The government has many means tested requirements to determine if you really need it. Most charities only take action after the fact; after you are homeless, after you got severely ill. And they rely on a visual means test. They can feed the homeless on Thanksgiving but don’t have the resources for the other 364 days.

> I'd rather send my money to those who (presumably, and hopefully) have a broad enough view of society to know where it is really needed.

The difference is that do not trust the government to know what's best nor, do what's best.

I would probably feel the same in the US, but I don't believe it as a general rule. It depends very much on the government in question.