I am reminded of a great experience from my youth. We were doing a hiking expedition and were told to bring the supplies we would need to get by on for a week. Coming from a background where I was understanding of what such an endeavor might require, I assembled a cache of supplies and equipment that, while spartan, would allow me to make the expedition in relative comfort.

Our leaders for the expedition were not prudent enough to check everyone's outfit, and so after we set off for our little hike, we discovered that a few of the members were not as prepared as they should be. Instead of packing appropriate gear and consumables, they brought things like books to read, canned foods, and walkman steros with cassettes to listen to. As the journey progressed to what would be the more rugged parts of the trail, those who were improperly equipped began to complain about the weight of the packs, the cold from the rain that was soaking them, how thirsty they were getting, etc. About half way into the week, they were unable to continue at the pace we needed to keep, and so our leaders decided we needed to reallocate our loads. Those of us who had planned properly would have to take some of the canned food and books in our packs and give the others some of our backpack grub to carry instead. We would also have to give up some of our raingear because the others' packs were getting waterlogged. We would also have to take turns sharing sleeping bags because some of the less prepared didn't have warm enough bags and were getting too cold at night.

So I went from a pack that was just right to one that was too heavy, giving up a spare poncho that was later ruined by the recipient because they didn't know or didn't care how to use it properly, and spending a night with a thin, soaked sleeping bag while someone else slept in mine. It also turned out that the people we "shared" our supplies with preferred to eat the food we had put in their packs as well, so I ended up eating a cold can of tomato soup and wet, crumbled crackers instead of a freeze dried stroganoff because the leaders said we all had to eat enough to keep going, and if the others only ate what they brought, they wouldn't make it. By the fifth night, I was ready to quit and go home, but we were stuck on the trail and the shortest way out was to finish the hike. To top it off, the people who had come unprepared and to whom our stuff had been given were still complaining!

Charity is a great thing. Forced redistribution, in any form, and for whatever reason, creates resentment and destroys motivation. You cannot achieve anything durable by taking from those who will and giving to those who won't or can't. Asking is one thing, demanding is another, but misappropriation is just plain evil. Any leadership that imposes a collection for one reason, then uses that resource for another purpose without consent are thieves. What our leadership should have done was to make sure that everyone knew up front what was needed and expected of them. Some people might not be able to make such a trip, but at least they won't be a problem for those who are willing and able. Not everyone can. That is the facts of life. Others can help them, but they should never be forced to do it.