One of the many things I’m unhappy with in the world (hate is such a strong word) are the children of rich yuppies who’s career is some charitable organization for saving the rain forest or ending poverty. The link below is to a Slate Magazine article describing the waste and corruption that exist in some of these groups.
http://www.slate.com/id/2296334/
The problem is that a large chunk of the donations made to such groups are used to pay people to do this work, and in order to maintain their position in the third world countries they operate, they tend to be to eager to compromise to keep their host happy. If Cambodia thinks they are to aggressive ion their actions to save rain forest or fight poverty they’ll be sent packing, and no more parting in in cheap bars.
This shows that any group dedicated to charity can become attached to the good life, and justify an inflated salary with the notion that since they are altruistically helping people, unlike a greedy CEO, they are entitled high pay and a little exploitation of the locals. The same vices that secularist accuse religious organizations of are also found in secular charitable groups.
My moral math says that if you demand just monetary compensation for your charity work, then you accumulate no good karma for the deed, no matter how beneficial. you are no better than a CEO who improves society by manufacturing and distributing a useful product, but only does so to the extent they are paid for it. Like a hammer, your good to have around so long as you can drive nails, and when you can’t you are to be disposed of.
In a capitalist system it may take fifty cents to deliver a dollar of aid to a impoverished country, but if that is the case please can the smug ‘I’m an activist dedicated to helping people” bit. Your an entrepreneur selling modern day indulgences to other entrepreneurs with guilty consciouses that you should have too.
This truly is a sad deal. I’ve also heard that similar ish takes place within the carbon credit markets. It’s like a for profit charity.