An interesting article about charitable giving

[nicomachus]

What's your point? I mean, I'm just not seeing it here, and I'm a pretty smart guy.


"'So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do ... But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

In my Bible, that passage is illustrated with a photo of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett."

1) These guys give pretty big press conferences every time they make charitable donations; they even get stuff named after them. So, no, there is no picture of them in your Bible.

2) You are aware, aren't you, of the letter headed by Warren Buffett and 90 other super-wealthy Americans calling for higher taxes on the rich to support public programs?

[Politically_Incorrect12]

Jan 1, 2011 16:31:32 GMT -5 @nicomachus said:

What's your point? I mean, I'm just not seeing it here, and I'm a pretty smart guy.


"'So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do ... But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

In my Bible, that passage is illustrated with a photo of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett."

1) These guys give pretty big press conferences every time they make charitable donations; they even get stuff named after them. So, no, there is no picture of them in your Bible.

2) You are aware, aren't you, of the letter headed by Warren Buffett and 90 other super-wealthy Americans calling for higher taxes on the rich to support public programs?

I am sure that the government would take a donation from all 90 of those people if they really felt the need to pay more.

[nicomachus]

Indeed, and it would make sense if they did make such donations (they might, for all I know). However, anyone who claims that they represent the point of the Scripture quoted above has simply made an absurd claim.

It is also a false dichotomy to claim that one must choose between charity and governmental welfare programs and safety nets. Governments have a legitimate duty toward the welfare of the citizens.

[deziloooooo]

Don't understand the point of the post either...just another of the liberal/conservative ..same old BS here instead of issues..discuss..the pointing of fingers with a few "oh yeahs " thrown in..no chance of leaving that crap over on the old..??

[nicomachus]

Precisely. The ad hominem *STILL* isn't a valid form of argument.

[burnsattornincan]

A "pretty smart" guy? What is your IQ sir? The point seems clear to me. Liberals support wealth confiscation yet are proven to give less to charity than conservatives. Does that not strike you as kind of odd? It certainly does to me.

[deziloooooo]

you got all that by comparing a few politicos and then that gives you the correct equation? Boy you are good.


I would think that Gates and Buffet ..not sure what their politico's are, I'll assume to the left..trump all of them in their totals but that doesn't mean anything anyway,..Actually, Americans in general, all sides seem to be pretty philanthropic over a years time..not sure how they measure up with the world but have a feeling we more then hold our own.

[burnsattornincan]

I would think that Gates and Buffet ..not sure what their politico's are, I'll assume to the left..trump all of them in their totals

Convenient liberals should not be included in the equation. Good, hardworking people of moderate means are the ones that count in this comparison. In this case, conservatives out-give by a landslide.

[billisonboard]

"Convenient liberals should not be included in the equation."

Only inconvenient ones.

[burnsattornincan]

Sorry to have confused you Mr. billisonboard. If you need me to define the term for you just let me know.

[billisonboard]

Please feel free to do anything you wish.

[deziloooooo]

he will...make up the rules as he goes along ..something the other side likes to do methinks..any way with all the caveats this has become a silly one//

[deziloooooo]

by the way found the military one..lordy anyone who was hanging there must have a headache with all the moving around..hope it's finally finished , the move I mean.

[nicomachus]

I should like every term to be defined clearly.

Anyway, I did not come here to discuss what statistical correlation exists between one's political leaning and one's level of philanthropy. The subject of this board is politics and the market, which would suggest one ought to discuss how political acts taken by a state affect economic conditions and markets (whatever markets are---I have been working on this question for some time). To this end, absolutely no one would have any interest in how much money anyone has given any charity. Any suggestion otherwise reduces to an ad hominem.

The fallacies end here.

[deziloooooo]

[burnsattornincan]

Anyway, I did not come here to discuss what statistical correlation exists between one's political leaning and one's level of philanthropy.

And yet you commented on the subject? Anyway, a "convenient liberal" is one such individual that has so much money (usually gained by easy work such as acting or other entertainment) that it does not matter if they give away 50% or more of their wealth, they would still be more than comfortable just the same.

