The Salvation Army recommends the Government immediately increase excise on alcohol by 25 per cent. This would have little effect on moderate drinkers but would reduce alcohol consumption by teenagers and heavy drinkers – the most price-sensitive consumers – by as much as 10 per cent.Stop promoting punishment of the responsible for the actions of the irresponsible, not to mention the economic damage threatened to the many industries associated with alcohol production and sale. I'm sick of it.
I would gladly fund their practical work but cannot separate it from their ignorant and annoying advocacy.
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This is the sort of nonsense which will scare many people off the Conservative Party.
. . .yeah, like all of those classical liberals out there who gave the Libertarianz and ACT such outstanding electoral results.
. . . the same classical liberals who think it's the job on the government to provide free contraception to beneficiaries.
They haven't had my support since they hijacked the Wellington Rape Crisis appeal day. Twice.
Sad, but true. And their theology is nuts.
Lindsay, is there a Christian charity you can recommend?
They could at least get their facts straight, heavy drinkers are significantly LESS price sensitive than moderate drinkers. Not sure about teenagers, but I would bet that overall alcohol consumption wouldn't change much but they would just substitute towards whatever gives the most standard drinks per dollar (it's very handy that they make all alcohol bottles display the number of standard drinks it contains, it makes it a lot easier to calculate the cheapest way to get drunk).
I'll tell off Greenpeace activists looking for money. But I haven't yet had the heart to tell the kindly looking old men with the collection pots exactly why I'm staying far away from them and not letting them put stickers on my kids.
Toxic altruism
Yes, its both ironic and depressing to see how the Salvation Army now looks to the State to provide.
Richard, there are still plenty of worthwhile Christian based charities out there.
World Vision is one that comes to mind.
Orphans Aid International, based in Queenstown but working globally is also one I could recommend.
http://www.orphansaidinternational.org/
Disclosure: I'm on the board of Orphans Aid International.
No doubt there are many others.
Haven't fronted them any cash since they backed the wrong side in the homosexual law reform debates of 1985.
Thanks, Brendan. (I didn't mean to suggest that there were no worthwhile Christian charities!)
The Sallies, these well-known paedophile defenders, are to be ignored. Always.
I recommend World Vision too - or Children's Christian Fund. They will provide regular reports into what they are doing in a village/region and with any child you sponsor.
Locally, seems to me the Wellington City Mission is fairly sensible too. My impression is they steer away from politics although I once heard their manager being highly citical of the welfare state.
When asked for a donation I usually ask what is the operating ratio of the "charity". What does it cost to run - what share of my dollar actually gets to where it is needed.
When in business some years ago and had considerable sums to invest on behalf of my Shareholders I asked for 4 years balance sheets first.
I have asked similar of Greenpeace and all I get is a stare.
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