A friend posted this on her Facebook page recently and I think it's a great idea.
"This story will warm you better than a coffee in a cold winter day!
"We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we're aproaching our table two people come in and they go to the counter:
"'Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended'
"They pay for their order, take the two and leave. I ask my friend:
"'What are those 'suspended' coffees ?'
"'Wait for it and you will see'
"Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers – three for them and four 'suspended'. While I still wonder what's the deal with those 'suspended' coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square in front of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through the door and kindly asks, 'Do you have a suspended coffee?'
"It's simple – people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such cafés or even grocery stores in every town where the less fortunate will find hope and support?
"If you own a business why don't you offer it to your clients…I am sure many of them will like it."
Apparently this story began in January 2011 with a blog post entitled “Caffe’ sospeso”. Coffee as a form of dignified charity" Read it here…
Seems this is far better than wasteful Government programmes?
Herein lies my problem….
The rich should voluntarily help the less fortunate, the operative word being ‘voluntarily’.
However, who decides who is needy… It’s easy when someone is dressed as a beggar.
But what about the well dressed chap who just lost his job and his house is being repossessed?
And the fellow who is too proud to receive charity?
I know what we can do Dr. Cove. Let’s turn it over the government, I’m sure they’ll do a great job. :o)
This might help? http://is.gd/IgKQdU
Turn it over to the government, then there will be nothing left for the needy and the so-called less fortunate.. Only the almighty guardian overseer of wealth distribution in Washington has the arrogance to undertake such a redistribution..
Charity is for the sake of charity and not for the jurisdiction of government.. Charitable giving and volunteerism is the heart of a benevolent society and not of the province of government.. The Jeffersonian concept of the “separation of church and state” should extend to the separation of charity and the state.. Perhaps that is why both institutions are exempt from taxes in the United States..
There are many who point out the many disadvantages of government and their many restrictions of private enterprise.
I do not know of any government run business which is sound and profitable. Although Singapore Airlines was given a mandate that it must make a profit from the start. It is now arguably the finest airline in the world. Obviously must be run on private enterprise lines, but seemingly owned by government.
Why couldn’t Bahamasair be similar, they both born at about the same?
It’s another story, but for the lack of vision by Bahamian governments, the Bahamas should have been the Singapore of the Atlantic.
But…. I have yet to see anyone propose a sound wholly tax free system which would be both viable and fair.
Should there be such an animal, how would such a dramatic change take place, and who would control the change?
When the School curriculum’s include “volunteer hours and service” but then makes it mandatory,
we are in trouble on many fronts.
That parents have relinquished Ethical and moral education to the Government via the schools,
That the Government via the schools have willfully accepted the responsibility,
and being it has spilled into all walks of life beyond the school indoctrination,
and that Government is not capable of even balancing a checkbook……
I think most people share your concern about the legitimatley poor Dr. Cove, hence our donations, corporate and personal toward worthy causes.
Personally my over-riding concern is the damage done to people through government support.
Have you ever read George Gilder’s Wealth and Poverty? If not it’s worth the investment.