Sunday, December 5, 2010

Ask for donations for Christmas

Economists are fond of pointing out the dead-weight loss of holiday gifts, and based on personal experience, I have to agree with the complaint. Considering how much suffering can be prevented by a single dollar, it's tragic to consider what the money is used on instead.

The economically ideal approach would be to transfer cash, and utilitarians would most benefit from this as well, since they could then use that cash for the purpose they consider optimal. However, cash donations may not be received well by many people -- cash doesn't feel "gift like," because people tend to put money into a mental category of "cold-hearted greedy stuff" rather than "a sincere expression of caring."

Instead, I suggest asking your family and friends to make a charitable donation on your behalf. I sent an email to those who might give me gifts requesting that, if they do give anything, please make it a donation to Vegan Outreach in my name. I encourage readers to consider trying this as well.

5 comments:

  1. I agree and have done the same!

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  2. Here is a link to this post on the Vegan Outreach blog.

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  3. Vegan outreach, wow, tell you what, all of you, come trade places with me, and we'll see if your opinion changes. My family has had to hunt to survive, so don't tell me about donating to charities, You pompous narcissist. Most charity money goes to the people who take care of the charity, and do you know how many needy people get turned down? I grew up without a lot, in fact, without a light in my bedroom. I didn't really have toys. Why don't you give us a glorified account of how your childhood was. Vegans, even if it's called organic, pesticides end up with it, and in organic food, do you know how many insects you're eating? Where does life begin, because you're definitely killing single celled organisms. The only true vegans sit very still, and starve to death. Unneeded economic waste, I've lived with no power, no plumbing, no way to get to civilization, in the middle of the northwoods in the dead of winter. I've been homeless. I've been robbed, of everything, I've had to start from nothing more than once. Why don't you live that way, and then tell me about monetary waste. Nice suit, by the way, where'd you get that, the Salvation Army?

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  4. Please help a family in need....gf.me/u/w8k79q

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