No, Callous Americans, Private Giving Can't Replace Obamacare

Yesterday I wrote that public support for helping the needy, whether through health coverage, food and housing or other benefits, has fallen since the start of the recession. Many readers responded that Americans don't oppose all aid -- just aid delivered by the government. Personal giving, these readers argued, is a reasonable substitute for programs such as Obamacare, food stamps or welfare.

The problem is the numbers don't bear that out. To be sure, almost 90 percent of Americans give to charity, and they gave a total of $316 billion last year. That's a staggering amount, and Americans should certainly be proud of it. At the same time, that money can't replace the government-run programs that have engendered so much public opposition, for a number of reasons.