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FacebookThe company Christmas party is coming up and we’re feeling the affects of a fleeting economy: we went from a catered affair to a potluck dinner. On top of that, my employer is requiring a $5 donation to attend the Christmas party. They told us they’re collecting the money for a charity to “help those less fortunate than us.” While I suppose technically, it’s a ‘good’ cause I’m still very uncomfortable with it. This isn’t just because I don’t believe in charity–I really don’t like the idea of being forced to donate. The loophole around this is probably that this isn’t a required event and attendance isn’t mandatory. But I know if I spend the afternoon in my office, it’ll be a bad PR move. What right do the party planners have to say there’s other people in more need of money than me? I have about $3 of disposable income every month–people should be collecting donations for me. I get paid jack squat. My rent goes up. The cost of food goes up. The cost of gas goes up. Why doesn’t someone pass the hat around for me?
One time I was having lunch with The Wife at Wienerschnitzel (because nothing says romance like a big fat wiener for 99 cents) when a gentleman approached us. And by gentleman, I mean 20-something lowlife. He claimed to be collecting money for his dead sister Samantha and to emphasize his point, he had a coffee can decorated with construction paper and lovely words written on it for his departed sister.
We told him we didn’t have any change and had to pay for our Wienerschnitzel meal with a credit card (which, sadly, was very true). Not that I would have given him money anyway–I simply don’t believe in charity.
In the midst of our nutritious meal of hot dogs and French fries I saw the panhandler ordering his own meal. He was with a woman who I could only assume was his significant other (one never hugs a relative like that). The woman was also carry a can decorated in the same fashion as his.
The two of them ordered food and while I couldn’t tell exactly where she got the money from to pay for it, I do know this: she paid for a $10-meal using nothing but dimes and nickels. The sorta lose change one would give to someone collecting money for their dead sister.
Call me a tightwad if you want, but I don’t believe in charity. Too many people are scam artist. Too many people are lazy. Too many charities misuse money. If you want money, get a job. I hate going to work. I hate waking up. I hate having to be nice to coworkers. But I do it all because I need money to live.
I don’t care how dirty one looks on the street. I don’t care how sad your story is. I simply don’t believe it. You want money, get a job–don’t come whining to me. The couple I met at Wienerschnitzel clearly weren’t collecting money for a dead sister–they we’re collecting money for lunch. Why should I give them money I earned from working so they can eat without working? Dead sister or not, get off your ass and get a job to pay for any expenses a dead sister may warrant. Leave me and my money alone…especially on my lunch hour.
It’s not just the bums on the street–I don’t believe in charitable organizations either. Don’t get me wrong–I’m sure there’s fine charities out there that spend their money well–but I think way too many organizations misspend funds and pay money to things that are what the funds aren’t being raised for. I’ve worked for non-profits and I’ve seen how money gets wasted on salaries of executives and perks for employees–that’s not what charity is about. The organization whines about doing good and needing money but it’s really just about putting money in their pocket.
And those sad commercials about starving children in Africa…please–just another scam to separate us from our money. I’m sure starving African kids get some of your donation–just after the ad time was bought, the commercial was made, the director was paid, the executives are rewarded, and the phone operator is compensated. It’s charity to you but to them it’s their job. No one works for free and they have to get the money to pay the salaries somewhere.
Corporations, charities, and churches are all the same: businesses designed to get you to give them money. They all sell a different product (McDonald’s pushes cheeseburgers; the United Way pushes sad children) but the goal is the same: increase capital. Whether it’s some lazy scumbag at Wienerschnitzel or the CEO of Greenpeace, it doesn’t matter–they all want your money. We work for it and they expect us to give it to them.
Screw that. It’s my money and I’m keeping it.