POLITICO: Conservative red states far more charitable than liberal blue states

[KingpinOG]

Why don't liberals care about helping the poor and the sick?


Study: Red states more charitable - Mackenzie Weinger - POLITICO.com


Study: Red states more charitable


Utah leads with charitable giving, with 10.6 percent of income given. | Reuters
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By MACKENZIE WEINGER | 8/20/12 12:20 PM EDT

Red states give more money to charity than blue states, according to a new study on Monday.

The eight states with residents who gave the highest share of their income to charity supported Sen. John McCain in 2008, while the seven states with the least generous residents went for President Barack Obama, the Chronicle of Philanthropy found in its new survey of tax data from the IRS for 2008.

The eight states whose residents gave the highest share of their income — Utah, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Idaho, Arkansas and Georgia — all backed McCain in 2008. Utah leads charitable giving, with 10.6 percent of income given.

And the least generous states — Wisconsin, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire — were Obama supporters in the last presidential race. New Hampshire residents gave the least share of their income, the Chronicle stated, with 2.5 percent.

“The reasons for the discrepancies among states, cities, neighborhoods are rooted in part in each area’s political philosophy about the role of government versus charity,” the study’s authors noted.

But it’s not just about politics — “religion has a big influence on giving patterns.”

“Regions of the country that are deeply religious are more generous than those that are not. Two of the top nine states—Utah and Idaho—have high numbers of Mormon residents, who have a tradition of tithing at least 10 percent of their income to the church,” the study states. “The remaining states in the top nine are all in the Bible Belt.”

The Chronicle of Philanthropy used tax data from the IRS for 2008 to create its study. The Chronicle noted that “to account for sharp differences in the cost of living across America” the study “compared generosity rates after residents paid taxes, housing, food, and other necessities.” The study only included taxpayers who said they had an income of $50,000 or more.


Read more: Study: Red states more charitable - Mackenzie Weinger - POLITICO.com

 

[Brown_Pride]

does this study equate charitable organizations with churches? If so it's actually counter to your argument as 10% is what "christians" are supposed to give to the church, charitable contributions should exist outside of the church. If so it looks like only .6 percent is given where it's not REQUIRED by their beliefs.

 

[The Real]

does this study equate charitable organizations with churches? If so it's actually counter to your argument as 10% is what "christians" are supposed to give to the church, charitable contributions should exist outside of the church. If so it looks like only .6 percent is given where it's not REQUIRED by their beliefs.

You're exactly on the mark here. Their explanation of Utah's numbers through reference to the high number of Mormons who are bound by religion to give 10% of their earnings to the church gives away the game completely, which can be further confirmed by reading the survey itself. It's just another distorted, pro-Conservative study.

The (very liberal) Northeastern states actually have the most charity donation when you take donations to churches out of the picture.

Though some, or even most of the Church-donating Conservatives may believe their money is actually being used for charitable purposes, that's an assumption that isn't exactly supported by the facts, and furthermore, most of these churches shouldn't count as charity cases considering how crooked and profiteering they are.

 

[the cac mamba]

You're exactly on the mark here. Their explanation of Utah's numbers through reference to the high number of Mormons who are bound by religion to give 10% of their earnings to the church gives away the game completely, which can be further confirmed by reading the survey itself. It's just another distorted, pro-Conservative study.

what a scam

 

[Serious]

furthermore, most of these churches shouldn't count as charity cases considering how crooked and profiteering they are.

word, to Rev. T.D. Jake, Eddie Long, Ceflo Dollar(give me a break ) etc the list goes on.....

 

[Brown_Pride]

You're exactly on the mark here. Their explanation of Utah's numbers through reference to the high number of Mormons who are bound by religion to give 10% of their earnings to the church gives away the game completely, which can be further confirmed by reading the survey itself. It's just another distorted, pro-Conservative study.

The (very liberal) Northeastern states actually have the most charity donation when you take donations to churches out of the picture.

Though some, or even most of the Church-donating Conservatives may believe their money is actually being used for charitable purposes, that's an assumption that isn't exactly supported by the facts, and furthermore, most of these churches shouldn't count as charity cases considering how crooked and profiteering they are.

The irony in all of this is that if you see a tax as a required payment of money that isn't spent on you but the "greater good" then tithing can been seen as just that.

TAXES still get your ass in the end.

 

[KingpinOG]

You're exactly on the mark here. Their explanation of Utah's numbers through reference to the high number of Mormons who are bound by religion to give 10% of their earnings to the church gives away the game completely, which can be further confirmed by reading the survey itself. It's just another distorted, pro-Conservative study.

The (very liberal) Northeastern states actually have the most charity donation when you take donations to churches out of the picture.

I am still trying to figure out why charitable contributions made to a church shouldn't count as charity. When people voluntarily give money or services to help others that is the very definition of charity. I think you just don't like liberals being exposed as having no compassion for the poor and sick.

