Before you read today's relatively short blog, take a look at this from the New York Times.
The Charitable-Industrial Complex
I disagree with his "more lives and communities are destroyed by the
system that creates vast amounts of wealth for the few" attitude. After
all, those systems that create "wealth for the few" also create jobs for
everyone else, jobs that are disappearing largely due to our
government's attempts to level the playing field by mediating as some
sort of modern day Robin Hood, but unlike the legendary Robin Hood,
keeping most of what they steal from the rich rather than actually
passing it onto the poor.
Having said that, I do agree that philanthropy has become a chest
thumping "look what I do for the poor" instead of the honest, biblical
mandate to "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." (See
Matthew 6:1-4) I don't think modern philanthropy is so much guilt driven
as it is "look at me" driven.
Finally, keep in mind this whole opinion editorial comes from a man who inherited
his personal wealth, from a man whose wealth came from investments in
the very system he's criticizing today.
Do I smell guilt? ;^)
