Poverty, manipulation, charity, begging...it is not black and white
Years ago we stopped giving to United Way because the CEO was caught spending $1, 000,000 plus on his mistress. A few years went by and I decided the organization was good overall and gave again. Another scandal popped up within the organization so I've stopped giving to them permanently. My money my choice. I've wanted to donate and adopt to one of those children via one of the organizations so it was interesting to read Bob's comments. Generally, we don't give cash to beggars but on occasion when the right one does or says the "right thing" what ever that is-- like making you laugh as you stated, we find ourselves making a donation. Do we or should we wonder what they spend the money on? Does it matter if they buy a 5th of whiskey...if that is what they feel they need at the moment should we judge? When in Cambodia we were on a bus and young children were at the window begging so we opened the window and gave them a sandwich. They immediately started eating, a couple of other kids came running as they were hungry so others on the bus gave them their sandwich. That is a moment when you know you did the right thing. Knowing what to give or when to give can be difficult. You have to trust your instincts. I guess the bottom line is- if you have the money and want to give it away, then give it away. No one wants to be manipulated but sometimes that happens.

No, there certainly are many grey areas...
What I have real problems with are charities who raise money using key words to tug at our heart strings...orphans is a big one. My daughter wanted to adopt a child through one of those organizations, with me paying the monthly contribution. In Uganda, I encountered employees of that organization driving around in the big Land Cruisers, just like the UN. This left me wondering how much was spent on overhead, and how much went to orphans, if indeed they were orphans. I investigated giving to orphans in India and in most cases they were not orphans. Only the rich could send their kids to public school (as in England...very private), but by calling the school an orphanage, thhe school owners could raise money in the West, and middle class people could send their kids free (although administrators of these schools probably charged additional tuition to get every penny they could). I try to support organizations who believe "give a man a fish, and he will have food for that day; teach a man how to fish, and he will always eat." But in many cultures, they just want to be given the fish...and we keep giving them the fish. So, like you, I seek to reform the underlying problem...and still occcasionally give that child a dollar, just for the smile; ignoring who gets that dollar in the end. However, for a real eye opener on begging, watch "Bombay Millionaire." You may never want to give a dollar again. Sorry to those TBers who work for charities for my anedotal evidence; may your charities continue to help the truly poor.

The Greatest Pressure
The greatest pressure to buy was definitely from a Maasai village in Kenya...from Maasai women...total physical assault...covering us with jewellry or masks in our faces...screaming masses...hands everywhere...totally draining experience. And Tanzania...if you buy from one...the rest hound you with the line "You have done business with him, what about me?" Makes the kids in Cambodia a picnic!