Decency is complicated. Sometimes compassion can contribute to harm and enable deleterious behaviors. But after thinking through it, I think I’ve finally sorted it all out.
The concept of tzedakah (sadaqah in arabic as voluntary additional deed to zakat 10%) sets out works of charity from least to most meritorious, the most being -Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. It seems that most western forms of charity are set up to enable the administrators to be self reliant. Charity watches look for the admin spend of charities when they should be balancing that against outcomes that enable fewer people to seek succour from their charities. Which is why community level direct intervention (help a family, help a person) is FAR more impactful than any and all charity giving. Problem is Charities are like Madison Ave offshoots now-the slickest marketing gets the bucks...
The concept of tzedakah (sadaqah in arabic as voluntary additional deed to zakat 10%) sets out works of charity from least to most meritorious, the most being -Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. It seems that most western forms of charity are set up to enable the administrators to be self reliant. Charity watches look for the admin spend of charities when they should be balancing that against outcomes that enable fewer people to seek succour from their charities. Which is why community level direct intervention (help a family, help a person) is FAR more impactful than any and all charity giving. Problem is Charities are like Madison Ave offshoots now-the slickest marketing gets the bucks...