This is the season of Giving. You may have noticed that your selective generosity doesn’t travel all that far, considering the enormity of Need. You may also have noticed that, as the global standard of living accelerates — as technology enriches life — Need seems to accelerate even faster. Apparently, then, you can argue that human progress actually multiplies Need rather than shrinking it. Failing a reasonable explanation of this phenomenon, you theorize there must exist a Natural Law of the Universe that has yet to be discovered — something similar to Newton’s third law of motion: “In a system where no external forces are present, every action force is always opposed by an equal and opposite reaction force.” Thus, behaving as a wannabe Nobel scientist, you might postulate — in human society, every action taken that eradicates Need is always opposed by an equal or greater reaction that creates Need. Your evidence for this theorem doesn’t live in some think-tank database. No, it visits you every day, courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service and Time Warner digital phone. At last count, you processed 3806 pieces of mail and 2912 calls in 2013. These contacts had one thing in common — an urgent plea for money to help eradicate some affliction or support some worthy goal. Of the 1.5 million U. S. non-profits, you figure a couple of hundred thousand know your name, address and phone number. You’re not insensitive to the Need. Disease never goes away. Especially cancer. All kinds of cancer. Especially childhood cancer. So you must choose among the 8000+ cancer non-profits. And while you’re at it, you certainly can’t ignore diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MD, MS or autism. Anymore than you can ignore world hunger, domestic hunger, homeless people, homeless animals, military veterans, The Church, the art councils, United Way, Salvation Army, Red Cross, school bands, PTA, PBS or Special Olympics. But, as needy as charitable missions may be, none are more demanding, more relentless, zealous, intense and preoccupied than political affiliations, coalitions, federations, alliances, syndicates and miscellaneous rat packs. In a previous life, you occasionally heard from a local Congressman, Senator or Mayor. Now, G.W. Bush and Laura send you autographed photos in hopes of your healthy donation to the presidential library. Congressmen from states you’ve never visited send passionate four-page letters predicting the end of the world if they don’t win a seat on the Beltway. Thirty different “watchdog” factions promise to save the Constitution and the Nation, but they must have your most generous contribution — NOW — to do so.  And the GOP, led by Speaker of the House Boehner himself, are in the printing business, mailing you meticulous, individually coded surveys. Apparently, your opinion is so valuable, Mr. Boehner, et.al., saw fit last year to send you a dozen such documents at great expense, urging you to submit your views — along with a benevolent contribution, of course. Evidently, the Need in Washington never wavers, but grows exponentially. Evidently, upholding the Constitution, so help me God, and carrying out the duties of office and representing the people, are impossible feats without the continuous flow of voter money. Invariably, you must conclude that your money must help elect the right person who, once in power, will invariably send you a survey begging for more money. A cynic might call this pattern A Cycle of Need. After a thorough examination of your resources, considering the preponderance of Need, you can effectively follow Christ’s teaching and liquidate everything. Your most careful calculation suggests that your assets can help eradicate Need somewhere for 0.04 seconds. Now —  left penniless, homeless and destitute — all is not lost. You won’t receive another 12-page survey. And Need just added another grateful recipient.