Why do people give to charities? Is it stupidty?

Question

When you watch the Salvation Army bell jiggler, what do you think? I think of mass stupidity. Bush gave $30 billion to Africa for supposedly "AIDS". Do you know that every Salvation Army jiggler across the entire nation for the last 100 years combined only took in a fraction of the $30 billion Bush gave to Africa? I had a gross of just over $199,000 and paid federal taxes of $51,400. This does not even count the SS taxes and medicare taxes. Since the US budget has 78% going toward social welfare, 78% of my taxes went into "forced charitable giving"--I was forced to give $40,092 to charity by the Federal govt.

If people realized how much forced charity they give in taxes, they would do as I do and not give one penny to any charity. If people would hold the USA government accountable for its tax waste and fraud, and the sending of BILLIONS of tax dollars to corrupt nations, without any form of auditing where that money goes, they would not give one penny to charity.

TO Diane M:

As long as people like you give to charities, then people like you will not hold the government accountable as to how they spend (waste) our tax dollars. You set the bar very, very low, Diane. You do not demand accountability of the dollars gouged from you in the form of taxes, then wasted away. Charities could be fully funded from our tax dollars if there were standards and audits in place and most fraud and waste eliminated.

TO TC:

You would help far more if you would stop giving to charities until the government stopped wasting so much tax dollars. It makes no sense to give away $30 billion in tax dollars when that is more money than every single charity combined took in over the last 50 years. Think about that.

To "truenorth" and others:

You missed the point that I made. If you REALLY wanted to help the less fortunate, you are not doing it "giving to charity" the way the system is today.

You do not understand how much $30 billion is--it is more than every major charity has collected in 100 years--Bush gave this much to Africa in one year.

If every citizen stopped giving to charity, there would be a major wake up call. Everybody would ask "why". If we all responded that "we demand the US government stop wasting billions of unaudited charity at home and abroad" and "we demand that the government be responsible with out tax $ and end the fraud and waste and abuse of social welfare", etc., citizens would have FAR FAR more to give than they do now. If you give a $1000 to charites now, you could give $5000 if the govenment would end the waste. It's your choice-- keep giving to charites now and help perpetuate the endless black hole, or change the system then you could REALLY give $

To "mouser":

Your response,

"Sorry to hear you had to pay 51,400 in taxes WHICH BY THE WAY IS WHAT WAS HELD OUT OF YOUR CHECK!!!

WHAT DO YOU PAY ON APRIL 15th??? I WOULD BET ZERO!"

Your response may be the most stupid answer ever given to any question--ever!!!

You are saying that if you pay $51,400 in federal income taxes, then since it is not paid on April 15th then you really didn't pay any at all??? Are you sane?

I mean really, were you mentally incapacitated when you said that? Are you implying that the only taxes one pays are those written out in check format on April 15th???

Are you nuts? Handicapped? Are you below the age of ten? The United States is regressing at Warp Factor 9 due to idiots like yourself. Only one with an empty brain cavity would think that you don't pay taxes unless you write a check on April 15th.

By the way, re "pay withheld", I am a 1099 worker so I don't have taxes withheld. I had to manually send in the entire amount.

Answer 1

Your right.
$30Billion to fight AIDS in africa.......
I didn't know we were done fighting here!

Also,people who collect charity always pocket the money for themselves.

Bottomline:The only good thing about charity..
is the IDEA!
The IDEA of giving and helping.
But the fact is most needy people don't even see that money.
It goes straight into the GOV.'s pocket.

Merry Christmas!

Answer 2

I would prefer to choose where my charitable donation goes. What most people don't realize is that most not for profit organizations do not get any federal funds (or very little). These organizations actually do the most for local communities on a daily basis.While the feds come in and help on big disasters they are not the ones that are helping individuals every day. My taxes go to do the major funding for government social programs but I can see the results of my small personal donations in my own neighborhood. Not for profits are run much more efficient and do more good than the large government programs over which none of us has any control.

Answer 3

I do not give to the Salvation Army but I do give to other small local charities like Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation, Rural Assist Program for Seniors.
Regardless what Bush gave to Africa! Which I disapprove of. We need to take care of our own first.

