Unpopular Opinion

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I dislike charity. (self.unpopularopinion)

submitted 1 day ago by MisterFrog to c/unpopularopinion

38 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Most recent example: I was asked to participate/lead our team's Movember campaign at my company.

How I politely declined: oh sorry, I'm a bit too busy with my personal life and work projects this year.

My unpopular opinion I couldn't say: it doesn't align with my values.

Movember raises money and promotes awareness of Men's health. Nothing wrong with the organisation themselves, but frankly I think the paltry couple of thousand of dollars our (pretty large) company manages to raise each year is a waste of time.

If we taxed corporations a fraction of a percent more on corporate profits we would bring is orders of magnitude more money than individuals asking others, out of the kindness of the hearts, for money.

Health research shouldn't have to beg for money, the government should just fund it with tax dollars. Taxes that you don't get to choose to pay. Other than by voting.

I hate fun runs, and do subtly judge those who participate in them, especially because (I think) they skew towards wealthier people, and it's their way of making themselves feel good for raising money for cancer or whatever, and then turn around and vote for tax cuts, and use accountants to make their tax liability as low as possible - something poorer people can't afford.

I used to give money to charity when I was younger. But I honestly think it's silly now, and it ought not have to exist.

(Mods, this is politics adjacent, but I feel is general enough to be compliant, since I'd say most people view charity organisations mostly favourably)

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[–] Maalus 15 points 1 day ago

I own a business, we make medical devices and send them to people in need. We are entirely funded from fundraisers right now. A paltry couple of thousands of dollars is potentially 2000 people saved from death.

If, coulda woulda, the reality is corporations aren't taxed the way you propose they be. I agree that we probably shouldn't need to beg for the money and it should be done "for the greater good" from taxes. But it isn't.

Honestly I don't really care about how people raise the money. If they like "fun runs", do em. If it makes them feel better, whatever. They can have an evening with champagne. You can find those events distasteful, but in the end - they fund people like me. And thanks to people like me and my coworkers, kids in Gaza got polio vaccines. Hospitals got medical devices and staff.

By not giving to charity, you aren't sticking it to "the man", or the rich people doing a charity gala. You are taking away the possibility of someone to create something that will help people survive. The huge events that make people feel better about themselves will happen, what won't happen is the creation of a medical device that saves a life.