This is a follow-up on the post Why people don’t give more. Here was the conclusion from that post:
“When you think about the attitude to distant strangers and where the vast amounts of the world’s wealth lie, it is hard to be optimistic about ending global poverty.” (read more)
Warren Buffet is one of richest people in the world, in monetary terms.
I like Warren Buffet’s letter, http://givingpledge.org/#warren_buffett. “First, my pledge: More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death. Measured by dollars, this commitment is large. In a comparative sense, though, many individuals give more to others every day.” There is nothing new about giving 50% or more, and yes many people around the world do that on a daily basis. Here is a man who admits that there are some of us pulling more than our fair share of the load.
1. The identifiable victim
I am going to reverse this one and call it, the identifiable lucky guy.
“My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest. Both my children and I won what I call the ovarian lottery. (For starters, the odds against my 1930 birth taking place in the U.S. were at least 30 to 1. My being male and white also removed huge obstacles that a majority of Americans then faced.)”
2. Parochialism
The first letter I read of the pledges was Warren Buffet’s. At that point I thought the other letters would go along the same lines – I have given or plan to give half of my cash away. Well, this is not the case. A number of those that do have a lot have given in different ways (already). One example is the giving to foundations, and in a number of cases their own foundations or ideas that they strongly believe in. Read letters by George Lucas, Peter G. Peterson, Bernie and Billi Marcus.
So, another reason that people give is because they feel connected to other people or a certain cause.
3. Futility
People will give if they feel that their efforts are not in vain or a waste of time.
4. The diffusion of responsibility
I reckon this point should be added to whatever Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are telling those who they are asking to join the pledge. Those who have more and can share/help do have a responsibility to help those who don’t have.
5. The sense of fairness
Giving Pledge – http://givingpledge.org. Who wants to be the only one doing the heavy lifting? I suspect more people will pledge because of this one reason – they are not alone (anymore).
6. Money
Well, I am yet to read some of the other letters, but I suspect most of the people pledging will not be converting their assets to cash and giving it to a foundation. Giving away cash, a friend of mine tells me is most likely not the way to go if ones goodwill is to live on for a long time.
Conclusion
What is more important I think, is to know that there are reasons why people don’t give more and focus on these and not just ask why rich people/countries don’t give more. I bet you could get more money and goodwill towards the less fortunate if you make the rich feel closer to the less fortunate – make the connection.