Can Burning Money be Considered Social Service?
Or am I just plain crazy?
Let’s say you’ve got some extra cash and want to give back to society.
How would you go about it?
Would you give it to that friend of yours in need of money? Or a stranger who is in more need? That homeless person begging on the street sure could use your help. But do they look like they could starve to death at any moment? It’s estimated that 20 million people die each year of hunger-related causes. Aren’t they more deserving of your kindness?
I’m sure you’ll find plenty of ways to donate to people who are starving. But does even the UN reach everywhere? Not every nation is a part of the UN.
And is feeding the hungry the best way to be generous?
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Isn’t donating to educate the poor better than feeding the poor?
There are plenty of causes you can offer your support to: Individuals/organizations fighting against war, climate change, discrimination, corruption, hunger… But when the whole world hasn’t reached a consensus on which of these causes should be prioritized first, how do you know you’re not biased toward a certain cause?
The point is to find the people who need your charity the most could take time. So why not tip $5 extra to that waiter? You could feel that happy “Thank you!” Instant reward. The pat on the back you rightly deserve.
Let’s say you burn that five dollars instead. Insane idea, I know, but hear me out.
I am not good at economics, but I don’t think that $5 gets destroyed even if you burn it.
It’d mean there are five dollars less in circulation. Which would increase the value of every other dollar in circulation. Not by much, but a tiny atomic bit.
Which would benefit every person in the world with a dollar. Including yourself, if you have any dollars left.
You’d be distributing that $5 to everyone with at least one dollar. Some of those people in need of charity, and some not in need of charity.
Not the best way to give back to society, but a good way, and one of the most time-efficient ones.
Ready to burn your five dollars? Please, don’t be insane like I am. Pay for my drink instead and I’ll tell you why you shouldn’t.