I would love to see some evidence that Northeastern states make the most charitable donations. However I have a feeling you are lying like you do with everything else.

 

[KingpinOG]

and furthermore, most of these churches shouldn't count as charity cases considering how crooked and profiteering they are.

Because giving money to the government to help others is so much more efficient. Everyone knows that government isn't crooked or profiteering.

 

[the next guy]

What a shock, red states using money they don't have...

 

[the next guy]

Because giving money to the government to help others is so much more efficient. Everyone knows that government isn't crooked or profiteering.

Because, the government does it takes away from the fact that pulpit crimes are just that, crimes.

 

[The Real]

I am still trying to figure out why charitable contributions made to a church shouldn't count as charity. When people voluntarily give money or services to help others that is the very definition of charity. I think you just don't like liberals being exposed as having no compassion for the poor and sick.

Giving is charity when it's a voluntary donation to people in need. Giving is not charity when:

1. You're tithing because your religion mandates it.
2. When the recipients of this charity are far wealthier than their congregations (I wonder how that happens running a non-profit? )
3. When the money given to these wealthy institutions doesn't trickle down to the needy.


When the government mandates that you donate a percentage of your income to the needy in some way (hint: taxes for social services,) Conservatives scream that it's theft and tyranny. When they do it because religion commands it, backed by the threat of hell, somehow it becomes charity?

I would love to see some evidence that Northeastern states make the most charitable donations. However I have a feeling you are lying like you do with everything else.

"Indeed, when tithing is taken out of the equation, the list of most charitable states changes dramatically.

New York, for example, is ranked No. 18 overall, but jumps to No. 2 when only secular donations are counted. Pennsylvania would make a similar leap, rising from No. 40 to No. 4."

In the color of money,

Because giving money to the government to help others is so much more efficient. Everyone knows that government isn't crooked or profiteering.

I didn't initially endorse giving money to the government at all, but I'm glad to see you implicitly acknowledge the validity of the comparison between taxes and church donations.

 

[Brown_Pride]

Because giving money to the government to help others is so much more efficient. Everyone knows that government isn't crooked or profiteering.

the real question is then why are you always dyck riding government officials if they are so corrupt?

That's the ONLY thing I can give credit to republicans for. They are some smooth sons of biotches. They have their constituents riled up the VERY shyt they themselves are doing.

It's like WHILE robbing the house the burglar is talking to the home owners about how thieves are horrible people and how he can help them. When it's all said and done the thief leaves with everything and the home owners standing on the porch waving good bye. The home owners turn around and then get upset that they were robbed and don't know how it happened but think that the nice man they just spoke to might be the solution to their problems.
truth hurts

 

[KingpinOG]

Giving is charity when it's a voluntary donation to people in need. Giving is not charity when:

1. You're tithing because your religion mandates it.
2. When the recipients of this charity are far wealthier than their congregations (I wonder how that happens running a non-profit? )
3. When the money given to these wealthy institutions doesn't trickle down to the needy.

When the government mandates that you donate a percentage of your income to the needy in some way (hint: taxes for social services,) Conservatives scream that it's theft and tyranny. When they do it because religion commands it, backed by the threat of hell, somehow it becomes charity?

What are you talking about? How can a religion mandate that its participants donate money when a religion has no coercive powers like a government? People voluntarily choose to join religious groups and voluntarily choose to make chartiable contributions to those groups.

Besides, I really don't know too many churches that mandate that its followers donate money. I am Catholic and never once in my life have I heard a priest demand that anyone donate money.... let alone 10% of their income. Most people that I see at church donate nothing. You are reaching as usual.

"Indeed, when tithing is taken out of the equation, the list of most charitable states changes dramatically.

New York, for example, is ranked No. 18 overall, but jumps to No. 2 when only secular donations are counted. Pennsylvania would make a similar leap, rising from No. 40 to No. 4."

In the color of money,

I didn't initially endorse giving money to the government at all, but I'm glad to see you implicitly acknowledge the validity of the comparison between taxes and church donations.

Still, that could probably be explained by the fact that conservatives make most of their contributions through their churches.

 

[Fillerguy]

what a scam

dont knock the hustle

Is "charity" really altruistic if you get to right it off your taxes?

 

[KingpinOG]

the real question is then why are you always dyck riding government officials if they are so corrupt?

That's the ONLY thing I can give credit to republicans for. They are some smooth sons of biotches. They have their constituents riled up the VERY shyt they themselves are doing.

It's like WHILE robbing the house the burglar is talking to the home owners about how thieves are horrible people and how he can help them. When it's all said and done the thief leaves with everything and the home owners standing on the porch waving good bye. The home owners turn around and then get upset that they were robbed and don't know how it happened but think that the nice man they just spoke to might be the solution to their problems.
truth hurts

Government is inherently corrupt and inherently inefficient no matter which party is in control. Conservatives recognize this, and that is why they seek to limit the power and influence of government.

You will never see me riding government officials. I simply choose the lesser of two evils.