Does Government Decrease Giving?
Pax II
John D. Rockefeller is the name you know of the partners who created Standard Oil Corporation in 1867, Henry Flagler, perhaps not, although the latter is credited as the brains behind the stock strategy that propelled the corporation success far beyond its competitors.
Likely Mr. Flagler’s name is as well known as his partner’s in southern Florida where he is also known as the father of Miami and the founder of Palm Beach, Florida.
During this late 19th century Gilded Age, these industrialists were criticized as robber barons. But it was the giving from some of these powerful families that created the educational, social and arts foundations needed to produce the successful 20th century in America.
Perhaps generosity comes more easily to individuals of such stupendous wealth. Although studies do not necessarily correlate gifting with wealth. However, during his era, Mr. Flagler believed those endowed with wealth had a responsibility to give to improve the plight of others.
By Tom Watts’ reckoning that type of giving fulfilled the genuine reason for charity by imparting a sense of well being to both the giver and receiver.
He further reckons that the increasing need for government taxes to support work once done by charity has endangered if not obliterated that sense of well being to both parties.
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