Tom Timmerman wrote,
> > And finally, the volume of social services delivered
>> publically is an order of magnitude greater than that delivered privately.
>
>I wonder how these would compare if the publicly-delivered
>services were funded by passing a collection plate or
>staffed through volunteer hours.
>...
>For those without the time to read the whole thing, the big
>finish at the end is an estimate that religious congregations
>in Philadelphia provide services worth $227,772,960 per year.
>
>Just imagine what they could do if the government wasn't
>forcing individuals to work Jan-May to pay taxes.
Yes, they would contribute much more. Imagine all the poverty and
other social problems we'd have if there were no government programs
to prevent them. Poverty is pretty useful in motivating people to
give. (It also seems useful in giving us a reason to talk about the
relation between morality and religion. Are the Swedes less moral
because their social system subdues volunteerism?)
--> Mike O.
--
_______________________________________________
Michael S. Ofsowitz [EMAIL PROTECTED]
University of Maryland - European Division
http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~mofsowit
