If we’re talking about people who literally have no income… then it does seem odd to ask how much they are donating. Though I also think that if the question were asked, it would be an okay answer to say, “I’m not donating right now because I don’t have any income.” Do you disagree? I would also ask, are there very many such people applying to EA jobs? How do they feed, clothe, and shelter themselves?
As for HCOL… As I wrote in a cousin comment to this one, I was able to donate 10% after tax while working minimum wage in a an HCOL area and TBH I don’t have a ton of sympathy for those who say that they can’t afford to do so today. For example, if we look at the SF Bay Area (the most expensive metro area in the country), the total cost of living is only about 15% less than the US average. The California minimum wage is $16.50/hour, which is about $28,000 after tax, or about $24,000 adjusted for cost of living. That is still richer than 92% of the people in the world!
As for feelings of financial insecurity/instability… I think someone in the above situation is rich enough to be able to both save for the future and give to charity. Do you disagree?
Just to be clear, I am certainly not arguing that there are no people in the United States that aren’t rich enough to donate to charity. Those with expensive or debilitating medical issues, for example, might not be able to make enough money to donate. And those with recent criminal records, or crushing debt relative to income, also might not be able to — though this category seems like mostly a consequence of past decisions? And anyway, I would ask again, are there so many people like this applying to EA jobs?
If we’re talking about people who literally have no income… then it does seem odd to ask how much they are donating. Though I also think that if the question were asked, it would be an okay answer to say, “I’m not donating right now because I don’t have any income.” Do you disagree? I would also ask, are there very many such people applying to EA jobs? How do they feed, clothe, and shelter themselves?
As for HCOL… As I wrote in a cousin comment to this one, I was able to donate 10% after tax while working minimum wage in a an HCOL area and TBH I don’t have a ton of sympathy for those who say that they can’t afford to do so today. For example, if we look at the SF Bay Area (the most expensive metro area in the country), the total cost of living is only about 15% less than the US average. The California minimum wage is $16.50/hour, which is about $28,000 after tax, or about $24,000 adjusted for cost of living. That is still richer than 92% of the people in the world!
As for feelings of financial insecurity/instability… I think someone in the above situation is rich enough to be able to both save for the future and give to charity. Do you disagree?
Just to be clear, I am certainly not arguing that there are no people in the United States that aren’t rich enough to donate to charity. Those with expensive or debilitating medical issues, for example, might not be able to make enough money to donate. And those with recent criminal records, or crushing debt relative to income, also might not be able to — though this category seems like mostly a consequence of past decisions? And anyway, I would ask again, are there so many people like this applying to EA jobs?