> Whenever we spend our own money to fix problems that affect us, we consider the opportunity costs carefully. But when the collection plate is passed to us and we want to demonstrate virtue, our money is given into the hands of people who have a reward system that is not ideally suited to using it altruistically.

Yeap. As usual, Yes Minister explains the political process to a T:

- This money is voted solely to make sick people better.

- No, no, no, Minister. It is to make everybody better. Better for having shown the extent of their care and compassion. You see, when money is allocated to the Health or Social Services, Parliament and the country feel... cleansed. Purified. Absolved. It is a sacrifice. After the sacrifice, nobody asks the priest what happened to the ritual offering after the ceremony.

https://youtu.be/U01oual9ysQ?t=13m23s