The Gift of Giving

There are very few valid reasons for anyone to have an excess of a commodity, basically only two: in order to give it to others or to save it in the short-term for a known or unknown need. This is true of any commodity, whether it be food a farmer grows or money a "philanthropist" has accumulated. Why do I say only these reasons? This is because any other rationale is an excuse for self-serving and unnecessary hoarding. What could be the broad, human benefit of holding on to things one does not need?  Whatever you just thought or actually said out loud, those are the selfish and short-sighted excuses I mean.  The system of capitalism encourages artificial scarcity and hoarding because it thrives on insecurity.  This has to do with the desire of business owners to have a workforce they can control and is another topic altogether.  There is no rational, valid reason for any to suffer when there are so many resources available; it is just that those who are able-and allowed-to keep more than their share want to leverage more power and status.  All this leads not just to suffering of those who do without those missing resources.  It is also that those hoarding the resources are doing without the joy of giving and providing to others, they are lacking that basic connection to those around them.