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usc
politics
Study: Conservatives More Generous Than Liberals
Liberals don't walk the walk when it comes to helping the poor, left-leaning columnist Nicholas Kristof confesses in a we-can-do-better column for the New York Times Sunday edition.
The only debate is whether conservatives give 30 percent more to charity than liberals, as Arthur Brooks, author of "Who Really Cares," claims, or twice as much as liberals, as a study by Google indicates.
Kristof admits to being "unhappy with my findings," echoing sentiments from the researcher Brooks:
"When I started doing research on charity," Mr. Brooks said, "I expected to find that political liberals - who, I believed, genuinely cared more about others than conservatives did - would turn out to be the most privately charitable people. So when my early findings led me to the opposite conclusion, I assumed I had made some sort of technical error. I re-ran analyses. I got new data. Nothing worked. In the end, I had no option but to change my views."
Other findings from the data:
- Conservatives are more likely to donate blood, and more likely to volunteer
- If liberals and moderates donated blood as often as conservatives, the U.S. blood supply would increase by 45 percent
- Conservative donations tend to support religious institutions, while liberal donations shade toward the arts and education (Kristof argues that the former is more likely to help the needy, citing research showing that donations to education disporportionately favor wealthy Americans)
- Conservatives give more to non-secular charities than liberals (when proportion of income is considered)
- The middle class gives less than the working poor
- Individuals from European countries donate far less than Americans, though European governments give more humanitarian aid per capita than the U.S.
Of course, donations are important regardless of the donor's political ideology. These studies are often little more than fun facts for friendly teasing between political rivals.
If you are able to donate - conservative, moderate or liberal - click here for a list of Top Rated Charities to support.
The only debate is whether conservatives give 30 percent more to charity than liberals, as Arthur Brooks, author of "Who Really Cares," claims, or twice as much as liberals, as a study by Google indicates.Kristof admits to being "unhappy with my findings," echoing sentiments from the researcher Brooks:
"When I started doing research on charity," Mr. Brooks said, "I expected to find that political liberals - who, I believed, genuinely cared more about others than conservatives did - would turn out to be the most privately charitable people. So when my early findings led me to the opposite conclusion, I assumed I had made some sort of technical error. I re-ran analyses. I got new data. Nothing worked. In the end, I had no option but to change my views."
Other findings from the data:
- Conservatives are more likely to donate blood, and more likely to volunteer
- If liberals and moderates donated blood as often as conservatives, the U.S. blood supply would increase by 45 percent
- Conservative donations tend to support religious institutions, while liberal donations shade toward the arts and education (Kristof argues that the former is more likely to help the needy, citing research showing that donations to education disporportionately favor wealthy Americans)
- Conservatives give more to non-secular charities than liberals (when proportion of income is considered)
- The middle class gives less than the working poor
- Individuals from European countries donate far less than Americans, though European governments give more humanitarian aid per capita than the U.S.
Of course, donations are important regardless of the donor's political ideology. These studies are often little more than fun facts for friendly teasing between political rivals.
If you are able to donate - conservative, moderate or liberal - click here for a list of Top Rated Charities to support.
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fedupwithgop
8:46AM 8:46AM Dec 22nd 2008
If you turn around and deduct all your "Gifts" to charity from your taxes,is it still charity??????
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mrsdonrod
5:52PM 5:52PM Dec 24th 2008
Most ridiculous comment ever- do you really think if you hand a hungry person a sandwich they will say, "Wait, are you claiming this on your taxes? Because, if so, I can not eat it on principle- I would rather remain hungry!"
The hungry and the poor don't care about your motives- they just want you to give.
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byStephani
5:10PM 5:10PM Feb 17th 2009
The most charitable act an American can do for their fellow Americans is to vote democratic, which will support the poor in their times of need and educational endevors, as well as small business and the arts. Donating to a charity is little more than a trickle down and only a few cents of every $ gets to those in need, while the republican director of the charity often has a 6 figure salary. Giving time or money to a faith based charity does not count. They don't give to those in need, they fight political causes and fund private schools. So pack up your theories about republicans donating more, one can only claim so much on a tax form, or perhaps some people don't claim it at all.
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nick
9:34AM 9:34AM Dec 22nd 2008
You hit it right on the head. The liberals always talk a good game. They rather spend their money on fast cars and fast women and drink that ripple and thunderbird. Look at the Senate, the most of them are rich and the Dummy crats are the ones with the most money. Take Ted Kenndy he loves partying with the young women in D.C. and is a real good driver over bridges. Look at his brothers both were winging it with Marylin Monroe. Obama will be the next Nixon to take a fall from grace, it won't take long.
