TAXES

Funny i don't read about the Morman church running food banks or the like. I do read about them funding anti gay laws,anti abortion laws,abstenence only teaching!

Because the local school districts and Tech Colleges are taking their "fair share" first

the salvation army is the ONLY honest one! most people are buzy feeding other parasites that the goverment mandates we feed and don't have anything left to throw at the other legal conjobs

Obama knows how to spend my money better. Why give it to a Church when King Obama is more fair and all knowing.

Some of the most fun I had growing up was participating in charitable activities--it still feels good to be able to give back. We all know who the largest organizations are--but there are also many small/er charitable organizations working in the trenches (so to speak) and doing amazing things for children, adults with disabilities, and small animals, with just a little money. Without the mega marketing budgets of the national organizations and large local nonprofits a lot of these small agencies get overlooked and that's a shame.

I give to United Way, Breast Cancer and Alheimer's charities. I don't have a problem with that. But I'm fed up with a dozen phone calls each week asking for more money from similar sounding charities. I've stopped donating altogether to places who call me for contributions. I'm sure reputable charities suffer because people are sick of nuisance calls.

By the time I’m done paying about 25% of my gross income towards federal, state and local taxes there isn’t much left for charity.

Surpise surpise - Republicans give more to charity than democrats. Figures, democrats would rather forcefully STEAL and TAX your money, and then redistribute it to minorities or some other group.

Clearly the conservative base and the demonized Christians( some of whom are certainly Democrats) are the ones whom put charity far ahead of liberal think tanks. Liberals think it is a government function and are much more fulfilled fighting to take away someone else's efforts for their causes. Than they pat themselves on the back for having someone else pick up the tab.

I thought paying taxes was charity?

Why hold this number up as any kind of standard? That's far too simplistic. Mississippi, cited above for its high rate of giving, also has the second highest rate of uninsured citizens (23.5%, just behind Texas), while Wisconsin has one of the lowest at 9.4%, against a nationwide average of 17.6%. Mississippi also has the highest poverty rate in the nation - 22% - while Wisconsin's rate is 13%. Doesn't it follow basic common sense that in states where there are more poor and vulnerable people, there would be more need for charity, especially in light of the fact that study after study finds that poorer individuals donate more of their income than those with middle to upper income?? The answer is "yes, it does." This study is only a reflection of the demographic and sociographic makeup of the country, not a testament on religion and politics.

Stella, EXACTLY... We have been extorted for all we can give, for if we give anymore we would all be homeless and destitute...

What is Charitable Giving?

From many of the comments above, it seems as though many if not most folks think of giving to charity as giving to the poor, the homeless, the orphans and widows.

In reality, when you look at who the very rich give their money to --- in exchange for tax deductions --- they are giving to museums, colleges, universities, their own churches ..........

They are having stadiums and science labs and church additions named after them -- they get to publicize themselves and boost their ego while getting a tax deduction.

And of course you have the special interests --- the Pro Lifers give to their organizations, while the Pro Choicers give to Planned Parenthood.

It would be nice if deductions for charities went to the downtrodden --- but they are the last in line.

I wonder if Romney won't release his income tax returns because virtually all his charitable giving went to his own church, of which he is a bishop, and which is a large part of his political support?

Sadly, and not a few generations ago, charity was expressed largely through religious organizations and those like the Salvation Army. There was no gov't "welfare" to be had. FDR started SS and other relief programs for the poor given the circumstances of the US during the 1930's (they couldn’t find work when they wanted to work), but it was never intended to be handed down, expanded, exploited and raided as it has. Along with how many other well intended gov't programs created since that were basically designed to appease the "poor" (who don’t want to work) in return for votes and political leverage. With few exceptions, such as those due to geography and economics like Appalachia, there has been no reason for "poor" people to get gov't assistance since WW2 when the US became the world power it is today. Yet, this creeping socialistic attitude has infected the psyche of working middle class of this country (hey, they can get qualify, why can’t we?) through dem and repub administrations alike. Those filing bankruptcy, defaulting on mortgages, out spending their credit, etc., etc., now have their hands out too.

To summarize. Today’s primary charities are the state and fed gov’t through Robin Hood tactics of take and distribute the wealth of the taxpayer to the “poor” and rich alike. Robin Hood would be pissed.

And, look into the financial reports of the organizations that your charitable donations are going to. Many are more corrupt and inefficient than the US gov't.

@ Alfred - "I thought paying taxes was charity?"
I would classify it more like legalized robbery since our "electorate" basically ignores us and our requests on how to spend. And then threatens us if we do not comply to their terms.
If I owned a dog that growled at me after giving it food, shelter and protection, well let's say it would be finding a new "home".