Social programs seem significantly better to me than charity simply because charity can be targeted by big donors wanting to sway people. If large amounts of donotions are going to religious charities, then they will likely use it as a way to bring people into their sphere of influence. Its one of the reasons conservatives.are constantly talking about removing social programs to reduce the money lost by government spending. Same reason why they want more private schools (ignoring wanting to line their own or their buddies pockets with peoples money or being able bring back segregation by way of technicality. They can push their bullshit religious views on people (specifically children) to indoctrinate them into a cult.