Who Gives More to Charity - Liberals or Conservatives

There is a dispute that has been growing in the tax world about who gives more to charity - liberals or conservatives. The liberals claim although the raw data suggests liberals give less - but liberals claim that much of the "conservative" money goes to "membership dues" in churches - which according to liberals are really funds to benefit the internal community rather than a larger world around them. Afterall the liberals reason, churches build large edifices which benefit only the people who attend them. That is like a large social club.

The problem with that notion is that many donations both liberal and conservative are not entirely eleemosynary. All charitable donations involve some level of personal satisfaction and choice. For example, the public radio station in our neighborhood makes the case that donors help to sustain a public resource - but that resource is of limited value to people who believe that NPR focusses its coverage on liberal issues.

The non-profit law blog looked at the issue a few days ago and wondered what constitutes charitable activity. To me that is the wrong issue. Clearly, charitable donations cannot benefit an individual. But they always involve personal choice. I choose to give to the Union Gospel Mission because they do not accept governmental resources. Others choose to donate to local food charities who get government money because they do accept such grants. The key issue is not whether either donation makes one feel better but whether the donation is an irrevocable contribution. The fundamental issue here is whether by allowing individuals to make donations to societal institutions which do not directly benefit individuals, and thereby lose control of those gifts, whether society is improved.

I am less concerned with who gives more and more with the protection of the opportunity for a wide range of individuals, regardless of political philosophy to give to institutions that are not controlled by governmental policy.