If government doesn’t mandate some sharing and cooperation who’s going to do it? People are only interested in themselves and won’t take care of others even though they know it’s the right thing to do.

You ask: “If government doesn’t mandate some sharing and cooperation who’s going to do it?” I recommend that people donate to and participate in charitable organizations. In fact, Americans already do. The USA Today reports that

Americans give twice as much as the next most charitable country, according to a November 2006 comparison done by the Charities Aid Foundation. In philanthropic giving as a percentage of gross domestic product, the U.S. ranked first at 1.7%. No. 2 Britain gave 0.73%, while France, with a 0.14% rate, trailed such countries as South Africa, Singapore, Turkey and Germany.

You write: “People are only interested in themselves and won’t take care of others even though they know it’s the right thing to do.” How much would people need to donate to charity to demonstrate to you that they would do “the right thing”?

You wrote: “If government doesn’t mandate some sharing and cooperation who’s going to do it? People are only interested in themselves and won’t take care of others even though they know it’s the right thing to do.”

If this is true, what kind of politicians will such people elect? Politicians are just people, as are those who run the very government programs you support. If they are “only interested in themselves,” can you really trust them to do what is right? That’s why I support voluntary charities that must compete for donations. That way you can support the ones you think are doing a good job.

I also value charitable organizations that are effective and efficient, and do not see why government charities would be either, since they need not demonstrate it to donors. They get taxpayer dollars no matter how effective or ineffective they are. I address this issue here and here.

Nor do I see why government has taken over the unemployment insurance market. People take responsibility to buy auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and medical insurance (made more expensive by politicians). They can also choose they amount of coverage they want. Why not do the same for unemployment insurance?

I wouldn’t call myself a “rugged individualist.” I value individual freedom and personal responsibility. I see no virtue in empowering politicians to force my neighbors to donate to causes I see fit.

I’d like to live in a society where people take responsibility for their own lives. This means that government does not play the role of a nanny. It also means people take responsibility to support charitable organizations that they think do a good job.