What's love got to do with it?

"Wagner traces the origins of the charitable mystique from historical and sociological perspectives from its religious roots in missions to convert indigenous peoples, through the rise of foundations and the development of alternative social-service agencies. He goes on to show how America has glorified its private sector at the expense of providing material benefits, such as income support, housing, or medical insurance, to its citizens, and he reveals these practices' immense social costs, which include the institutionalization of poverty among many U.S. citizens."--BOOK JACKET.