The Fraser Institute has released their latest report on charitable giving in the U.S. and Canada, and once again North America’s leaders in charitable donations from the Rio Grande to the Arctic Circle reside overwhelmingly in red states. This has been the case for some time, and the reason for it almost certainly comes down to a difference in philosophy regarding charity and the role of private/public institutions in its application. It’s unsurprising that conservatives – who by and large believe in the sovereignty of the individual, particularly in terms of fiscal decision-making – choose to give of their own net incomes to charitable causes and organizations that they find worthwhile. It’s also unsurprising (and stereotypical) that liberals choose to give less of their own net income to charity, instead leaving that responsibility to the government, which replaces the individual as the evaluator and benefactor of charitable organizations and endeavors. Based on that philosophy of charity and responsibility, it’s no surprise that some liberals have been calling on the government to reduce or eliminate the charitable giving tax deduction.
Based on 2009 data, the Fraser Institute found that the top ten states by percentage of aggregate income donated to charity are: (1) Utah, (2) Georgia, (3) Alabama, (4) Maryland, (5) South Carolina, (6) Idaho, (7) North Carolina, (8) Oklahoma, (9) Mississippi and New York. The rest of the top half are below the fold:
11. Tennessee
12. Kansas
13. Washington, DC
14. Virginia
15. South Dakota
16. Montana
17. Arkansas
18. Connecticut
19. Colorado
19. Wyoming
21. Minnesota
22. Michigan
22. Oregon
24. Delaware
25. Texas
Those coming in at the bottom of the pack had some New England flavor to them: (45) Hawaii, (46) Rhode Island, (47) West Virginia, (48) New Hampshire, (49) Vermont, (50) North Dakota.
Victoria Coates
Daniel Horowitz
DEMOCRATS ARE AFRAID TO RUN AGAINST SANTORUM!
seanl (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 11:51AM EST (link)Saw this in my inbox this morning. Democratic ex-Governor of Pennsylvania explains why Democrats should be afraid to run against Santorum. Go to 1:05:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/45811753#45811753
Rick Santorum – moving America forward by bringing back the values that made this country great. But I don’t believe this at all, actually! I’m a moby who calls people hypocrites! That means that I think ‘irony’ means ‘like iron’!
THREADJACK!
NightTwister (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 11:58AM EST (link)And I thought Romneybots were annoying.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
seanl, this is a rather severe threadjack.
acat (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 12:01PM EST (link)This diary has nothing to do with Santorum.
Mew
——

Caveat Suffragator
Don't threadjack again.
Jeff Emanuel (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 12:14PM EST (link)That’s not a request. Thanks in advance.
JE
In your case seanl, it's actually a "threadjerk".
mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 2:31PM EST (link)nt.
Jeff - this information came in handy a couple days ago...
acat (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 12:28PM EST (link)I was having lunch with my gay communist friend a bit before Christmas, and we got onto the subject of charitable giving.
I pointed out that most giving comes from areas with lower average incomes but less government. He was surprised, but agreed to look into it.
I will be sending your link along.
Thank you, and Happy New Year.
Mew
——

Caveat Suffragator
Have him read this
rpopp23 (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 2:25PM EST (link)Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compasionate Conservatism Who Gives, Who Doesn’t, and Why It Matters by Arthur Brooks.
This guy was a liberal who looked at giving – mostly in the US, but also did some international investigation. Not too surprising to most of us – but shocking to your communist friend.
Your diary, Jeff, brings up a vital point that the libs
westcoastpatriette (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 12:49PM EST (link)make sure is never heard. And one that needs to be shouted from the house tops.
Voluntary charitable giving is the answer conservatives should have on the tip of our tongues every time we come to the table to discuss how to reverse course and get the government out of the job of social engineering. From welfare to free health care for the indigent, rather than legislation that forces taxpayers to give against their will and with no control over the dispersion or outcome of their money, we need to return to old fashioned charity to fill those needs.
It’s fairer, cheaper, more effective and allows communities to care for their own. The left despises these kinds of answers and attempt to demonize anyone who goes there. Disgusting and down right evil if you ask me.
But where are the conservative voices promoting these answers?
Give to Log Cabin
logcabin4newt Thursday, December 29th at 1:26PM EST (link)I proudly defend this country and am proudly gay.
I think in ’12 we can win the gay vote with people like Newt and Romney.
Lets put our money where our mouths are and show that we can widen this big GOP tent!
Log Cabin Republicans is not a charity.
Melody Warbington (rwm52) (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 1:53PM EST (link)Also, I don’t think this diary was intended to be a forum through which folks could solicit for their favorite causes.
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things. (John 4:25)
kowalski, appears I'm too late. nt
Melody Warbington (rwm52) (Diary) Thursday, December 29th at 1:54PM EST (link)nt
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things. (John 4:25)
Vive la Michigan!
geoph Friday, December 30th at 7:26AM EST (link)Good for us!
After 8 years of that Canadian Socialist running us into the ground, the collapse of the US Auto Industry, the fact we never participated in the recovery of the Naughties, being a strong (if their is still such a thing) union state, and of course the albatross that is Detroit – we really are a good people!
So many in need of assistance, and yet still so many who give what and when they can. Much like a mitten, we gatcha covered.
(and our Lions are in the playoffs after a dozen years)