ABC News: Who Gives and Who Doesn't?
There. I just posted a study.
Oh, and in case you wanted to insult religious people more:
Sorry, fella- Albert BROOK's OPINION is NOT a "study".
SHow actual scientific results based upon INDIVIDUAL ACTION.... i.e.- Warren Buffet and Bill Gates both gave billions- AVERAGED over the whole upper class that brings up Mean considerably- but it does not indicate that those thinking more about money give more.
In fact- it could be argued that Warren and Bill give more because- in their positions, they no longer need to even think about money.
I can claim to have seen studies that show, AS A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR DISPOSABLE INCOME, the Rich give far less.... but saying so is not actually SHOWING you published results of actual science.
However I CAN argue that, were it not for the tax deductibility, the rich would give even less.
If your objective in writing a check is to have your remaining money taxed at a lower rate, or to shelter other income, or even to appear more palatable and therefore win a position you covet... none of those are really "giving" to others--- it's negotiating your own position in regards to money.
As to the religious... the fact that I identify Republicans as ALSO being motivated by religious fascism does NOT imply that their Religious fascism has anything to do with their tendency to not be giving of themselves toward others.
It just happens to be ANOTHER aspect of modern conservatism that is objectionable in its own right.
The idea that YOUR religious beliefs, from the idiocy of Creationism, to repressive attitudes towards sexuality, should be made into LAW affecting Everyone.... well, that is Christian totalitarianism.
And I am sorry, but if you count yourself a Christian - and you voted FOR BUsh or Will vote for McCain, then you have no right to call yourself a Christian.
Why? Because Jesus ALWAYS votes AGAINST war. That's why.
Understand that I know full well that there are LOTS of Christians who are cool with real science and who would NOT vote to force their beliefs down other's throats.
If they happen to also oppose the War and the death penalty... then they are probably REAL Christians...
And I have no problem with them-
Just as I have no problem with MOST Muslims who simply practice their faith and leave other people alone.
But Fundamentalist Religious Extremism, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu or what have you, is nothing but Fascism- plain and simple.
And Christian fascists are far more dangerous than muslim fascists, because they can vote.
No doubt that people who have faith do a lot of giving. MOST democrats have faith, too.
The mistake is to imagine that that willingness to give has ANYTHING to do with faith.
People tend to mistake their natural sense of compassion as coming from God.
The truth is, their delusional notions of God spring from their own innate compassion.
You can keep the compassion... and lose the delusional sky daddy.