Comments on: Review of The Life You Can Save, by Peter Singer

by: Ben

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:03:50 +0000

Jodie,

Prof. Singer wrote an excellent article called “What Should a Billionaire Give – and What Should You?” which addresses this very issue.

by: James

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:25:34 +0000

Singer’s book is a challenging read - no matter which way you look at it. In my experience, visiting very poor communities, then coming back to live in an affluent country - I can quickly become engrossed in the values of those around me. Any reminders to give more is a good thing for me.

Thanks for the work of Givewell.

by: Jodie

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:04:33 +0000

Grant raises a good point and, ‘ceteras paribus’, I agree with him and Holden that in the viewpoint of helping with the poverty problem outside the USA at this time the higher paying job that allows one to contribute more is ethically ‘better’. Of course, one must follow through and not spend the extra salary on a luxurious home, a Mazerati or part ownership of a small aircraft or yacht, a club membership or somesuch as many do. (I speak from experience and observation.) Some ‘good’ positions almost require investments in certain social acquerterments to properly entertain peers and clients that the salary increase is absorbed by paying for those amenities.
But to the excerpt from the book and commentary that I just read, I am not floored by the facts because I have seen and interacted with poverty in the third world. Seeing it makes it very personal and lives on with you. We who have so much need to be reminded by authors and speakers such as Mr. Singer so that we will dig deeper into our affluent pockets and give. We do need to be whipped into shaping up occasionally. However, I do often question if my donations are properly used and will peruse the sites offered above and in other comments to ascertain that my donations go to the best dispersor. I am far from affluent and sometimes wonder if my small efforts count for anything and why more super rich and affluent do not give as the Gates and Mr Buffet have (and undoubtably will continue to do). Solving world poverty by the billions of dollars would be far easier. Let’s see….. 1100 billionaires who can surely afford 10% equals 110 billion dollars at least. I challenge the poorest of the world’s billionaires to donate their share, $100MM as I do mine, a pittance.

by: Holden

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:01:46 +0000

It’s an interesting question. I do think that all else equal, choosing to earn more (and give more) is a morally superior decision. However, the benefits to society of the job you choose may not correlate perfectly with the pay, especially if your skills are a better fit for a more “public good” type job (one whose pay is low compared to its value to society).

by: Grant

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:49:00 +0000

One question I always had was on whether we should earn more. For example, I am a graduate student, so if I give away 10% of a $30K stipend, it is only $3K. But if I were working at a “real job”, I could be making much more, and thus giving more. Is it better that I give away 3% of a 150K salary or 10% of 30K? I don’t want to compare what two different people make, but simply what one person makes, to what they could make if they worked harder. If 1K = 1 life, then at a 10% giving rate, every 10K more I earn can save one person’s life. Seems like I should never stop working (except to read up on where I should give my money to affect the most change)!