01 Apr 08
The belief that liberals care more about the poor may scratch a partisan or ideological itch, but the facts are hostile witnesses:
• Although liberal families' incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed household ($1,600 per year vs. $1,227).
• Conservatives also donate more time and give more blood.
• Residents of the states that voted for John Kerry in 2004 gave smaller percentages of their incomes to charity than did residents of states that voted for George Bush.
• Bush carried 24 of the 25 states where charitable giving was above average.
• In the 10 reddest states, in which Bush got more than 60 percent majorities, the average percentage of personal income donated to charity was 3.5. Residents of the bluest states, which gave Bush less than 40 percent, donated just 1.9 percent.
• People who reject the idea that "government has a responsibility to reduce income inequality" give an average of four times more than people who accept that proposition.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/26/AR2008032602916.html
01 Apr 08
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterHow many of those 'charities' were churches? I work for one, and I know that the operating
The belief that liberals care more about the poor may scratch a partisan or ideological itch, but the facts are hostile witnesses:
• Although liberal families' incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed househo ...[text shortened]... tion.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/26/AR2008032602916.html
costs (i.e. administrative) comprise a very high percentage of the yearly collection, often
approaching 85%, with a very small percentage going to actual outreach (beyond the spiritual,
which is, of course, a personal and not charitable benefit).
Most charities strive to minimize such administrative expenses so the money donated goes to
help those in need, not directors, secretaries, and other operating costs which perpetuate the
institution. The Red Cross, for example, has something like a 10% administrative expense with
90 cents of every dollar going to food, water, housing, or whatever relief they are involved with.
I would expect that conservatives are more likely to be church goers than liberals and, consequently,
one must question these figures until we know exactly what constitutes 'charitable giving.'
Nemesio
02 Apr 08
Originally posted by NemesioLets see, being conservative, the charities I give money to on a regular basis:
How many of those 'charities' were churches? I work for one, and I know that the operating
costs (i.e. administrative) comprise a very high percentage of the yearly collection, often
approaching 85%, with a very small percentage going to actual outreach (beyond the spiritual,
which is, of course, a personal and not charitable benefit).
Most charities ...[text shortened]... uestion these figures until we know exactly what constitutes 'charitable giving.'
Nemesio
USO
Any Soldier.com
Participate in the Boca Java Coffee for the troops effort(coffee sent each month to troops in Iraq)
Salvation Army (money at Christmas, Clothes and household goods multiple times a year)
Joslin Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
St Jude's Childrens Hospital
Semi charity/political organizations
Minutemen Organization
Heritage Foundation
No churches even though I'm a Christian
I also avoid organizations that have either misdirected/misappropriated or have had financial scandals in their recent history
Like the Red Cross, United Way etc, UNICEF
- Joined
- 21 Jul 06
- Moves
- 94398
02 Apr 08
Originally posted by SMSBear716Well done SMSBear. Here's a pat on the back... *tap tap*.
Lets see, being conservative, the charities I give money to on a regular basis:
USO
Any Soldier.com
Participate in the Boca Java Coffee for the troops effort(coffee sent each month to troops in Iraq)
Salvation Army (money at Christmas, Clothes and household goods multiple times a year)
Joslin Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
St Jude's Childrens Hospit ...[text shortened]... e had financial scandals in their recent history
Like the Red Cross, United Way etc, UNICEF
I assume that's what you're looking for, as your statement doesn't help us too much in discerning what constitutes charitable giving in the case of this study...
02 Apr 08
1 edit
Originally posted by HumeAThere was a implicaton that conservatives only give to churches.... I was trying to discourage such a generalization
Well done SMSBear. Here's a pat on the back... *tap tap*.
I assume that's what you're looking for, as your statement doesn't help us too much in discerning what constitutes charitable giving in the case of this study...
It be like me saying all liberals give to MoveOn.org
Thanks for the pat on the back..even though your hand is kinda cold....
02 Apr 08
1 edit
Originally posted by SMSBear716I made no such implication nor generalization. The generalization I made was that conservatives
There was a implicaton that conservatives only give to churches.... I was trying to discourage such a generalization
are more likely to be church goers than liberals (something I think both sides agree on) and,
consequently, one can expect conservatives to give more money to churches than liberals (merely
on the basis of attendance).
Since churches generally represent a very low return to the outside community with their high
operating expenses (another relatively undisputed claim), such donations are doing far less than
donations to the Red Cross, for example.
So, until the article specifies the nature of the so-called charitable contributions, the overall claim
(that conservatives give more than liberals) is pretty spurious.
Something I didn't add before (but I will now) is this also doesn't take into account is the
nature of charitable contributions in the form of labor (that is, not money).
Lastly, I find the claim that liberals make more money than conservatives pretty suspect,
given that Republican/Conservative/Wealthy and Democrat/Liberal/Poor tend to be the
stereotypical associations. How did the article arrive at the seemingly opposite economic
conclusion?
Nemesio
02 Apr 08
Originally posted by der schwarze RitterI guess conservatives have to do something to ease their conscience.
The belief that liberals care more about the poor may scratch a partisan or ideological itch, but the facts are hostile witnesses:
• Although liberal families' incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed househo ...[text shortened]... tion.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/26/AR2008032602916.html
02 Apr 08
Originally posted by Nemesiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charitable_contribution#Services
I ...
Something I didn't add before (but I will now) is this also doesn't take into account is the
nature of charitable contributions in the form of labor (that is, not money).
Nemesio
[edit] Services
If the donor is contributing her services to a charity, she is not entitled to a deduction for those services. She is however, entitled to deduct her unreimbursed expenses that she incurred in rendering them (except for child care expenses, which are considered non-deductible personal expenses).
[edit] Example
Joy is a professional soccer player who lives in San Diego. She decides to volunteer her time at a non-profit (certified charity) soccer camp, located in Los Angeles for a week. In the ordinary course of things, Joy would charge 10,000 USD for these services, plus costs of transportation, board, and child care. Assume that Joy's driving costs (gas money, oil change, etc) amount to 150 USD, the cost of a hotel room for the week is 400 USD, and the cost of child care for her two kids is 500 USD for the week.
Joy is not entitled to deduct the 10,000 USD value of "free services" that she performed. Nor is she entitled to deduct the 500 USD of child care expenses incurred in the week she was volunteering. However, Joy may deduct the 150 USD car expenses, as well as the 400 USD hotel expenses incurred in her time volunteering at the camp, for a total deduction of 550 USD.
04 Apr 08
The post that was quoted here has been removedIt comes back to the point of where you see yourself vis-a-vis the government. Liberals want to use the power of government to redistribute income and address issues of "social justice." Conservatives believe that the people control the government and that our laws should insure that liberty is applied evenly and not just to special interests or protected and privileged classes.
05 Apr 08
Originally posted by NemesioI am liberal, and go to church. Most of my charitable giving is to the church (about $6k), and another $1.5k to various other charities. I also give 2 weeks a year to do volunteer mission work inplaces like New Orleans, and South Carolina. Let's not generalize too much. I do however agree that what constitutes charitable giving should be better defined.
I made no such implication nor generalization. The generalization I made was that conservatives
are more likely to be church goers than liberals (something I think both sides agree on) and,
consequently, one can expect conservatives to give more money to churches than liberals (merely
on the basis of attendance).
Since churches generally represent a v ...[text shortened]... ations. How did the article arrive at the seemingly opposite economic
conclusion?
Nemesio