DH,
There are time zones. When my husband is at work, someone in E”Y is able to be learning….or Australia…or England. And he is fulfilling Torah obligations by:
1) Fulfilling the terms of his ketubah
2) Applying halacha within his job (including opportunities to do more types of mitzvos he wouldn’t be able to do while in Beis Medrash)
3) Earning money for tzedaka
His time learning may be limited, but his mesiras nefesh for the time spent learning or going to a minyan is much greater. I don’t keep score, so I can’t tell you if his learning is more “valuable” than a guy sitting and learning. I do know that he is living Torah while at work.
As to the enmasse – the current system forces donations of various types (most notably tuition in the US). Sending a few bochurim to yeshiva was affordable. Nowadays, the Kollel system is hard to maintain. Thus people turn to social services (American charity) or gemachim (Jewish charity) or donations from others (often coerced from family).
I don’t support charities that discourage men from supporting their families. That is the Torah way. Kollel lifestyle is a luxury and I would rather support those trying to feed and clothe themselves (and help them as needed) rather than support a luxury. Learning Torah? Mandatory. Kollel? Luxury.
If a Kollel family is having trouble feeding their family, I would try to help the husband get a job. I wouldn’t hand over money (in most cases).
You can support Torah without supporting Kollel.
LOL @ Wolf.