I am glad everyone does not feel the way u do. Sorry to hear you had to pay 51,400 in taxes WHICH BY THE WAY IS WHAT WAS HELD OUT OF YOUR CHECK!!!

WHAT DO YOU PAY ON APRIL 15th??? I WOULD BET ZERO!

You keep your money invest it, put it in your 401k, buy your nice house and cars! And sleep at night thinking about the homeless little boy or girl who will not have a Christmas because of you and others like you. Is it that little boy or girls fault their mom or dad lost their job OR won't work?!?

As you live in your nice neighborhood in your warm house with your Christmas tree and the hundreds of presents under your tree. Sleep good tonight in your nice big warm bed.

Answer 4

I give to charity because it makes me feel good to have help some people. I would have done it by volunteering, but am too busy so I give money to make up for it. Money they can use to buy food and feed the hungry. It is out of compassion that I give. As for the gov't, it is sad how much we are taxed for forced charity and still many people go hungry. Where is the money?
But I won't let that stop me from helping others. I help because it is the right thing to do.

Answer 5

Trust me I'm no supporter of the Bush administration but you give everyone a bad name who thinks like you do no matter what their political or philsophical beliefs are .

Only someone self-absorbed and immature and I don't care how old you are , would post something as hateful and irrational as what you've posted.

You must live a very sad little empty life.

You probably don't want to hear it but Jesus said what you do to the most vulnerable you do unto me.

We can't heal every problem in the world , Aids is a devastating illness, but we can try to alleviate the suffering by giving money to help get people the medicine they need.

Law of Karma dear, what you sow so shall you reap. You're gonna go through something that is going to rock your little insular world, I hope someone is around to give you help when you need it.

Might re-read slowly and carefully Dickens A Christmas Carol and concentrate on Ebeneezer Scrooge's experience, apparently he's returned as you.

Answer 6

First, let me say, I realize from your writing style that I am not going to change your mind on this subject. Your have asked the question to either vent your frustration or brag about your AGI. I want to answer to let others know that intelligent people volunteer, it is not stupid to give back to your community.

Do you ever get down on your knees and thank your lucky stars that you have been given the opportunity to earn such an exorbitant sum?

In February I will be traveling to Nepal to work with handicapped children who don't have a fraction of the opportunity you have. I want to experience the people of Nepal, revel in their beautiful country, and provide some help and hope to these kids who could use a hand.

In March I will be traveling to Guatemala to assist in the building of a emergency services building. The people of the region have nothing in terms of emergency services, so having this type of building will give the people some help and peace of mind.

I was in Guatemala last March working with kids and helping build and improve their schools. They have very little and again, not a fraction of the opportunity you have. They are happy, friendly, and love the Americans. Although, I doubt your ugly American attitude would be terribly popular in their country.

In one small village we were handing out school supplies and clothes, and bumped into one of our old friends who used to live and work in Boston. We were curious why he had come back to Guatemala and he said:

"You know I made a lot of money in the US. I had my own apartment, had all of the advantages of living in the US, but my family was here in Guatemala. Here I work very hard, have very little money, but my family is all around me. Family is important."

Answer 7

Not that I will reply to the diatribe the asker goes on and on about...but to answer the question: No, it is not stupidity.

When we treat each other as true members of society (for the non believers) or when we treat each other as true children of God (for the rest of us), we thrive as a whole when the lowest is cared for by the highest, the 2nd lowest by the 2nd highest, etc. This created an equity (not a sameness) that allows resources to be used as it was intended. All benefit from charity, whether on this plane or the next.

Answer 8

That's why I don't give $$$, I give goods. I support The Pencil Project with pencils so they can be passed along to kids in third world countries who don't have the tools they need. Education is the only way out of poverty.

Answer 9

im not bothered to read ur analysis but ill answer ur question :D
welll ppl give to charity either to show off *oh look at me i gave so much to charity* you ge tme for their reputation

or to be cool

or to just really wanna do sumthing good


but

sum charities are faulse sadly

nways
yh

Answer 10

Exhibit A as to why it is difficult to get into the kingdom of heaven with the love of money.