Yeah! I've used that, or at least something similar when those gaming marathons for charity were a fad. A lot of people seemed to donate to Doctors Without Borders, so I wanted to look them up. I may have give a couple kids a few bucks here or there.

Generally, however, I want to see my money or time work, rather than disappear into some beaurocracy and all I get out of it is the ability to pat myself on the back.

I want to see a new, red, fire truck, or hear that the folks who rented out the fire hall for their party had a good time with the new TV. I want to see the poor guy down the road with a new pair of boots. I want to see the trash picked up from the side of the trail, or new stone put down.

And of course, of course, of course I have sympathy for the rest of the world. I want to see the end of slavery and child labor. I want to see the eradication of disease. I want to end hunger.

But, world issues are so convoluted and out of sight, that I often feel that my money is wasted. Sure, 20 cents goes to cancer research when I but a pink bracelet. And yeah, I might donate to help a hungry kid. But, then tomorrow, I buy a processed food and help propogate cancer casuing agents. I buy a cell phone, which has tons of mining and manufacturing involved, near all of which involves slavery, child labor and abuse.

I donate money from my left hand and counteract the cause I believe in with the money from my right.

Frankly, I think most charities want to do good, or were at least inspired by good. Of course, plenty are scams, but most intend to do good. But they end up being a pat I get to give myself on the back and nothing more.

I'd much rather pay a few pennies more in tax each year and have regulators actually stop the import of goods that use slaves, child labor, or harm people than donate 5 bucks, have 1/5 actually go to the cause, and then unknowingly but 10 bucks worth of slave-made goods.

So, I donate locally. I even volunteer money and time on a trail near my house. I got a cool vest and get to yell at people when I wear it. Now that's a cool way to spend my money!