I appreciate your taking the time to post some resources, and I did review them. I do think that most of what you have supplied is full of rhetoric, and seems to be from sources quite biased in the direction of the concepts you seem to support.

Further, I don't see a lot about how effective, holistically, the difference was? You provide an example of the Lumbees, but there is no rationale as to why that example should always map to other scenarios with the same result.

If you want to begin to sway the minds of the opposition, try using neutral sources, dispense with the dualism. Maybe you are right, but I don't feel compelled to think so yet.

I am writing this with zero 'jab', I mean it sincerely and without anger:

Can you prove that America was a place with less collective suffering when "providing for the needy was handled by a vast number of private charities, churches, mutual aid societies, fraternal orders, service organizations, and the like"? If not, would you examine the possibility that it may be a convenient fantasy to support your current belief system?

Or...

This fellow benefitted greatly from the business culture and laws of the United States, was fortunate enough for his wealthy father to immigrate to America so that his son could attend Harvard and other schools of the United States, but when it comes to paying back into the system that made him, he pulls chocks. Who's the looter?

Now, perhaps he has plans to carefully spend his 'rescued' funds to improve American Society, but is this likely?

Let's have a few questions:

1) Should the people of an advanced civilization that includes core values of compassion and respect develop means to systematically decrease the suffering of its less fortunates?
    - I believe it should.

2) Can we rely on individuals, rather than systems, to reliably, and without discrimination, provide that means to decrease suffering?
    - I do not believe so, regrettably.

3) Am I willing to accept a certain degree of inefficiency in that process, based on the sheer scale of such an undertaking?
    - I am, having an understanding of the nature of complex systems.

4) Could a person with billions of dollars start a foundation to truly investigate advanced means to determine the genuine nature of neediness that is the first step in increasing the efficiency of compassionate societal aid systems?
    - I believe he could.

5) Will he?

Oh, also - at least based on user ID, I believe I was part of slashdot somewhat before you, so unless you have multiple accounts, your golden SlashDot days had a guy a lot like me in them - Me. =)

Ouch. I'm hoping you misinterpreted my post. I really had forgotten to log in, and was making fun of myself for trying to be clever. Then mused on the pointlessness of posting in the first place. Maybe you are trolling me, but if you are not, I'm curious to know why it was irritating to you.

I hate it when I forget to log in. Also, I narcissistically want credit for my (incredibly) clever comment, which I will never be able to truly have. Now my post becomes a zen exercise to focus on "not grasping". Also, if a post is never read by a human, does it make a point?