Charity: It's The Right Thing To Do

[Torog]

Charity: It's The Right Thing to Do

By: Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com

Thursday, Nov 30, 2006

So what are we to make of the fact that conservative Americans donate 30% more to charity than liberal Americans? A new book called "Who Really Cares" by Syracuse University professor Arthur Brooks is not going to please the Howard Dean crowd. The book states flat-out that religious Americans who vote Republican are far more likely to be generous to the downtrodden than secular-progressives.

The big question, of course, is why? Liberal philosophy is all about "nurturing" people who need help. The "tax the rich" crew can't yell loud enough that more money needs to go to Americans in need. Just not their money.

That may be unfair, but probably is not. The cornerstone of liberal economic thought is "income redistribution;" that is, big government taking assets from the affluent through taxation and giving said assets to the less well-off through entitlements like subsidized health care, housing, educational scholarships and the like. The left is also big on imposed "economic justice," things like guaranteed wages and lifetime job security.

But a funny thing happened on the way to socialism. Americans who believe in "income redistribution" give 75% less to charity than Americans who do not, according to Dr. Brooks. That is a stunning differential.

I believe this is a religious thing. Secular-progressives believe in individual gratification, and that often takes money. Buying that jazzy new SUV and that vacation home can deplete disposable cash fast. If it's all about you, then you are thinking about you, not about poor Dave down the street.

But devout Christians, Jews, and Muslims are compelled to help the poor by their beliefs. Personal gratification is not a big theme in scripture. Jesus was a huge "help your neighbor" guy. For J.C., it is all about Dave down the street, not the latest material possession.

The statistics say that religious Americans give four times as much money to charity each year than secular people, and are 23 times more likely to volunteer to help people than folks who never attend church. And here's another crushing stat: If liberals donated blood at the rate conservatives do, the nation's blood supply would rise 45%.

So in this season of giving, Christmas, a word some liberals don't like to say, it might be worth pondering just who is really looking out for the have-nots. The leftist media often portrays conservatives as mean, cruel and insensitive to the plight of the downtrodden. But, as the tax returns of multi-millionaires Dick Cheney and Al Gore prove, the media image is false. The Vice President gives millions to charity, Mr. Gore very little.

So the next time you hear a big government liberal bloviate about helping the poor, please trot out the statistics mentioned in this column. And then tell that person that in America today, giving money to charity seems to be the right thing. What's left is not even close.

Torog Reviewed by Torog on 12-01-2006. Charity: It's The Right Thing To Do Charity: It's The Right Thing to Do By: Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com Thursday, Nov 30, 2006 So what are we to make of the fact that conservative Americans donate 30% more to charity than liberal Americans? A new book called "Who Really Cares" by Syracuse University professor Arthur Brooks is not going to please the Howard Dean crowd. The book states flat-out that religious Americans who vote Republican are far more likely to be generous to the downtrodden than Rating: 5

[Breukelen advocaat]

If the layoffs, outsourcings, reductions of employee benefits, HUGE national debt, Halliburton, Enron, useless follies trying to deal with unapproachable societies like Iraq, and other disgraceful examples of greed and stupidity aren't enough to make one puke at this administration, we're told by their talking head O'Reilly that they are really great, warm and generous people - compared to the Democrats - as if there is a difference. I tell ya, rich guys like O'Reilly really got some pair o'balls.

The religous CREATE the problems, and if you do not understand this you'll never get it. Left, Right, or Center - it's all stupidity unless you can think clearly.

[Zimzum]

So what are we to make of the fact that conservative Americans donate 30% more to charity than liberal Americans?

From the whole story it seems like Bill'O makes his point based strictly off of monetary contributions. And where does he get his 30% from, a book? Im sure I can find a book and quote the opposite. Does his "facts" include time donation as well as money? I volenteer my time to a local boys an girls club in the Boston area and Im deffently not a conservitive.

[Ozarks]

If the layoffs, outsourcings, reductions of employee benefits, HUGE national debt, Halliburton, Enron, useless follies trying to deal with unapproachable societies like Iraq, and other disgraceful examples of greed and stupidity aren't enough to make one puke at this administration,

What has this to do with professor Brooks study ?

we're told by their talking head O'Reilly that they are really great, warm and generous people - compared to the Democrats - as if there is a difference.

There is a difference, a 75% difference, if the study holds up under review.

I tell ya, rich guys like O'Reilly really got some pair o'balls.

Actually he gives 100,000.00 (s) every year to charity, hats,shirts coffee mugs and all the silly stuff he sells. That may one reason to write about Brooks study, he knows he can't be attacked unless someone isn't thinking clearly and takes the bait.

The religous CREATE the problems, and if you do not understand this you'll never get it. Left, Right, or Center - it's all stupidity unless you can think clearly.

intolerance "creates" the problems.

[Breukelen advocaat]

What has this to do with professor Brooks study ?

The same people that throw nickels to the disadvantaged are the ones that set them up and took them for a ride in the frirst place.

There is a difference, a 75% difference, if the study holds up under review.

I'm not doubting that part of it is true - but huge tax write-offs are the reason for the giving, and Public Relations (sometimes).

Actually he gives 100,000.00 (s) every year to charity, hats,shirts coffee mugs and all the silly stuff he sells. That may one reason to write about Brooks study, he knows he can't be attacked unless someone isn't thinking clearly and takes the bait.

Paul Newman's company "Newman's Own" sells tons of food and donates all the profits. I don't see Newman on TV praising the robber-barons, or himself - for that matter.


intolerance "creates" the problems.

Just one example:
O'Reilly is a Catholic. He is opposed to abortion. The Catholic Church is opposed to ALL birth control, except for the rhythm method. O'Reilly is also opposed to Capital Punishment - as is the Church. When abortion and birth control are barred, and the little progenies of welfare single-mothers stick a gun in our faces and pull the trigger, remember that O'Reilly and his ilk, safely living in luxury, were responsible for the birth of many of these criminals.

Basically, religion is a combination of fear and ignorance - which keeps people stupid. Hell, I'm not as "liberal" as many of the religious right, because they are buying into the whole spiritual reward thing. That's the only reason they give - to ensure a place in a mythical place called heaven. Their stupidity and greed is not excused, in my book, by a few write-offs.

[Ozarks]

The point I was making is, the Brooks study has nothing to do with corporate America- the Government or O'Riely, it simply compared charity giving based on political views.

"robber-barrons" you do know the NYT isn't the only newpaper in your town