It kills me that the church has abdicated its role of caregiver.
Where I grew up, the main hospital was Queen of the Valley Hospital, a Catholic run hospital that was the best hospital for miles. Who runs hospitals now? How good are the state, or even just plain secular private hospitals, compared to the care historically the Church has given? How much better has the Church historically done with schooling, housing for the elderly or caring for the homeless?
Don't you see, your question, should care for the poor and needy be a government responsibility or individual persons and private organizations, leaves out the most important, and right answer, THE CHURCH! No, care for the poor and needy should never be a governmental responsibility, nor should it be left merely to "individual persons and private organizations", it should be the Church! US! Like it has been for upwards of 2000 years (longer if you take into account Israel's care, though according to the OT, they blew it off a lot as well, lol)
Sorry about the rant it's just that, again, the Church has abdicated one of it's most important roles in society, and left it for mindless petty bureaucrats while Christians relegate themselves to going to conferences, buying the latest Christian Self-Help book and whining about how bad everyone else is.
In His service
pony
Amen Brother! That's not a rant, that's just good ole fashion preaching. Keep up the good work!