[deziloooooo]

LOL, you are unbelievable ..how can one stay away from your assumptions


"(usually gained by easy work such as acting or other entertainment)

That is considered easy work..by who? You mean they are not doing physical work..ditch digging by hand, lift that bale and if they get a little drunk, land in.... that is considered hard work and the rest...easy.. Lordy where are you coming from my friend

[nicomachus]

To my own defense: I commented on what I believed to be a very bad misinterpretation of a passage of the Scriptures.

[billisonboard]

dezi,
Yes, "easy work", unlike the hard work of having an assistant file legal papers.

[lakhota]

Rich vs. Poor

The second myth is that the people with the most money are the most generous. You'd think they'd be. After all, the rich should have the most to spare and households with incomes exceeding $1 million (about 7 percent of the population) make 50 percent of all charitable donations.

But while the rich do give more in overall dollars, according to the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, people at the lower end of the income scale give almost 30 percent more of their income.

abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2682730&page=1

[burnsattornincan]

To make it simple for you people I chose the phrase "easy work". I think you know what I mean; show up at 6:00am, rehearse, shoot some scenes and call it a wrap. It isn't "easy" per se but you have to admit the pay is pretty good. For singers and other entertainers as such it is a little more difficult with having to write material and perform it on stage under sometimes difficult circumstances but again, the pay is pretty good. When considering all of the other income from sources where no work is involved (endorsements, selling of rights ect.) a good amount of cash can be given away without too much worry. This is what I mean about a convenient liberal.

[nicomachus]

I don't see what their line of work has to do with their political leanings.

[burnsattornincan]

Thats ok Mr. nicomachus, don't worry your pretty little head over it.

[deziloooooo]

" show up at 6:00am,"
Why not try get up at 4AM to be ready to be picked up at 5..to get to the studio to spend say three hours in make up..review your lines and hang while the shots are set up..more set ups, more lines.possible rewritten...lunch..then back again, don't forget make up after lunch..finally break for the day..home say 8 , a bite to eat and learning next day lines and again bed by 11, up at 4..
Think that's more like it really is..don't believe me, ..do some googling, be aware of..

[burnsattornincan]

Mr. dezilooooo, do you think they do this 5 days a week throughout the entire year with just statutory holidays and some vacation in between? Please try to be realistic here.

[deziloooooo]

I am realistic...you aren't and your venting of what qualifies for work and what does not ...and your idea of what really constitutes hard work is just more of your non sense ... whether they spend days, hours..to get to that stage to be in a picture, on the stage they have had to perfect their craft and we have a uneducated Bozo dissing they and I guess any on who doesn't measure up to his standards on anything.
I would love to have ideas exchanged here , differences aired out but I am afraid it's turning into the same crap that was over at the old thread..to many posting nonsense to attempt to impress some friends and get a slap of encouragement on the butt..it's to bad ,I was hoping for a bit more , but so few calling you and others like you out..guess they are more concerned in getting butt slaps too rather then a real way to communicate and exchange ideas and honest differences..more a world of sound bytes from the talking heads just regurgitated.

[burnsattornincan]

My goodness Mr. dezilooooo, did you just poop your pants?

[deziloooooo]

"to many posting nonsense to attempt to impress some friends and get a slap of encouragement on the butt.."

Stand by that..Bye

[chiver78]

Jan 1, 2011 15:58:59 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

I thought there was some interesting points regarding charitable giving in Ann Coulter's latest article.

you can't possibly be surprised that Ann Coulter only had negative things to say about liberals.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I thought it was an interesting article, but not necessarily one from which broad generalizations can be drawn correlating political parties and philanthopic interests.

Speaking anecdotally, I must say that I have a number of friends (representing the entire political spectrum) and their commitment to charities and causes varies, as one would expect.

I also know that for some, they choose to support causes and charities with their checkbook, via cash donations. For others, they choose to support causes and charities with their time and skills, via volunteering efforts. Granted, hours spend volunteering aren't tax deductible, so they don't show up on end-of-the-year balance sheets the way donations do.

For us, we do both. We support a wide variety of non-profits and charitable organizations, some faith-based, and some not. And because I have the luxury of time, I also spend a lot of time volunteering at a variety of places, as well.... something which can't easily be measured in the same way. But, to me, it still "counts."

The choice of various political figures to donate or volunteer is interesting news, but doesn't impact my decisions to impact my community in my own way. I donate and volunteer because I care ... and not because of what any President has done.