"If a hungry person is caught stealing bread, then the people of that country should feel ashamed."

@MasterLee You don't think there is any situation where a person could be on their own and hungry? You don't feel there is any obligation among those of us with resources to help those with less?

@IAmJess this is the most charitable country in the world. And there are plenty of places you could go for free food. One of the women here works for a food bank

@Thrust And this is a good thing, right?

@IAmJess didn't I say it was a problem?

@Thrust Idk, did you?

@IAmJess down below

@Thrust You said "We have an obesity, not starvation, problem"?

@IAmJess if you want to you should. You also should never feel obligated to.

@MasterLee why do you not consider yourself that person's family or group?

@MasterLee I think there is (or should be) an obligation owed by those with resources to those without. There are many ways to organize a society. We have chosen to organize ours in a capitalistic fashion (which I agree with). But in doing so, we almost guaranty that there will be people who will not be able to care for themselves or their families. So those of us who do well under this system should recognize that the very system we put in place for ourselves works to the detriment of others and they need to be cared for. No?

@IAmJess charity is done voluntarily or by groups who focus on charity. It should never be governmental or forced.

@ViciDraco it is a hypothetical person. I have no idea what that person's family or group affiliation is.

@MasterLee I don't believe I said anything about getting the government involved or about forcing you or anyone to do anything. I'm simply asking who feels an obligation to those less fortunate. You clearly don't and that it fine. It is your choice.

@IAmJess you obviously don't know anything about me. What a rude and insensitive assumption.

@IAmJess


Slow down there - this is NOT a zero sum gain. Wealth earned does not mean taken from someone else. Set the right conditions and wealth can grow in perpetuity. Conversely, set stupid conditions (socialism) poverty and misery will grow in perpetuity

@MasterLee I don't intend to be rude or insensitive. It's just that we've gone back and forth here and you've gone to great lengths to counter any implication of any obligation among those with resources toward those without. I don't know what other conclusion to draw? Help me out.

@IAmJess there is never an obligation. It is always voluntary.

@Thrust Oh I agree. Capitalism and economics in general are not zero-sum games. If all people have the opportunity and skillset needed to work and invest then capitalism COULD work for everyone. One person gain is not another's loss. I get that.

But not everyone has the ability or skillset to perform well under capitalism. Right? So I'm just wondering if we feel an obligation toward those who do not do as well as we do?

@IAmJess

?

It doesn't really matter how we feel. We are taxed up the wazoo to combat it (some of what they do is more efficient than others to say the least)

@Thrust Personally, I'd rather see a society where the generosity of the people with resources made it so taxation for a social safety net was not needed, but that's just me.

@IAmJess capitalism? So I make a dollar and therefore I must feel an obligation to give some of that dollar to someone else?

This assumes I have it to spare. I may be mortgaged to my eye teeth or owe more than a dollar to someone else.

Just because you see someone making money it doesn't mean they are bathing in cash.

If they choose to give some because they can spare it at that time, great.

@IAmJess I'd also like a pony. But that aint gonna happen

@MasterLee Definitely not saying you MUST feel an obligation. Everyone is free to feel as they wish. I'm simply asking who does feel an obligation.

So you make a dollar. You have a choice how to budget that. How much to spend on your house, your car, you future retirement, etc, etc, etc. Some people (not very many) would prioritize some portion for charity. Right?

@IAmJess some do, some don't. Some are required to tithe. Some aren't.

@Thrust Yeah, I know. I get it. Pie in the sky. Not the first time I've been told that. 😔