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Oorahdad
9:52PM 9:52PM Dec 24th 2008
His results are not surprising in the least bit, liberals blow smoke to get their pats on the back while conservatives walk the walk and simply go about their business.
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historybuff
11:41AM 11:41AM Dec 22nd 2008
Liberals want the government to do everything for everybody and don't understand "red tape." Conservatives do it for themselves and take responsibility to give where it's most needed, directly. Liberals "raise awareness." Conservatives "raise funds."
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Steve
12:37PM 12:37PM Dec 23rd 2008
Yes
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Bob
10:59PM 10:59PM Dec 24th 2008
I worked in the not for profit sector for many years and its a well known fact that conservatives do give more. They give a hand up wherever they can while liberals would rather have a gov. that gives hand outs. Poor conservatives give more as well. In perhaps the poorest state which is Ms. They have ranked number one in giving for many years. A gov. that can give you everything you need is also big enough to take everything you have. Daniel Boone said this.
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John
1:40PM 1:40PM Feb 27th 2009
duh! Liberals are more selfish and want to control everyone else (take your money through taxes), while conservatives really care about helping people.
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DebP
8:18PM 8:18PM Dec 22nd 2008
I SUSPECT LIBERALS EXPECT GOVERNMENT to provide where conservatives believe they ( individually)need to provide for those in need..Personally I dont trust govt to do a good job of providing.....while I am responsible to spend my money wisely to give to those in need. I do a lot of research when I give....and I give abundantly as has been given to me.
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lolabull
10:05PM 10:05PM Dec 22nd 2008
Are you kidding? Who out there didn't already know this to be true, just like liberals also tend to be total douchers!!
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I'm Looking Through You
1:27AM 1:27AM Dec 24th 2008
Better than being an incomplete doucher. Yuck.
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Julia
10:41PM 10:41PM Dec 22nd 2008
Not at all surprising. Conservatives are far more likely to be religious, which entails consistent giving in order to keep said institutions (churches) functioning.
That liberals feel no obligation to contribute to the organized religious institutions that promote ignorance, bigotry, mindless obedience, etc. should come as no surprise at all. Instead, according to this "research", liberals seem to contribute to institutions that encourage free thought and self-expression (education and the arts).
My guess would be that if you discounted the "offerings" and "tithes" to organized religious institutions, the results would more accurately reflect the generosity (as opposed to the compulsion to give that is part of religion) of the respective demographics.
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Dale
7:52PM 7:52PM Dec 23rd 2008
Did you not read the article? Conservatives give more, even to the secular charities. Liberals simply don't give to organizations that help people get fed, housed, and clothed. They give to organizations that help people that are like them. They give to organizations so that people can enjoy art, and music, which are good things, but not very helpful when you're cold and hungry.
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Wil
7:56PM 7:56PM Dec 23rd 2008
Julia-Fine,so if you ever wind up homeless,w/no food to eat,try going to your arts center or local Socialist party and see how much help you get.Churches do a lot to help a lot of people.Christains give,not out of obligation,but because their beleifs give them a genuine desire to help others.Oh well,I guess people like you are too caught up in their unreasoning hate to see anything real.
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pbass34
9:48AM 9:48AM Dec 23rd 2008
fedupwithgop
8:46AM 8:46AM Dec 22nd 2008
If you turn around and deduct all your "Gifts" to charity from your taxes,is it still charity??????
obviously a liberal taker - if you donate 10,000 to a charity you do get a tax deduction - which - if you were in a 33% tax bracket would result in a tax savings of 3,333 dollars - you most likely have never given to any charity or any person in need - considering your idiotic comment that the givers get something more for their charitable gifts
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ken
11:01PM 11:01PM Dec 22nd 2008
conservatives give for two reasons. 1)To ease their consciences after years of ripping-off people in order to attain their wealth or, 2) to gain social status. Liberals favor a more even distribution of wealth and, therefore do not amass such fortunes to begin with.
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mrsdonrod
11:48AM 11:48AM Dec 24th 2008
Are you kidding??!! All the richest people in this country are liberal- the Kennedy's, ALL OF HOLLYWOOD,- where are you living that you don't see incredibly wealthy liberals all around you?
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J. Spencer
11:02PM 11:02PM Dec 22nd 2008
How exactly did Mr. Kristof run the numbers to arrive at this conclusion, I wonder? When he says '30 percent more to charity,' is he talking about total dollar amount per person or household per year, percent of income, or some other measure? And did he adjust for the giver's income at all? More information, please.
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John
11:03PM 11:03PM Dec 22nd 2008
Liberals are the most generous people I know. Hardly a day goes by that a Liberal doesn't find a new and creative way to charitably give away my money.
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