It’s been like something from the kind of Christmas movie that doesn’t get made anymore. All over the country, anonymous people have been showing up at Kmart stores (and a couple of other chains) and paying for thousands of dollars worth of Christmas presents for strangers.
Nobody knows what’s going on. Nobody seems to have organized it. As far as anyone can tell, it’s just people voluntarily helping people — without having any politician or bureaucrat force them to.
I’d read about the phenomenon last week, and I saw a story in the Birmingham paper Tuesday about it happening at several local stores. The largest single contributor paid $6,400 at one local Kmart toward other people’s layaways. So what is going on?
I think it’s simple. There are a lot of really good-hearted people who truly want to help others. Maybe you don’t really have to hold a gun to folks’ heads to get them to want to help people. And maybe those folks prefer deciding for themselves what to do with the money they donate — instead of having government bureaucrats decide for them.

Goodbye, Courtney Haden
Didn’t we already try secession? Politicians don’t like losing control
I support MLK’s original goals, but not what his birthday represents
Santa Claus at a loss when Rosie comes to tell him her troubles
FRIDAY FUNNIES
Goodbye, Thomas (1994-2012)
Sometimes we should ignore idiots who yell about non-existent racism
Can we find peace online when social media have become toxic?
Heart that truly loves is a servant for another’s happiness and peace