One Mexican’s View on Charity

I stumbled across this story on the internet. This is one Mexican that does not want a handout:

Carlos Slim has always had a complicated relationship with philanthropy.The Mexican billionaire, who Forbes still lists as the world’s richest man, said in 2007 that he could do more to help fight poverty by building businesses than by “being a Santa Claus.”

I remember an old high school friend of mine who contacted me on a trip here from his home in New York. He was working as a carpenter, living with some artist gal friend. He told me he was making $20,000 a year because he believed that “no one should make more than $20,000 a year”. How he and his girlfriend could live in New York on less than $40,000 a year was a challenge I’m sure. I brought him to my home and he was admiring it. As we talked, I made the comment “I’d rather make jobs” and he said nothing for a few minutes. But I digress. Mr. Slim continues to state:

“The only way to fight poverty is with employment,” he said. “Trillions of dollars have been given to charity in the last 50 years, and they don’t solve anything.”

How many millions or trillions of dollars have been spent on the “war on poverty”? Don’t get me wrong – we must show compassion to those who need the help. My problems are with the generational teat-sucking from people who are able-bodied and capable of working. Perhaps it may take another generation for them to learn to think and care for themselves again. Like Slim, I give to charity, but I don’t believe charity will solve the problems of so many.

As for the Giving Pledge, he said: “To give 50%, 40%, that does nothing,” Slim said. “There is a saying that we should leave a better country to our children. But it’s more important to leave better children to our country.”
In a speech in Mexico City Thursday, he reiterated his point that the best way to fight poverty is to create jobs.

I couldn’t say it any better myself.