Why doesn't America's rich donate more to charity

RaymondG

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These figures are all from tax returns and do not all refer to the same tax years.

The best givers are those who give to persons and entities that cannot be reported. All those with a desire to give and give more, know that you can give up to 14k without you or the recipient needing to report it.

Even the most religious "tithe" givers, believe that your giving should not be used to help yourself out during tax season.

With this knowledge......those who give to be rewarded, only by the Lord.....would appear to give the least when viewing tax reports.
 
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RaymondG

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Most religious entities berate the wealthy base solely on the wealth that they have, and care not to look at what they give or the percentage of what they give. You have a lot of money?........You serve mammon!

Therefore.....Why would they give money to organizations run by people who believe they are wrong for having the money in the first place?

It is would feel better to give it to the world, who would show appreciation by, at least, putting your name on a building or two.

Why give a million to one who would first analyze the percentage it takes out of my overall income, before deciding if it is good enough or if it should be appreciated?
 
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Albion

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The Redeemer, for example, would not set "competition" as the framework for the economy.
Where did you pick up the idea that Socialist economies do not compete against the economies of other countries and set demands upon their own workers regarding output, speed, efficiency, etc.? Nothing changes about human nature just because Socialism has taken over.
 
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Resha Caner

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One aspect of being perplexed by the behavior of the rich is a lack of understanding of what motivates them. In some cases, money (and things) is not what motivates them. So, appealing to money and things won't get their attention.

I'm not a one-percenter, but within my community I am considered very financially blessed. However, money is not a motivator for me.

Further, from the perspective of much of the world, those we would call "poor" in the U.S. are actually doing quite well (financially speaking).

[edit] One humorous and telling section of the article can essentially be summarized as, "Of course there are a lot of low income and middle class people who don't give to charity either, but let's ignore that and focus on why rich people don't give."
 
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Sparagmos

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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.
Jesus was very concerned with what people did with their money, so the topic is just as relevant as any other discussion regarding people’s morals. Wealthy people don’t need to have a $7,000 mo mortgage, and drive new cars, and buy $500 purses. They absolutely have expendable income that is not tied up in stocks that they can share with the less fortunate. Jesus focused more on caring for the poor than any other topic. I think it’s a valid topic for us too.
 
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Kaon

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Where did you pick up the idea that Socialist economies do not compete against the economies of other countries and set demands upon their own workers regarding output, speed, efficiency, etc.? Nothing changes about human nature just because Socialism has taken over.

I didnt say any of this about socialism. I said that it demands a perfect leader(ship), or it fails.

Is anyone besides the Redeemer perfect? No? Yes?

If no one is perfect, or has been perfect except the Redeemer, then why would I believe any attempt at socialism would have worked? Indeed, all attempts at socialism fail, because no one is perfect except One.

I couldn't care less about the type of economy people choose to let destroy their families and lives in the long run, but to insinuate capitalism is virtue-driven isn't honest; there is no call for virtues in capitalism except for what makes more capital.
 
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rhawk

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Define "Charity". Bill Gates is sending a lot of his money to help abortions in Africa. Is that a charity? Not to me. Some people will donate money to find a cure for a disease. Is that a charity? To some it may be. Not to others. Some people will hand out money to a begger on the street. Was that charity in most cases? Some think so, others may not.
I personally donate to the local homeless shelter (I bring them $250 to $500 of supplies each month), to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s, to the local food bank, to animal charities and other things I think are worth while. But the definition of worth while will differ from person to person. Some say I waste my time giving to animal charities, for example. I am not rich, but I make it a point to give at least 15% to 20% of my income each year.

Also, "forcing" charity via tax is akin to steeling in my opinion. Forcing one to pay to use in a social system or government program is not right either. The point (good or not) is that the earned money of people is the fruits of their labor, NOT yours. And in the bible, Jesus was not Robin Hood, taking from the wealthy and giving it to the poor. He tried to show us the way, not force it.

Eh, just my 2 cents.
 
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timothyu

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To truly give is to give of oneself. In this respect the poor have always outshone the rich, for the poor understand the value of sharing or lending a helping hand, looking out for one another. The rich for the most part have become so by following an opposite course of gain at the expense of others.

Tis why Jesus said it would be harder for the rich to enter the Kingdom as their values were opposite those of the Kingdom. Quite simple if you look at it from Jesus' perspective instead of religion's.

It is a shame Gentile Christianity soon returned to looking at the teaching through worldly eyes instead of those of the Kingdom, being to busy going back to building kingdoms of their own. The difference between the two were all but lost except for in scripture.

It is also a shame that Christians automatically look at this from a mammon perspective rather than from a godly perspective. It is very telling (especially of Christians) considering God says we cannot serve both.
 
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rhawk

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My wife and I have had this discussion several times. We don't agree on where we should give.
Perhaps pool the money you plan to give and you can donate 1/2 to what you think are good places and she can do the same with the other half. I think people rarely agree on what is good or definitions of something, and that does not make one better than an other in many cases, just opinion. :)
 
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Albion

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I didnt say any of this about socialism.
I understood you to be saying it about Capitalism/Free Enterprise.

My
comment was a reminder that those characteristics apply also to Socialist societies.

but to insinuate capitalism is virtue-driven isn't honest
If someone here has said that, I will have to take a look at the post.
 
