My extended family is big into giving to charities.

My wife and I do a little direct giving to individuals and causes but I feel my crushing tax burden is my main contribution. The biggest portion of the US budget, supported by our taxes, is a wealth transfer to the needy, which I think fulfills my commitment.

What are your thoughts? Am I wrong in this thinking?

That's the way Democrats want you to think - let the "benevolent" (in this case, another word for corrupt) Government decide.

I think you are completely wrong. And I say that with all due respect.

I take the complete opposite approach. 10% of what I make I stick back, until there's a substantial wad of hundreds. Then I give that directly to people truly in need. I trust no one else to not skim from it, especially not the crooked azz government. God watching me is far more important than the IRS watching me.

^^ Great post ^^

The IRS does not give me the option. They take it regardless and yes in big government fashion are very inefficient in redistribution....but it's still coming out of my pocket regardless(a lot of money). In the absence of it I would give more on my own.

Yep.

Taxes are what they are and you have no control as to how they are used. That kind of thinking will create anger and resentment in your heart. I don’t like paying the IRS as much as the next guy, but I’m blessed to be burdened with the amount I have to pay.

That being said, I donate a minimum of 10% to the Assist the Officer Foundation from every house I sell, on top of that, as part of my Heroes Serving Heroes program I gift 33% of my commission to veterans and first responders as a gift to help them with purchasing a house. That gift is not tax deductible because I never get paid that amount as it’s withheld from my commission from the title company. There’s no real benefit to it for my partner and I, other than knowing it’s the right thing to do.

Really, Mrs Condescending?

I'm sure you know I pay a boatload of taxes per year. I am well aware that I have no control over how they are spent.

We donate to many organizations and groups throughout the year, as well as individuals in need when the opportunity comes up.


I don’t like paying taxes either, but that has little to with charitable giving, as our federal tax dollars are most obviously not going to help the needy in our local area, or any other local items.

I don’t think he meant to quote you, but the post below you ( Tbars post concerning taxes)

“Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” We know that our Government is inefficient and crooked with the money that they received from the governed. Giving your money to help others in need directly you can make sure that it goes towards the people and services you feel needed it. Hopefully in doing so it goes directly to the people or cause.

Yep, there is a difference between the needy and greedy and economic status isn't the criteria.

Agree. We get a lot of joy in helping those who can't help themselves, and we don't give for the purpose of getting a tax write off (although we do write it off). I'm obligated to pay my share of taxes and to think about how our worthless parasites/politicians spend it just pisses me off so I try not the dwell on that, as there's nothing I can do about it except vote.

My thoughts.................

The taxes that you refer to as a transfer of wealth to the needy may not be enough assistance to those that I think really need it. This is why we give to an organization that we know satisfies our desire to help those that we feel need assistance. I'm also a sucker for spontaneous giving. I was in a check out line behind what looked like a college kid buying pork and beans and Ramen noodles. He used two cards, both rejected. I got it and gave him some cash. A mom buying formula with some kind of government card holding a child that didn't have shoes on or a coat that was obviously needed, she got some $. Be ready to do stuff like this from time to time and you'll know it's going to the right people.

Yeah our gov likes to give our taxes to freeloaders, illegal immigrants, and other countries. Maybe Trump will fix that.

Just learned recently the teachers for our granddaughters have a needs list on Amazon that family can use to purchase items for the classroom. Our daughter said it's a far better option than participating in those school fundraisers where some company comes in and takes part of what's collected. Anyone who knows a teacher also knows how much they spend from their own pockets to support their classroom efforts. Your purchases go straight to the classroom.

I despise charities like that as SO many have proven time and again it's not about the charity, but about grifting the money. Some of them pay out 7-10% of what they take in and act like they are doing the Lord's work. I go to a VERY sparse church, but I'm on committees and serve and I see where the money goes - we do a good job of spending most of what we take in on those in need. So when I donate, that's where it goes. I will also bless those in need like JG and others mentioned above. I pay it forward when I can and when I see true need.

I'm a charity case myself and get asked by people a lot about this. If you feel called to give, then I recommend that you give directly, by check, to known charitable causes that are good stewards of the gifts they receive. It may take some research on your part but the information is out there. That maximizes the contribution and keeps credit card fees from diluting your gift. If you work for a company that does donation matching, you can typically show them a donation receipt and double the effect of your giving.

Big organizations like the Red Cross, United Way and Wounded Warrior etc.. (anyone who's paying TV/Radio/Social Media marketing) will have large overhead they are paying and IMO gifting to them is going to have much less impact at the end of the day. Just my

I specifically do not care to give money to organizations with large debt and overhead. I'm not going to pay salaries for these outfits.

Committees inside churches can, and do, also drift towards members' personal agendas. Not "grifting," but dropping one cause, that may be worthy, but an individual doesn't like it or wants to push another one more. 'Seen it happen several times in my church. It's done very quietly.

We started with nothing, for 33 years we have worked very hard and the Lord has blessed us for it! We pay our tithes, we pay our taxes, and then we give like others have stated randomly to those in need. I feel like our part is to give, if someone does wrong with that gift like the Govt. or a so called charity that is on them, they will answer for that. We are blessed for our efforts to love other people and that is good enough for me!

I view tax as theft and I do give otherwise but try to give to individuals or to orgs that I feel make a difference and don't have tons of overhead. One thing I've done a couple times is the small town grocery store or gas stations will sometimes have a list of folks that owe them money. I just pay some or all of those tabs to help the locals. Last two times I've done this was around Christmas and done in the town where I leased hunting property...my little way of giving back to the area and it's always appreciated.

New Hope that dkershen runs is a great example of a smaller nonprofit that puts his donations to good work...good perspective and glad he chimed in.

I focus on Conservation, medical and friend’s charities(like New Hope)

this turned into a one upper thread.

"I donate my money better than you."

I don't donate much. maybe I'll give a couple hundred to Miranda Lamberts charity to help the displaced pets in Los Angeles.

Most of the rich donate for a tax write off, not to help the needy.

Not picking on you Buzz, just commenting on this statement which I have heard a bunch. I have trouble digesting that the wealthy just donate for a tax write off because the write off is less than the money leaving the bank. If I donate $100, I am giving up the purchasing power, savings power, or whatever other utility that $100 would have for me personally. In return, I would get back the marginal tax percentage that would apply to me. For simple math, let's say that is 30%. That means that if I donate $100, I receive a net deduction of $30 at the end of the day. Said differently, I am "losing" $70.

The wealthy didn't get wealthy by giving up 7/10ths. Instead, I would argue that people donate either to appear altruistic or they actually care. This goes to JG's statement earlier -- it doesn't matter who knows if you're doing it for the right reason.