I made the decision long ago that the very fact I was wearing a uniform--in the 1970s when President Carter forbade the wearing of uniforms inside the National Capitol Region, told Congress that people in uniform don't go into the service to get rich as an explanation for denying military pay increases for 4 years, and I got a welcome packet from the Naval Postgraduate School that explained how to apply for food stamps--was my own charitable program.

My own sensing is that in the long term charity programs do 2 things: they tend to create their own clientle and they obviate responsibilty from those who should be addressing the problems which stimulate a need for the charity in the first place.

Best

Tom