Game Show NewsNet - Block Party with Jason Block

Idol Gives Back... But at What Cost? - May 1

We are now in the Merry Merry Month of May...where seasons end, finales occur and yours truly wants to point out the hypocrisy of last week's "Idol Gives Back."

Idol Gives Back was the "big-event" that has been talked about for all of this season. In the U.S., the money will be distributed via CPEF to U.S. organizations such as Save the Children, America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Children's Health Fund, to deliver food, medical care and other assistance programs to children living in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the U.S.

In Africa, the money will be focused on delivering health and education programs and will be distributed via CPEF to a number of organizations including: U.S. Fund for UNICEF, The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Save the Children, NothingButNets.net and Malaria No More.

Now that's fine and good. But the execution was so preachy, that for me, I was probably the only one who basically said, "What's going on here?" This was the same limousine liberalism that has been going on for years..."Do as I say, not as I do." Ellen DeGeneres was the only one who publicly announced her donation of $100,000. Do I believe that anyone else donated their performance fee? Probably not.

And it's the same footage that we have seen before for years in Africa...kids orphaned by AIDS, children with bloated stomachs, poverty that we as Westerners couldn't dream of...but what of it? Instead of donating to these charities, most of which legitimately do good works, why not work within the system and try to get rid of the corrupt governments in the African governments that have caused these problems in the first place?

And as far as poverty here in America goes, the poverty rate has continued to be between 11-15% of the American Population. Instead of a handout, why not continue to support economic growth through programs that make people less dependant on government instead of more?

I am not trying to be a cruel and heartless person here. The pictures shown were devastating. But as a way to get me to donate money, Idol didn't make me want to give back, it just made me want to give up.

You agree or disagree? Fire me off a letter at jb.regis@verizon.net.