Donation Nation

I have spent a lot of time and energy creating excuses for not donating money. My college has billions in its endowment already. Public television would be better if it competed in the marketplace. Cholera vaccines distract from the real problem of Haitian sanitation. Everyone else at the table will probably overtip the server.

But I don't have to do much thinking to say no to politicians. If I want to improve society, I'm better off giving money to a homeless shelter than funding some negative ad about how Mitt Romney is really rich, hates dogs and keeps changing his mind...