We've all seen them. The "Make Poverty History" TV ads featuring celebrities snapping their fingers.

The tag line, though, comes at the end where they say "we're not asking for your money".

Oh, really?

I am VERY interested in ways of reducing poverty, so I checked out the link. Apparently, they ARE asking for our money. Remember, ladies and gents, tax money from the government does not come from a magic djinni. It comes from OUR pockets. Yours and mine.

What are they asking for? "Drop the debt", and "More and better aid" among other things.

To drop the debt would mean that we would need to fund other nations' financial responsibilities out of our own pocket. As a nation seven trillion dollars in debt ourselves, it is not a feasible option, albeit it is an attractive one. A better solution, in my opinion, would be to set up a private fund to raise money to repay the debts of these nations. Surely, if Bono, Cameron Diaz and company can afford multimillion dollar houses, expensive cars and all the other luxuries of life, they can afford to pony up to take care of world poverty themselves.

But see, there's the rub. They don't want it coming out of THEIR pocketbooks. They want, instead, to dictate how YOU AND I spend OUR hard earned money.

Now to the part about "more and better foreign aid". How about "aid that isn't siphoned off by bribe money to officials to get food past the ports", or "aid that is distributed based on need rather than cultural mores"? In short, WE have born the brunt of criticism for the malfeasance, corruption, and misappropriation that other countries have employed where our money is concerned.

I believe in doing all that we can to eradicate poverty. I would, in fact, feel better if they WERE asking for direct donations (although the above concerns combined with the documented human rights violations of many of these impoverished nations would remain). I remain convinced that we are part of a global community, and that we have a MORAL responsibility as individuals, to help those who are less fortunate. And I have, and will continue to do my part. But I have a HUGE problem with DEMANDING that you do the same.

Every month, my mailbox receives requests from several different charities. Some I have supported in the past, some have simply purchased mailing lists. And while I would dearly love to help most of them, I would find my family living on the streets if I helped out every charity worthy of my attention. I must pick and choose, as painful as that decision may be.

The US is no different. We are a nation deeply in debt, and we MUST redefine our priorities. And sometimes, even the worthiest causes, must be denied in our quest for fiscal responsibility.