In my own childhood, financial support in addition to my parents’ earnings made a substantial impact. I will share with you the story of one year, as an example.

First, let’s consider the government assistance we received. At one point, my family of four was joined by my uncle’s family of four because neither male head of household could find work. The eight of us lived in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house, which my family owned. My father and uncle traveled to various cities to find work, and when they found it, they lived in their cars, worked, and sent their pay home to us. The women and children stayed in our house and the women waited tables. It was during this very difficult period that my family drew Food Stamps. We were ashamed. But we were doing the best we could.

Eventually, the economy improved and my father and uncle could find work. My uncle’s family moved back to the state where they normally lived. We were normal again. We didn’t need government help anymore. We were grateful that it was there during the year that we were so hungry.

Let us consider handouts from individuals. During that year, our furnace often broke. Even when it worked, we did not have money for oil. Kind friends let us cut wood on their land. My mother and father and uncle cut wood on the weekends that the men came home from other cities. We slept on the living room floor near the woodstove. During that hard year, our grandparents came each weekend. They brought us socks and underwear and school supplies. At Christmas, they made sure Santa came.

Eventually, my parents were able to support us again, and we did not need our friends’ or my grandparents’ help. We were grateful that they helped us when we needed them so much.

Let us consider the stranger who gave in silence. As a teenager, living in what was usually poverty, but occasionally just struggle, I was invited to apply for a scholarship at a small private school. From that private school, I went on to graduate from one of the most prestigious universities in the US. The thousands of dollars donated by an anonymous Good Samaritan changed my life.

My childhood was a seesaw of dependency and self-sufficiency, until eventually, because of the kindness of others, I was able to pull myself up and out of the struggle. Without “donations”, I would still be living hand-to-mouth.

My children do not know hunger. My children do not know cold nights on hard floors. We are solidly, happily, productively middle class.

Giving matters. And it gets results.

As once was given to me, I give in my talents, my time, and my funds.

Merely calculating the amount in dollars of wages of people in other countries is pretty misleading.

I doubt that most in the top 10% (like $22 000?) would accept global taxation to equalize world incomes. (Nor should they)

See http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,363663,00.html

It’s similar to the “War on Poverty” here in the U.S., though worse: here, trillions have been spent over the years, but has anything really been accomplished?

We should be judging the merit of ideas and programs based upon results, rather than intentions.