David Kelley

David Kelley maintains in the following viewpoint that private charities have numerous advantages over welfare programs and can effectively replace the government’s role in reducing poverty. According to Kelley, the independence of private agencies allows them to continually experiment with new approaches to helping the poor, unhindered by bureaucratic delays and political considerations. If the government were to eliminate its safety net for the poor, more money would remain in the economy to create entry-level jobs, and people would shift their giving from religious organizations and the arts to charities for the poor. Kelley is director of the Institute for Objectivist Studies, a center for research and education in the philosophy of objectivism.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Kelley, what makes charity effective in helping the poor?
2. Why do...