Comments on: GIRL SCOUT ECONOMICS http://MaverickVoice.com/2010/02/22/girl-scout-economics/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Dozens of Readers may be RIGHT! Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:13:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: T. Edwin Perry http://MaverickVoice.com/2010/02/22/girl-scout-economics/comment-page-1/#comment-49 T. Edwin Perry Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:10:00 +0000 http://MaverickVoice.com/?p=260#comment-49 We've certainly washed our share of cars, both in college and high school, I'm sure. The Line I'm addressing in this particular thought is about what we teach kids by having them begging on a corner instead of doing a "job" to raise money. In truth, I'm in favor of charity, and in giving...generously, when possible...to the likes of MDA and the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society. I particularly like to focus my support for the USO and the Paralyzed Veterans Association. But these are CHARITIES, not extracurricular activities for kids. The difference is that those collecting are typically volunteers, and do not personally benefit from their activities. Kids collecting for a trip to play baseball is not, in my humble opinion, a charity worthy of support without the sacrifice of those who will benefit from it. It doesn't instill a sense of personal responsibility, but rather a sense of personal entitlement. As for the other extreme, aren't most of the things we purchase typically "overpriced junk?" Try selling that big screen TV for the same price you paid for it a week later. I can pretty much guarantee it won't happen. Certainly, those who purchase products like wrapping paper, candy bars or, yes, even Girl Scout Cookies, pay more than the "Fair Market Value" of the product, and that is being "charitable," but point is that it teaches that personal responsibility aspect that kids seem to be missing out on these days. That's just my point of view on it. We’ve certainly washed our share of cars, both in college and high school, I’m sure. The Line I’m addressing in this particular thought is about what we teach kids by having them begging on a corner instead of doing a “job” to raise money. In truth, I’m in favor of charity, and in giving…generously, when possible…to the likes of MDA and the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society. I particularly like to focus my support for the USO and the Paralyzed Veterans Association. But these are CHARITIES, not extracurricular activities for kids. The difference is that those collecting are typically volunteers, and do not personally benefit from their activities. Kids collecting for a trip to play baseball is not, in my humble opinion, a charity worthy of support without the sacrifice of those who will benefit from it. It doesn’t instill a sense of personal responsibility, but rather a sense of personal entitlement.

As for the other extreme, aren’t most of the things we purchase typically “overpriced junk?” Try selling that big screen TV for the same price you paid for it a week later. I can pretty much guarantee it won’t happen. Certainly, those who purchase products like wrapping paper, candy bars or, yes, even Girl Scout Cookies, pay more than the “Fair Market Value” of the product, and that is being “charitable,” but point is that it teaches that personal responsibility aspect that kids seem to be missing out on these days.

That’s just my point of view on it.

]]> By: Steve Hansen http://MaverickVoice.com/2010/02/22/girl-scout-economics/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Steve Hansen Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:48:31 +0000 http://MaverickVoice.com/?p=260#comment-48 This is an interesting premise, Todd. I remember getting out there doing more car washes than I care to count (do you remember the time we had an ambulance show up at one of our car washes?)... But I wonder where you draw the line? How do you feel about true *charities*? For instance, what about the fire fighters standing on street corners with their boots out for MDA? or the Salvation Army's kettles? How about the other extreme? The school fundraisers where they actually sell stuff, but it's seriously overpriced junk? This is an interesting premise, Todd. I remember getting out there doing more car washes than I care to count (do you remember the time we had an ambulance show up at one of our car washes?)…

But I wonder where you draw the line? How do you feel about true *charities*? For instance, what about the fire fighters standing on street corners with their boots out for MDA? or the Salvation Army’s kettles?

How about the other extreme? The school fundraisers where they actually sell stuff, but it’s seriously overpriced junk?

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