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mac
Joined: 07 Mar 1999 Posts: 17751 Location: Berkeley, California
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:16 pm Post subject: Charitable giving |
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Isobars is fond of claiming that conservatives give more than liberals. I've always suspected that this is heavily biased by religious donation, if even true. But guess what, someone keeps statistics. You can find the recent trends here: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9NDAzMzE0fENoaWxkSUQ9NDExNTE2fFR5cGU9MQ==&t=1
Data is compiled and analyzed by Bank of American and Merrill Lynch, and is critical to the marketing of charity solicitations. I read about this in an article by David Nasaw, but was compelled to review the original source to see what could be gleaned. Nasaw definitely had a bias, arguing that the well-to-do only gave 3.4% of their income, and garnered a tax deduction for about 1/3. Thus, charitable deductions come about, in substantial part (up to 35%) by reducing tax revenues. With that apparently on the table with the recommendations of the deficit reduction panel, it makes sense to examine the evidence.
First, 63% of all giving is to religious organizations. The percentage given to religious organizations is much higher at lower income levels. I'm fine with that unless they turn that money around into partisan politics--as the religious right has. That's why I contribute to organizations that protect the separation of church and state.
Second, the pattern of giving by the well to do is somewhat different than Nasaw argues. While the median contribution is just 3.4%, the contribution by those making over $2 million a year was 8.7% in 2009, roughly half of what it was in 2008. Clearly a smaller number of the very rich are strongly motivated to philanthropy.
Third, the pattern of giving by the well to do supports direct charity (things like Haiti relief), education (the Harvard scholarship fund), and cultural organizations--neither jazz nor classical music really pay for themselves.
Fourth, the priorities set by the well-to-do, and partially deductible, show an interesting set of priorities. Education comes first at 19.3% of giving. Religion is second, at 13.3%. Arts is next, at 7.5%, followed by Health (e.g. hospitals and cancer research) at 6%. Providing for basic needs for the poor and disaster relief comes in near the bottom at about 4.7%.
While I have no objections to people giving what they want to whomever they want, when tax deductions are involved, as they are for non-profits and religious organizations, I think it is useful to debate whether or not enough is going to the truly poor. If conservatives are willing to argue that the public should not pay for caring for the indigent and mentally ill, I think they have a responsibility to help establish a charity system that will do that. So I would like us to consider an end to tax deductibility for all donations that don't directly affect the poor and the mentally ill.
Interesting stuff. |
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mat-ty
Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 7850
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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Do not forget the hospitals, schools, museums, librarys, recreation areas and more, the rich donate or build every year. Sport Charities like, PGA, NBA, NHL, NFL, ETC , raise huge amounts of money for the poor. |
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mac
Joined: 07 Mar 1999 Posts: 17751 Location: Berkeley, California
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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matty--if you read my post, or the underlying document, you would see that was all covered. I know you are used to getting your material from Fox news, but reading is, as they say, fundamental. |
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mat-ty
Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 7850
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Mac
Love fox news , and, ann coulter, savage, goldberg, ingram, malkin, will, krauthammer, ginrich, romney, buchanan, and many more.
I am sure you despise all of the above, because they expose the horseshit the liberal press tries to jam down Americas throat everyday, guess what! America has woke up, THANK GOD FOR FOX NEWS!!!! |
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MalibuGuru
Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Funny how PREZ OBAMA BLAMES THE REPUBLICANS FOR THIS NEW TAX BILL, even though THEY STILL CONTROL BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, and will continue to control the Senate.
He knows it's good for America, OR HE'S A WHORE......Which is it? |
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swchandler
Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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Come on Bard, you aren't so naive, are you? Although the Democrats have a majority in both the House and the Senate until the end of the month, they don't have the filibuster proof "60" votes needed in the Senate pass legislation. Without that, legislation goes nowhere if all the Republicans say "no". Without the filibuster option, the Republican minority would be toast.
Come January, the Republicans in the House will find out that a Senate filibuster will surely bedevil their new found majority and agenda. |
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mat-ty
Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 7850
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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Oblama, thats his only option, Blame Bush for the world wide recession,
Blame Fox for his unpopularity, blame the rich, blame the right, you name it and he will blame it.
The man is a classless fool!!! |
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boggsman1
Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 9122 Location: at a computer
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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mat-ty wrote: | Oblama, thats his only option, Blame Bush for the world wide recession,
Blame Fox for his unpopularity, blame the rich, blame the right, you name it and he will blame it.
The man is a classless fool!!! |
Obama chose to go this route today. He didnt have to. He did exactly as the Repubs wanted him to , and then some. matty-you should be thrilled cap gains, payroll tax, top brackets, estate, you win on all counts, you should be elated, but you're not, so it looks as if your an Obama hater no matter what. This is exactly the way it went in 1994-1995 with Clinton. he passed NAFTA, WELFARE Reform, and balanced the budget, yet Rethugs were still pissed off at him. There is no pleasing Rethugs, ever. |
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MalibuGuru
Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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swchandler wrote: | Come on Bard, you aren't so naive, are you? Although the Democrats have a majority in both the House and the Senate until the end of the month, they don't have the filibuster proof "60" votes needed in the Senate pass legislation. Without that, legislation goes nowhere if all the Republicans say "no". Without the filibuster option, the Republican minority would be toast.
Come January, the Republicans in the House will find out that a Senate filibuster will surely bedevil their new found majority and agenda. |
Same argument holds true when Bush was Prez. Dems controlled everything in 07/08, but he still screwed things up....
Both whores, but Obama has reached new heights of whoring. |
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mat-ty
Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 7850
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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Don't forget the independents, and the far far left, they hate the moron also. Look no further than ya boy Oblama for true hatred, no one has ever divided this country more!!! AND THAT WAS HIS CHOICE ALSO!!
The man attacks anyone that does not agree with him, from supreme court judges, senators, fox , the people, you name it. Sorry but you picked this dog , so now you have to lie with him. |
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