One of the problems with relying on the federal government to perform tasks that traditionally were handled by charities is the lack of accountability.
If, for example, Washington misspends money meant for victims of a natural disaster, it can simply require the American people to pay higher taxes to make up that loss. Washington has little incentive to spend money efficiently because it doesn't have to worry about "going out of business."
But if a private charity misuses donated funds, donors can - and do - send their money elsewhere, where it will be put to better use.
It was reported recently that since 2005, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has improperly handed out tens of millions of dollars in disaster relief to thousands of people who were not entitled to it.
In some cases, the applicants were honestly mistaken in thinking they were eligible. In others, federal workers who processed the applications didn't know the rules. But there was also apparently fraud, with some recipients getting money to cover losses already covered by insurance.
FEMA is trying to get the money back, but many recipients have spent it already and likely can't repay it.
A FEMA spokeswoman told The Associated Press that the agency is "committed to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars." Those are fine sentiments, but words alone can't make the federal government more accountable for wasted money.
At any rate, charity is really the job of the private sector, not Washington. We recall something that Democrat President Grover Cleveland wrote in defending his veto of a bill that would have spent taxpayer dollars to give seed to farmers who were in the midst of a drought.
"I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the general government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit. A prevalent tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty should, I think, be steadfastly resisted ... .
"The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow-citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood."
It is regrettable that our nation has lost sight of that principle.