"Let's see what they are really saying."
In the last five to ten years, the phrase “to give back” has become more and more popular, pervasive, and insidious. This jargon has bothered me since I first heard it, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Now, I want to share my theory about what is behind the language.
Typical examples of this are: “I want to give back to society,” “It’s time for me to give back,” and “I want to work for a company that knows how to give back to the community.”
While these utterances seem positive in their intent, they are actually subtle criticisms in the form of a two-pronged barb: one directed at the listener, one directed at the speaker. At root is a fundamental misunderstanding of economics.
When I hear somebody use one of these phrases I have described, I infer confusion around morality and values. The belief that one ought to “give back” – to Society at large – implies that there was a taking from Society at one point, that there is a debt or obligation that is now due.
I am the first to acknowledge that we all receive astounding benefits from the past efforts of creative, disciplined, committed, and generous people – some who are still living, some who are distant ancestors. We are all indebted to them, beyond calculation. Who were these people? There were all kinds: philosophers, scientists, explorers, teachers, doctors, inventors, builders, artists, nurses, laborers, bankers, lawyers, designers, poets, architects, journalists, rebels, soldiers, mothers, fathers, ranchers, and farmers.
My sense is that the grand structure known as civilization, along with the incredible standard of living that most of us in the West enjoy, relative to the bare subsistence of early hominids in the primitive state of nature of, say, 10,000 years ago, is not the source of the obligation referenced above. Furthermore, because I believe there are unspoken and subconscious feelings at work that are related to shame, resentment, and self-righteousness, this modern sense of duty to “give back” is only tangentially related to charity.
Consider a very simple transaction in the market place. A man goes to one of his preferred restaurants and orders a hamburger, fries, and a drink. He participates in a simple and wonderful two-way interaction; he gets nourishing and tasty food, and the restaurant gets the purchase price in money. Assuming the cooking and serving staff are having a reasonable and normal day, and that the man has enough money in his wallet to afford his choices, neither party to this exchange expects more than what it gets. Both sides win and are fully satisfied.
The point of this example is that the transaction is complete and perfect. There is nothing extra or residual that needs to be taken care of here. Neither party to this extremely common contract needs “to give back” anything to the other. This would be true for a purchase of shoes, a television, or a yacht. This would be true for somebody who trades her time and effort in the marketplace for wages, a salary, tips, and/or a commission.
If there is a dissatisfaction about the deal one gets, or the salary one earns, then it is the responsibility of the individual to bargain for more, or to be realistically satisfied with what one receives. If there is guilt about how much one is being paid, or how little one had to pay for a good or service, then one can practice gratitude for being a beneficiary of a capitalistic society.
The urge “to give back” also seems to be related to a belief that only participating in the two-way transactions of the market place is not enough. The fact is that the total of all economic transactions in a free market continually add to the standard of living of all society by virtue of creating and delivering constant technological improvements in various goods and services – at lower and lower prices!
The simple act of paying your way in the world, perhaps with a smile and a “Thank you,” is actually a contribution to the ongoing evolution of civilization. Every voluntary transaction that takes place, whether it involves money or a trade of “in kind” services, adds to the wealth of the World. This incremental positive growth is that principle about which those who want “to give back” are confused.
By the way, if you are thinking I am missing the big picture here: that some people just want to be charitable and selfless and altruistic, then consider this. Some people hand a homeless person a $5 bill, or volunteer at the animal shelter, or spend several weekends a year building houses for “the needy” via Habitat for Humanity. Are they “giving back,” or are they simply investing time and/or money in a solution to a problem?
Feeling good, feeling better about yourself, and feeling more hopeful about the future is a profit motive if there ever was one. This has nothing to do with giving back. If anything, it is about giving forward. Ultimately, this issue hinges on understanding that freedom allows us, in fact requires us, to order our own lives, to act upon our own values, to achieve our own goals. This implies that we are constantly calculating the benefits of working, investing, trading, spending, consuming, and enjoying, and then acting on those (economic) calculations.
I propose that those of you who are enamored with the trendy language of “giving back” take a thorough inventory of your lives. Be clear about how much you are already a contributor to the grand edifice we call Society. When you find that you need to readjust your focus and your energies, and that you want to recommit to certain activities while letting go of others, realize this is normal and that it has always been a part of daily life.
If you think too many people are wasting resources and investing them poorly, whether it be on an individual basis, a corporate basis, or a government basis, then speak up and communicate your thoughts. Be honest and straightforward about it, and put away the misleading language of “giving back.”
Shifting your thinking, and thus your language, might yield some new commitments. Compare these statements with the ones at the top of the article. “I want to wake up and be more aware of my effect on society,” “It’s time for me to save more and spend less,” and “I want to work for a company that produces longer lasting value for its customers in a more elegant and respectful fashion.”
