Like a veteran debater, Singer weighs the reasons why people do not give more, cites examples of noble generosity, and offers a voluntary plan that could raise $510 billion to combat poverty.
One of Singer's favorite examples of American excess is bottled water, which has become a staple in many households. Meanwhile, millions of people do not have access to clean water, sanitation, medical care, and enough food to maintain health.
Some people balk because they think the scale of extreme poverty is so great that small donations would not make a difference, or they are more likely to help the needy closer to home, or they wonder what happens to their donations.
Singer agrees that strong oversight is essential to determine which programs actually advance the goal of reducing poverty. For guidance, various websites such as Charity Navigator and GiveWell evaluate charities on their transparency and effectiveness.
The book cites inspiring case histories of extraordinary giving, such as the work of Paul Farmer, the Harvard-trained physician who founded Boston-based Partners in Health to provide medical care to the poor in Haiti and other Third World nations. Another example is the 50% League, whose members agree to donate either half of their wealth or half of their income to charity.
Singer suggests a sliding voluntary donation scale, beginning at 1 percent for those making up to $105,000 a year, and ending at 33 percent for income above $10.7 million. Under his plan someone earning $100,000 would pledge to give $1,000. If everyone went along, the plan would raise half a trillion dollars yearly in the United States alone.
One of Singer's most intriguing proposals involves the so-called opt-out system. Employers would announce their intention to deduct 1 percent of an employee's salary to fight world poverty unless the employee opted out of the plan. The book encourages readers to ask their employers to institute the practice.
