Why Don't America's Rich Give More to Charity?
Why Don't America's Rich Give More to Charity?
They could certainly afford to donate bigger sums, but something seems to be holding them back.
First off, I'm always confused why people think that this is our business. How much some else gives to charity, is our business why? Because we are motivated by greed and envy of others?
No Christian should be bothering to shove their nose into other people's wallets.
In fact, to be perfectly honest, if more Christians spent more of their time worrying about how much they themselves gave to charity, we wouldn't need the money of the wealthy.
Because here's the reality.... Compared to 90% of the planet, some of the poorest people in America, have what is consider a wealthy life style to everyone else.
Second, saying 'could (insert anyone) give more to charity', is a ridiculous question. Everyone, all of us, could give more to charity. All of us. Every single person on this thread, and this whole forum, could give more to charity, starting with the money they wasted getting an expensive computer, to post online, about how the rich could give more to charity.
Fact is, most of the people on this forum, could live fine, without dozens of the luxuries they think they have to have. How many could have saved $10 on Starbucks or other coffee, and given it to the poor?
The only reason they think the rich should sacrifice for the poor, but they themselves should not, is because they are motivated by greed and envy. People don't like it that someone else is doing better than them, and the socially acceptable way to show that, is by saying "oh well... they should donate more to the poor!".
Thirdly, that article plainly says that the amount of money given to the poor, by the rich, drastically increased. So the amount of money given to the poor has gone up, not down.
If you truly care about the poor, and that is all that matters, then the only important fact of that article is that the very wealthy gave $4.6 Billion dollars more to charity.
Why do you care what percentage that is of their income, if all you care about is far more money is going to charity?
Because this is motivated by greed, and envy. It's that simple.
Lastly, I'm blown away by how obvious than answer is. Rich people get most of their income in stock.
Stock options, usually have a requirement that the executive must keep the stock in the company for an amount of time. Meaning, they can't sell it, and give it to charity.
Let's take for example, the compensation package for the CEO of Walmart. 70% of the CEO's compensation package is all stocks. In fact, only 5.7% of his compensation, is his base pay.
That means, if the CEO donated his entire base pay, he would only be donating 5.7% of his income to charity. And of course he couldn't do that, because his base pay, is the pay he uses throughout the year to pay his household bills with.
Another problem is that many CEOs get compensations in the form of things they can't donate. For example, Warren Buffet has a full time year-around security detail, that is part of his compensation, plus a corporate jet. How exactly would you expect him to donate security and travel services to a homeless shelter or some other charity?
He can't.
So I would submit to all of you, that expecting the super wealthy to donate the same percentage to charity, as low-wage people like myself, is unrealistic.
And again... it's none of my business what the rich do with their own money. Christians like myself, need to be less motivated to shove our nose up other people's butts, and being all greedy and envious of what other's have. No Christian has any business worrying about this stuff. You want to worry about how much is donated to charity? Go work at a shelter, and donate your own money. Stop worrying about what other's do. You worry about you.