our future productivity
are accounted for or compensated by the market system.  this does not mean
we need to go over to any kind of full socialism, but the american way of
balance of power (here between "government" and "markets") has been the
best, most profitable, solution the world has discovered so far.
privatizing social security is simply a return to insanity. sorry for
the inflammatory language, but it would take more space to develop the
argument soberly than you can allow me here.
but i would be glad to attempt a rational discussion with anyone who
cares to make the effort.
coberly@peak.org