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Resha Caner

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Perhaps pool the money you plan to give and you can donate 1/2 to what you think are good places and she can do the same with the other half. I think people rarely agree on what is good or definitions of something, and that does not make one better than an other in many cases, just opinion. :)

For us it's more a tithing issue. We both agree we should tithe (i.e. give at least 10% of our income). But for her that means 10% goes to an LCMS sanctioned charity.

I'm fine with giving to those organizations, but I have other interests as well. For example, I appreciate what people did for me when I was in college, so I've given money to my alma mater. Also, filmmaking is a big hobby of mine. I found a very talented cinematographer who has been struggling financially. So, I pay her (generously) to help me with my film projects.

My wife is fine with both of those contributions. But she doesn't consider those types of things tithing. What it means is that we're giving more than 10% ... and I'm OK with that.

But it is frustrating that we get comments from people about being one of the selfish rich.
 
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All4Christ

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But it is frustrating that we get comments from people about being one of the selfish rich.
As someone who is not rich, but works in a field that inherently pays well, I completely agree with this. No one here knows how much we give or what we do for others. To top that off, I get comments about how I as a woman shouldn’t have a career job or that the reason I haven’t had kids yet is due to me being selfish and caring more about a career than a family (also not true; for us, not having children is not for a lack of trying). Frustrating.
 
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RaymondG

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Jesus was very concerned with what people did with their money, so the topic is just as relevant as any other discussion regarding people’s morals. Wealthy people don’t need to have a $7,000 mo mortgage, and drive new cars, and buy $500 purses. They absolutely have expendable income that is not tied up in stocks that they can share with the less fortunate. Jesus focused more on caring for the poor than any other topic. I think it’s a valid topic for us too.
Do you have scripture to show that "Jesus was very concerned with what people did with their money?"

When I read, I get a sense that He is very concerned about our souls and not too concerned about things of the flesh... But maybe if I look harder at the scriptures you point out....I can see less life and salvation and more money and spending prioritization?
 
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Resha Caner

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Do you have scripture to show that "Jesus was very concerned with what people did with their money?"

When I read, I get a sense that He is very concerned about our souls and not too concerned about things of the flesh... But maybe if I look harder at the scriptures you point out....I can see less life and salvation and more money and spending prioritization?

Yeah. I do wonder sometimes about all the professional advice-givers: Christian finance, Christian blogging, etc. Really?

At the same time, I'll admit it's a fuzzy line and so hard to know. Sure, God doesn't want us to hoard our money and deprive others of the basics of life. I can even appreciate that it's nice to get your financial advice from a fellow Christian. But I don't see how there is a Christian vs. atheist approach to managing credit cards.
 
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Andrew77

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Perhaps the OP could be reworded to "Is it the responsibility of the Rich to give more?"

They are already giving more.

Responsibility?

Who said? On what authority? Because they have more? We all have many times more wealth, than the other 90% of the planet. Why are you yourself not required to give more? You have more than 90% of the planet has. If having more, in and of itself, implies a responsibility to give more.... why are you not giving more?

Did you know that if you make just $32,000 a year, you are the top 1% wage earners in the world?

That's two people working full time at McDonalds. If you and your spouse, work McDonald's full time, you'll earn more than minimum wage. That places your household, in the top 1% in the world.

Since you are the super wealthy, then by your own statement, you have a responsibility to donate more to charity. Right? Isn't that what you effectively said?

I do not believe that anyone has a 'duty' or 'obligation' or 'responsibility' to give to the poor. Whether you are rich, or poor, or middle class, no one is somehow 'supposed' to give to the poor.

I think that good people do give to charity, as they see fit, as they desire to do so. But that is on you, as an individual to make the choice, and give to charity when you have no 'responsibility' to do so.

However, it is no one's business what other people do with their money. Your only business, is what you do with YOUR money. Just as a good person gives to charity as he so chooses, so also a good person does not stick their nose into the wallets of other people, and judge them based on how much they give to the poor.

Good people do not do that.
 
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Sparagmos

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Do you have scripture to show that "Jesus was very concerned with what people did with their money?"

When I read, I get a sense that He is very concerned about our souls and not too concerned about things of the flesh... But maybe if I look harder at the scriptures you point out....I can see less life and salvation and more money and spending prioritization?
I mean concerned that rich people help the less fortunate with their money.

What Does the Bible Say About Rich People?
 
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rhawk

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Did you know that if you make just $32,000 a year, you are the top 1% wage earners in the world?
That is a horrid example. In some countries you can live comfortably on $10,000 a year. $32,000 a year would not allow you to live well (if at all AND if you expect to rent or own a small apartment or home) in San Francisco, but it would in Sidney, MT.

People love to toss out money figures but seem to forget that there are MANY factors. I can also claim $3 will buy you a great steak dinner (but I fail to also add in 1802 North Carolina).
 
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Resha Caner

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That is a horrid example. In some countries you can live comfortably on $10,000 a year. $32,000 a year would not allow you to live well (if at all AND if you expect to rent or own a small apartment or home) in San Francisco, but it would in Sidney, MT.

People love to toss out money figures but seem to forget that there are MANY factors. I can also claim $3 will buy you a great steak dinner (but I fail to also add in 1802 North Carolina).

Maybe so, but it is true that many in the U.S. fail to understand what true poverty is. They're upset that rich people have an iPhone X when they only have an iPhone 7 or a flip phone ... or to reference an example actually used in this thread - that a rich person has a $500 purse when they only have a $50 purse.

IMO that speaks more to jealousy on the one hand rather than a failure to give on the other.

I would expect the truth is that it''s not really a matter of rich or poor; both - all people - tend toward selfishness.
 
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