Should government welfare be replaced with private charity?

Assuming relative prosperity, democracy, and a (classically) liberal government, what does a nation look like if needs are addressed solely with private charity, instead of government welfare? read more

Government welfare has failed by every measure, and private charity can and should replace coercive bureaucratic government welfare. This will not only be more cost-effective, it will provide the poor with more effective and humane care. read more

But of charities' annual income – totalling anywhere from £35bn to £52bn, depending on how the term charity is defined – nearly a third comes from the government. Unless ordinary citizens step in, the big society will be stillborn. read more

In Olasky's world of privatized philanthropy, this is not the case; welfare would be eliminated but charity donations would not rise to replace it. This is a different argument, one about the benefits of eliminating most financial aid to the poor, not replacing it. read more