From Who Gives A $%&t? in Mother Jones magazine:
*** On average, Americans think that 24% of the federal budget goes toward foreign aid. Only 0.9% actually does.
Last fall, the U.N. requested aid for Niger and got almost no response. At that time, $1 per day per person would have solved Niger’s food crisis. Now $80 is needed.
Americans spend $8 billion on Christmas decorations, almost 4 times what they give to protect animals and the environment.
If the estate tax is repealed, charities stand to lose about $10 billion a year.
52% OF individual giving goes to religious institutions. Schools get 7%.
Campus Crusade for Christ raised $380 million last year—more than PBS, the Boy Scouts, and Easter Seals combined.
U.S. donations made thus far per victim of 9/11, Katrina, and the tsunami, respectively: $736,771; $2,827; $1,173.
Focus on the Family’s $2.2 million in tsunami aid included 1 million copies of Dr. Dobson’s When God Doesn’t Make Sense.
FEMA’S website listed Operation Blessing, Pat Robertson’s faith-based organization, second on its list of charities that would speed relief to Katrina victims.
Last year, Operation Blessing gave half its donations—$885,000—to the Christian Broadcasting Network, of which Robertson is chairman. ***
What does all of this mean?
- Americans think they are more charitable than they really are
- Nationalism drives where charity goes more than anything
- Faith-based charity, while obviously doing great good, receives more than its fair share of the pie
- Too much of faith-based charity goes towards political and idealogical ends, instead of altruistic ones
- Buying one's way into heaven is apparently more important than educating your children. It's better to keep them stupid and compliant.
"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving individuals. We all must work for our own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity." -- Marie Curie
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi
14 comments:
wait... Americans think 1/4 of our entire budget goes to foreing aid??? that's absolutely ridiculous. Where did that number come from? Are we really THAT stupid?
I know a lot of people who should read this...
laura said: Are we really THAT stupid?
I'm afraid so.... Apparently a significant percentage (30% I think) couldn't point to the USA on a world map... How crazy is that?
Buying one's way into heaven is apparently more important than educating your children. It's better to keep them stupid and compliant.
Can you elaborate on that a little more just to satisfy my assumption of what I think you mean by it?
Sadie,
I'm merely suggesting that some who give to their churches (and to televangelists) think they are paving the path to heaven with their contributions. This is money that would be better spent insuring that our children are getting the best education possible. School vouchers and the dismantling of our public school system by the Right suggests that a secular education is not highly valued.
Yeah, I guess you're right about some people. I always wondered how people could be so decieved by those guys on TV like Benny Hinn.
I hope that in most churches, the money is used to support ministries and the community. I know that at my church, if you were curious, you can see exactly how the money is spent.
Sometimes instead of just handing over our check, we will request that it go towards something specific. Right now we have a family in our church that is paying heavy medical bills for the father's liver transplant. It's been a lengthy trial--we've requested that our funds go to help absorb the cost.
I should add that we don't tithe in order to earn ourselves favor from the Lord. In fact, the bible says that if you give money reluctantly, don't do it all. Keep it.
Dan and I tithe because we feel blessed in our financial position and feel like giving back.
Those numbers are embarrassing.
*sigh*
Good old bass-ackwards America.
Sadie Said: "I hope that in most churches, the money is used to support ministries and the community. "
I would hope so. But I can't help but think of a friend of mine in college who left her church after they spent almost $1 million on a giant art-deco acryllic crucifix for their altar.
I agree with you too that charity shouldn't be a chore, or something you do so you can write it off on your taxes. It shouldn't be for personal gain, you shouldn't expect pats on the back, or brag about it to others. I'm very suspicious of people who do charitable work and then brag about it - as if they did it because they wanted attention.
You should do it because you want to. But to truly want to, you have to truly CARE - and that is where America is lacking.
Laura--
I totally agree. Nobody should give to get. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for this very behavior. There's a verse--I forget exactly what it says--but it talks about giving with your left hand so that your right hand doesn't know what you're doing.
And for the record..
...I would be suspicious of lavish, richly decorated, large churches, just because I don't find that to be a priority. When the bible talks about "the church" it's addressing the body of believers--not a building.
I know a lot of (probably most) churches use the contributions for worthy causes. My wife's church does a lot of charitable work and have arrangements with local food banks and other organizations. But they are definitely of the more liberal side of Lutheranism ... alligning themselves with the Jim Wallis/Sojourners thinking.
Transparency for any charitable orgnazation (church or otherwise) is very important. It wasn't that long ago that the Red Cross had some controversy because way too much of contributions were going for administration (can you say Elizabeth Dole? :-) )
I didn't mean to denigrate contributions to churches. I merely wanted to illustrate that there are other charitable organizations that could sure use the help.
I merely wanted to illustrate that there are other charitable organizations that could sure use the help.
I agree.
Americans are depressingly stupid! I live in a state where 40% of chldren live below the federal poverty line. You would think that Hoosiers would be up in arms! But the real hot political issue here: Whether or not our county will be in the eastern or central time zone!
It is embarrassing. And I would move to Canada in a second if they would take me!
GWB,
About a month ago Al Franken was interviewing Jeff Sagarin (a USA Today sports statistician) about just that subject. Pretty interesting stuff.
Indiana sports guy tackles time zones
Like I said... nobody is upset that almost twice as many kids here live in poverty as compared to the naton as a whole.... but people are fighting tooth and nail over whether or not the news will come on at 10 or 11.
I think I owe Mississippi an apology. Even they are nowhere near this backward... are they?
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