Plum Crazy

Charities like the Red Cross are a front group for good corporate PR at a rock bottom bargain rate and probably do more harm than good, in this country anyway. They make everyone feel good and generous while the enormous chasms of alotted resources are allowed to remain in place causing catastrophes like New Orleans--the disaster response and preparedness, not obviously the hurricane.

If someone is not going to volunteer or open up their home they should send the money to an activist group with an effective lobby who can force the damned politicians to do their fucking jobs and stop rewarding corporations sending jobs overseas with tax breaks while levees need to be fixed and wretched third-world type poverty alleviated in our own country.

Or donate blood.

Bob Geldof had the right idea. Screw raising money for direct relief much of which is going to be squandered in overhead anyway, and put the onus back on the jerkwads in public service who have been shirking their responsibilities for far too long.

Gee, thanks, Jim. I think I'll continue to donate to private charities anyway, as I generally think that private charities do a better job of getting help to those who need it than large bureaucracies like the government. I've actually donated more money to micro-charities, though, than I have to the Red Cross.

Incidentally, I would donate blood on a regular basis (I have a rare blood type), but am barred from doing so in the United States. Seems those 3 months I spent in England in 1985 has placed me on the undesirable list from a blood standpoint. Apparently, this country fears I may have mad cow disease. Because, you know, our herds are so well-protected...