Easterbrook on Christmas I am

Easterbrook on Christmas
I am not, I repeat not, a publicist for Gregg Easterbrook (I seem to be linking to him a lot lately). Nevertheless, he has a great Christmas suggestion in TNR which I missed earlier. The suggestion: for every dollar spent on presents spend a dollar on the needy. I think this is a great idea and one I hope to implement next season. I have begun to realize that, despite my natural tendency to think otherwise, I am not that generous of a person. Sure, I find it easy to give to friends and family and to help out people I know, but when it comes to the truly needy – destitute strangers across the world – I simply ignore them. This idea works because it is not some anti-capitalist screed about materialism and greed but rather a call to recognize the blessings we have and to share with others less fortunate.