Both are equally good. But charity is less reliable. People in hard times are less likely to give to charity when they themselves have less. It was noted in ancient times that the Temple priests had to work in the fields because people didn't pay their tithes, which was to support the Temple staff. read more
Social security, in addition to being an individual good for the people who receive it, is a social good. In welfare, it isn't just the gesture that counts, it's the actual result and the stability that creates. It's important to understand that charity and social-security serve two related-but-distinct purposes. read more