Comments on: The Values and Politics of Charity http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/11/29/the-values-and-politics-of-charity/ A Journal of Jewish Thought and Opinion Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:05:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ellen http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/11/29/the-values-and-politics-of-charity/#comment-73511 Ellen Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:17:40 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/11/29/the-values-and-politics-of-charity/#comment-73511 An interesting contrast between two excerpts: FIRST: "People who opine that government is 'spending too little money on welfare'...are less likely to give food or money to a homeless person than people who oppose greater welfare spending" But later, a nonpartisan disclaimer: "While there may be nothing inherently charitable about political conservatism, today’s conservatives do outperform liberals on most measures of private giving" Actually I believe it comes down to a feeling of responsibility. If one believes they are responsible for others, they are more likely to contribute their own resources. If instead they expect the "greater good" to "take care of it" - or perhaps they anticipate the "greater good" will tax them plenty - they would be far more reluctant to give of their own. An interesting contrast between two excerpts:

FIRST: “People who opine that government is ’spending too little money on welfare’…are less likely to give food or money to a homeless person than people who oppose greater welfare spending”

But later, a nonpartisan disclaimer: “While there may be nothing inherently charitable about political conservatism, today’s conservatives do outperform liberals on most measures of private giving”

Actually I believe it comes down to a feeling of responsibility. If one believes they are responsible for others, they are more likely to contribute their own resources. If instead they expect the “greater good” to “take care of it” - or perhaps they anticipate the “greater good” will tax them plenty - they would be far more reluctant to give of their own.

]]> By: joel rich http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/11/29/the-values-and-politics-of-charity/#comment-73498 joel rich Wed, 29 Nov 2006 16:12:57 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/11/29/the-values-and-politics-of-charity/#comment-73498 If anyone wants to be my friend (it can even be only for the day:-)) I'd be happy to email the article. KT If anyone wants to be my friend (it can even be only for the day:-)) I’d be happy to email the article.
KT

]]> By: londonlee http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/11/29/the-values-and-politics-of-charity/#comment-73492 londonlee Wed, 29 Nov 2006 12:40:13 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/11/29/the-values-and-politics-of-charity/#comment-73492 I'm left wondering after reading the article in the WSJ, that as Jews make up about 2% of the U.S. population, and Orthodox Jews even less, how many Jews were included in the final statistics. I am guessing that most of the conclusions were based on Church going Americans, not Shul going ones. This is no way saying that Orthodox Jews do not give more, I'm just not sure that this article supports this assertion. I’m left wondering after reading the article in the WSJ, that as Jews make up about 2% of the U.S. population, and Orthodox Jews even less, how many Jews were included in the final statistics. I am guessing that most of the conclusions were based on Church going Americans, not Shul going ones. This is no way saying that Orthodox Jews do not give more, I’m just not sure that this article supports this assertion.

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