Yes a big part of me giving to charity is to help me feel good about myself. However, I was taken to the outback as a child and also to third world and first world countries. So it was abundantly clear how lucky I am, and I feel as a lucky person, I should share it. We visited Mother Theresa's orphanage in Calcutta in 1980 and worked there. It was an eye opener, and never again did I take for granted my charmed life in Australia. We also got to see & experience the extreme wealth there. Wow just about covers it. Yes a percentage of charity does get siphoned off by some unsavoury characters at every level. But a whole lot does make it to the right people. Just like you think carefully about where to invest your savings, you need to think very carefully about which charity you donate to. I'm more than happy to donate to some of the bigger international charities that are well known (CCF etc) as I know that generally 20-30% goes in admin costs and the rest does in fact get distributed as they are well run charities that practice due diligence. However never ending charity in the land of oz (centrelink etc) is creating a situation where we are de-evolving as a society.

A classic example ( and a good topic too Jeff ) includes a couple of germs on welfare on the Central Coast about 2 years ago. The drug affected 'bludgers' (after blowing their dole at the club on the pokies) rocked up to an establishment that makes up food hampers / gives out food vouchers for the needy, all run and paid for by voluntary staff. They demand some vouchers, and get angry and menacing when told there were no more vouchers, but if they were happy to wait for 5 minutes the lone staff member would make a hamper up for them to get through the next couple of days. With the staff members back turned, they stole her bag and car keys. Five minutes later as they rumaged through the staff members handbag and car while driving erratically, they smashed head on with another car near the Wyong Golf Club, and done a runner. The driver of the other car was seriously injured, the owner of the stolen car left without a car and answers as to why she does what she does for people in need. Yes, the germs were eventually caught. When they rocked up two days later at the same refuge asking for food vouchers again. Makes you wonder why we bother sometimes doesnt it ...

Charity without scrutiny, diligence and governance will never fully reach its intended Beneficiaries . Then the cost of the process - maybe a substancial amount of the charity given? But the charity does reach those that need it. Thus the importance of teaching someone to farm , teaching how to teach others how to farm is all the more important as it is progressive and sustainable. (farming is just one simple example) The losses due to certain delivery are more than recovered in a few years. Remember it is always better to give than recieve and always better to be the giver than the reciever when its needed. We should always give a little just to remind ourselves of that.

I don't give to charities, I'm sure some of the money donated gets to where its meant but a lot ends up in the pockets of the administrators etc. I find it more fulfilling by being charitable when the oppurtunity arises such as paying for a pensioner's order at the supermarket while she's scrabbling around in her purse looking for those few extra dollars she needs or slipping a $20 into the pocket of a sleeping homeless person. As an aside, my mother used to collect for charities and found that the lower on the socio-economic scale the suburb, the more money they would give.

Morning Jeff, charity is a bit like giving a book to some one who is illiterate ! My inspiration re the charity debate is Greg Mortensons book 'Three Cups of tea' what one person can do is amazing, & it all boils down to teaching, if you have not read it I can recommend it.

I have collected for several charities in the past and the one charity people love to give to is the Salvos, when i collected for them there would be people waiting with the money set aside ready for you because they knew it was red shield appeal time. not once has anyone reacted negatively to me when asked for money for salvos... but different story when it comes to other charities. maybe they should be looking at why the salvos are so trusted by everyone.

Jeff when you consider the overheads in public housing-like damage/repairs- why couldn t these people be given the title to their houses and the rental payments they would have been paying become mortgage repayments. It's remarkable how people are less inclined to trash their own property.If they default they lose their house - but thats no different to eviction for non payment of rent anyway -and the Department retains the property as the First mortgage. If the punters pay the mortgage and maintain the place well -they get to keep the capital gain if they decide to sell,which they should be free to do if they choose.Its still a public housing scheme--but arguably more efficient,and builds social capital--rather than incubating crime and vandalism as happens in public rental housing estates now.

Charity should be the gift of being compassionate, about helping people to be able to help themselves, no point in giving wonderful gifts if the people cannot use them or use them and still sit in misery.

Snooze, you are brilliant. This idea has too many merits for a politician to come up with. I too feel that to be considered as owning or just purchasing a public housing-built residence would instil a bit of pride in the family concerned. But you know and I know, it will go into the tooooo hard basket.

I've been to many 3rd world countries and seen extreme poverty it's heartbreaking sometimes but the police will stop you if you try to give those people money as they don't want people begging. (How else do they eat?) Of course the real problem is overpopulation- or in Australia the wrong people breeding! Why we give teenage girls $5k for having a baby is beyond me. I know too many who used it to pay off a mobile phone or their boyfriend bought a huge TV! I think snooze's idea is a good one.