Often I hear people say, “if only they had what we have” (clean water, access to health products and free markets, better education, safer living conditions). Yes, these are all important. But no “charitable” (I hate that word) intervention can solve any of these issues. It can only kick the can down the road.
Perhaps the other examples are a bit hazy, but charity can and often does provide access to clean water (by sponsored filtration programs, well digging etc). I don't understand what he means by this "can only kick the can down the road".