Just a random blog on Compassion

I read something today that I always figured but never had any proof of. I know many conservative people who donate a lot of their time and money to charitable causes and I hear a lot of liberals preach about compassion and civic duty but who as a group is really the compassionate ones. Just to clarify I do not consider taxes contributing nor do I consider volunteering time or money to political organizations charitable. Back to my point Arthur C Brooks, a Syracuse University professor did a study and then published his findings in the book "Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism." Here are a few of his key findings:

“-- Although liberal families' incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed household ($1,600 per year vs. $1,227).

-- Conservatives also donate more time and give more blood.

-- Residents of the states that voted for John Kerry in 2004 gave smaller percentages of their incomes to charity than did residents of states that voted for George Bush.

-- Bush carried 24 of the 25 states where charitable giving was above average.

-- In the 10 reddest states, in which Bush got more than 60 percent majorities, the average percentage of personal income donated to charity was 3.5. Residents of the bluest states, which gave Bush less than 40 percent, donated just 1.9 percent.

-- People who reject the idea that "government has a responsibility to reduce income inequality" give an average of four times more than people who accept that proposition.”

Unlike many who are blessed with the gift of gab and flowery speech he does not use a lot of vague generalities and hyperbole to prove his point he actually has the numbers.

Then just to add to this when the Obama’s released their tax papers it was revealed in their early years earning incomes exceeding $240,000 all they could part with in the way of monetary charitable donations was a measly $1000. My first year out of college my cash charitable donations were at least that amount and I made only 1/6 what they did. I’m tired of hearing hypocrite liberals preach about compassion and using government to redistribute other people’s money.