Undepend.Me

Charity, not Welfare

Charity, not Welfare

Are we going about helping our neighbors all wrong?

Does sending our money hundreds of miles away with the promise that some of it will return to meet the needs in our communities make sense? How can we be sure the money that does make it back will be earmarked for our problems, and not those in an elder statesman's district?

People have talked at length about what it would be like if we could just end welfare, but that is a fool's errand. The political needed to even begin to think about that is nearly insurmountable today.

So what if we do it backwards? What if we can create a more attractive alternative? Would it be possible to make private charity the preferred method of dealing with the unexpected? Can we restore the safety net to its original intent; catching the victims of life's misfortunes just long enough to get them back on their feet?

We think the answer is a resounding "YES!" and we've got a few things in mind to do just that. It won't happen next month, or even next year—but if you can be patient, we have a few things in mind that will warrant your attention.

Dan Pallotta: The way we think about charity is dead wrong

We don't intend to act like the charities you're used to seeing, and we have a good reason why. Spend a few minutes listening to Dan Pallotta's take on why charity is aching for a new paradigm. We plan to be a part of that.

You can’t be charitable with someone else’s money

Wanting to help is laudable. Many feel called to prevent and alleviate the suffering of others. It's important though to remember that the spirit of charity comes from within. Demanding the sacrifice of time and money from others without them first having the will to participate causes anger and resentment.

Lead the way. Show everyone how to be a good neighbor—a giving neighbor. Join us in our effort to reclaim the mantle of responsibility for the least among us from our legislators. They can't promise to “help” if we're already doing it.

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

Buckminster Fuller

Connect with us

Our Team

We'll introduce them to you in the upcoming week.
Patrick Zeinert — President

Our Goal

Provide 90% of needs-based assistance in Bryan and College Station with private charity by 2040.

Disclaimer

At the moment, Undepend.Me is not affiliated with anyone other than Patrick Zeinert—including Dan Pallotta, or Buckminster Fuller who died less than a year after Patrick was born.

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