Obama's charity tax will make foundations lose about $4 billion this year

[Captain Worley]

Originally Posted by TristansMommy

I'm not neccesarily concerned with the motives.. but it is kind of hypocritical to give ONLY because you get a big tax write off for it. It's not really "charity" then..not in it's true form .. it's only self serving personal gain.

True charity is given from the heart for no other reason than to help others.. not oneself.

I completely see what you're saying, but as long as they contribute to charity, good is being done regardless of the motive.

And there are people who need to see some reason to give. They need to feel like they are getting something out of it. It may be just a sense of feeling good about what they've done, or it may be a tax break.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by Captain Worley

I completely see what you're saying, but as long as they contribute to charity, good is being done regardless of the motive.

And there are people who need to see some reason to give. They need to feel like they are getting something out of it. It may be just a sense of feeling good about what they've done, or it may be a tax break.

So a smaller amount of good is done this year, if people arent really that committed to giving.

The charities will need to tighten their belts, but shouldnt they have been prepared - for at least five months now - for that eventuality?

"And so the most important thing that I can do for charitable giving is to fix the economy, to get banks lending again, to get businesses opening their doors again, to get people back to work again. Then I think charities will do just fine."

Doesnt this sound like the fiscally conservative ethos?

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by Captain Worley

I completely see what you're saying, but as long as they contribute to charity, good is being done regardless of the motive.

And there are people who need to see some reason to give. They need to feel like they are getting something out of it. It may be just a sense of feeling good about what they've done, or it may be a tax break.

The sense of doing good is far more noble than any money related "need" to do good.

That being said.. you can't have your cake and eat it too.

All i hear on these boards is whining and moaning about Obama and the policies he's enacting.

Reality check here people

For 8 years the Republicans have been in charge. While they are NOT the sole ones to blame, they did have more control of the government over the last 8 years and so they bear most of the responsibility. Their policies have lead to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

They lost the election because they weren't offering the American people any real solutions that were any different from the same BS we'd been handed by Bush the last 8 years.

Now, we have a President that is making bold and neccesary moves to save the U.S from total financial collapse. And yeah.. that means the wealthy are going to have to suck it up and pay more taxes.. they are still wealthy, still comfortable while over the last decade the middle class has been stiffling.. evident in the large gap of income between those on top and the average worker.

Yes..that means that the "giving" you do won't have as much of a financial zing for you as it did before.. but then you were giving out of "charity" not out of financial gains right? If not.. then you weren't really being charitable in the first place.

You can't expect someone to fix a mess but not pay a price. He could simply let the economy collapse and you would all be screaming and yelling how horrible he is..

But he is fixing it and you're still whining. Sacrafices need to be made..if that means you don't get your tax breaks.. then so be it. In the end, a stronger America is worth a little less money in your own pocket in the short term.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by TristansMommy

The sense of doing good is far more noble than any money related "need" to do good.

That being said.. you can't have your cake and eat it too.

All i hear on these boards is whining and moaning about Obama and the policies he's enacting.

Reality check here people

For 8 years the Republicans have been in charge. While they are NOT the sole ones to blame, they did have more control of the government over the last 8 years and so they bear most of the responsibility. Their policies have lead to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

They lost the election because they weren't offering the American people any real solutions that were any different from the same BS we'd been handed by Bush the last 8 years.

Now, we have a President that is making bold and neccesary moves to save the U.S from total financial collapse. And yeah.. that means the wealthy are going to have to suck it up and pay more taxes.. they are still wealthy, still comfortable while over the last decade the middle class has been stiffling.. evident in the large gap of income between those on top and the average worker.

Yes..that means that the "giving" you do won't have as much of a financial zing for you as it did before.. but then you were giving out of "charity" not out of financial gains right? If not.. then you weren't really being charitable in the first place.

You can't expect someone to fix a mess but not pay a price. He could simply let the economy collapse and you would all be screaming and yelling how horrible he is..

But he is fixing it and you're still whining. Sacrafices need to be made..if that means you don't get your tax breaks.. then so be it. In the end, a stronger America is worth a little less money in your own pocket in the short term.

Exactamundo - those bolds are really bolding your whole excellent post.

I suspect most of these whiners on here will be receiving tax breaks themselves....let them give their excess to their favorite charities at tax time. Then they'll feel better!

[doc1]

Originally Posted by TristansMommy

I'm not neccesarily concerned with the motives.. but it is kind of hypocritical to give ONLY because you get a big tax write off for it. It's not really "charity" then..not in it's true form .. it's only self serving personal gain.

True charity is given from the heart for no other reason than to help others.. not oneself.

I have faith that the large majority of givers do give out of the goodness of their hearts. Even the so-called "rich".

There are a lot better ways to legally avoid taxes other than giving it away.

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by doc1

I have faith that the large majority of givers do give out of the goodness of their hearts. Even the so-called "rich".

There are a lot better ways to legally avoid taxes other than giving it away.

Probably so.. I wasn't arguing that at all. I don't know why someone gives or doesn't.. only the individual knows their true motivations.

I was more addressing the OP's original post of "boo hoo, now we won't get as big a tax break for our "charity'' ".. and the argument that the lack of tax break alone would lessen the amounts donated.

I think it's more likely going to be because all Americans are tightening their belts out of fear of losing their jobs, etc that they'll give a little less when ecnomically strained.