"There are kids in India who go to bed hungry every night."

Sure, my eating my vegetables isn't going to help any of them, but the basic concept still holds.

We are moved to acts of self-sacrifice when we hear of human suffering. An earthquake on the other side of the world prompts us to pull out our checkbook. But where do you draw the line? Do you empty your bank account and max out your credit cards just because of a natural disaster somewhere?

The act of philanthropy or charity is a purely subjective and emotional one, logic has little to do with it, but that does not make it any more or less valid and worthwhile. When and how much are personal questions, but they have no set answers. And whether you do or do not contribute selflessly to the welfare of strangers is strictly up to you. There is no God out there keeping score, and we all instinctively despise those who make a big public show of their charitable activities. Public approval plays a part, but like prayer, giving should be done in secret, or it becomes hypocrisy and boast. But we all have a bit of contempt for those who refuse to eat their vegetables, too; regardless of how logically they can defend their actions. No one should be forced to be charitable, but neither should we seize on that self-evident truth to justify indifference to the suffering in our midst, or to escape responsiblity for our role in it.

Modern political reality demonstrates the importance of political campaign contributions in getting elected. So if your sense of patriotism resolves into a particular party or candidate being voted in, isn't writing a check to your side ultimately much more effective than actually voting? In fact, why vote at all? Isn't the American voter now worth about $10 a head? A check for a $100 to your party or politician is worth 10 trips to the polls. That's the way the special interests justify their calculations and contributions, why shouldn't the citizen?

These are all important, and troubling questions, but they really have no answers. Still, the fact we ask them at all, and are troubled by our inability to answer them, is to our credit. I don't agree with your politics, Bowser, I don't think my doing what you want will necessarily help anyone. But I am in awe of your willingness to demand answers to those questions. And I am humbled by my inability to respond properly to them.