too many shoes

I've never really understood why buying ugly, overpriced shoes is supposed to be a good way to help poor people in other countries. Yeah, I suppose I could pay $44 for a pair of shoes for myself to TOMS, which will then send a pair to a child. But in my mind, it's always made more sense to just donate all $44 to a reputable charity with a longstanding presence in the region who will respond to the myriad of problems that materially poor children face in a culturally-appropriate manner and that perhaps even pump much-needed cash into local economies by buying shoes from local suppliers and merchants to give to those children rather than simply giving them a pair of shoes that, quite frankly, aren't made to stand up to the unpaved terrain, raw sewage, or cold weather on, through, and during which those children generally have to walk.

But perhaps it's just me.

Anyway, tomorrow, the TOMS Shoes people would like you to not wear shoes for awhile so that you will sympathize with people who don't have any and maybe buy some of their shoes to send to those poor children. They are calling it "One Day without Shoes," and you can buy a t-shirt, pledge to not wear shoes, and get together with other barefoot people to marvel at the miracle of a thin strip of rubber topped by canvas.

I'm so tired of these nonsense "awareness-raising" exercises by American hipster do-gooders that I'm not even going to bother. Plus this reminds me that I need to get a pedicure. Add your own snide remarks in the comments. Here are some categories to get you started:

1. Advocate-centered advocacy
2. Opportunity costs
   
3. Clueless celebrities
4. Stunts that don't help anybody
5. Shoe-related charity efforts