An article from The Guardian of UK's Polly Toynbee about charity

And welfare.



The link is below:
Thank Goodness...

My opinion is this:

I believe charity is useful. Charity to help the elderly, the sick, the poor, and the handicapped are useful, and always should be encouraged. They do play a major role in helping the disadvantaged in areas government sometimes cannot reach.

In respect in saying this though is the recognition that in light with what has been said by the columnist in the newspaper, we also have to recognise government has a role and responsibility to support and to help poor, disadvantaged people as the first resort, and as a partner with charity and non-government organisations. To not do so, and to outsource this responsibility to the charity organisations and NGOs is to abandon its role and guardian to general society.

As such, I believe the government has to be responsible to its people. It is after all, elected by the people, for the people and with the people. And with that, we have to realise that efforts cannot be ad-hoc, but be comprehensive, and to address welfare issues when other charity organisations cannot because of a downturn in raising charity funds from tycoons.