Heartless Conservatives -- Oops...Give More To Charity
Arthur C. Brooks writes at Commentary:
As I found in my 2006 book Who Really Cares, the average conservative household contributes significantly more to charity than does the average liberal household despite earning less income. According to the 1996 General Social Survey, those who strongly agreed that "the government has a responsibility to reduce income inequality" gave away $140 on average to charity. Among those who strongly disagreed, the average gift was $1,637.Of the 10 most charitable states in 2012, as ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, nine went for Romney over Obama. Three times as many red states as blue states placed in the top 20 states in giving. And all but one of the 10 least charitable states swung President Obama's way.
Why do conservatives give more? The research shows that the largest charity differences owe to religious participation. We see that religious liberals are approximately as generous as their conservative co-religionists. But there are far more religious conservatives today than religious liberals, so the political gap persists.
via @JohnTierney
Need to read later (time to do qigong) but is this another example 'middle' America having different mores that the East/West coast?
Bob in Texas at February 21, 2014 3:26 AM
The blue states are more generous with other people's money.
MarkD at February 21, 2014 4:24 AM
Why do conservatives give more? The research shows that the largest charity differences owe to religious participation.
Since donations to one's church count as charity, this is an unsurprising conclusion, especially if the mean includes those whose churches require a 10% tithe. I wonder what the median difference is between liberals and conservatives? I'm not dismissing church donations, but they are put to a range of uses, from giving to the needy (charitable) to paying for the McMansion for your pastor (less charitable).
Astra at February 21, 2014 6:05 AM
I don't think it matters what their charitable donations ultimately go to. The liberal bent is that conservatives are the rich elite who do t want to help anyone. I think the real issue is if it's your money you want to choose who gets your help!
Lrj at February 21, 2014 7:12 AM
Lrj; it is also the rich want to make sure that their money does, in fact, help and not just go to waste such as by supporting a bureaucracy.
This is one of the benefits of private charities vs. government programs. Private charities have to prove all the time that they are not wasting money, otherwise donors will stop giving.
The same cannot be said about government programs. We still have to pay taxes whether the programs are helping or not.
And yes, MarkD is correct liberals are more generous with other people's money.
Charles at February 21, 2014 8:36 AM
Astra, there have been several studies that have shown the charitable giving difference. As I remember some even discounted donation to churches, they still gave more.
From my experience working with blood donations in various locations. The "redder" the area the more was donated.
Joe J at February 21, 2014 10:03 AM
Oversimplification.
Patrick at February 21, 2014 10:52 AM
Astra, there have been several studies that have shown the charitable giving difference. As I remember some even discounted donation to churches, they still gave more.
I'm actually not too surprised by that, though it would be interesting to see the difference between the median and the mean.
My great-uncle tithes 10%--he's a very religious conservative man. When I review my giving, my husband and I are more like 1-2%. I'm not liberal but I am irreligious.
Astra at February 21, 2014 11:44 AM
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