God forbid we should have a higher standard of living in this country!

if we took back all the financial aid we send to all those countries that are ahead of us on that list, and put it to our own "social programs" and our own needs, you would see a dramatic difference in the listing.
Most of those countries can't, or wouldn't, be able to survive without "Uncle Suger" to pay their way.

This Government, whether Democrat or Republican, can't continue to send all our capitol overseas.

We need it here!!!!

Take that to "NoBama" and the Congress and see how far that gets you.

He admits at the very end of the link that the US actually spends over twice as much as the numbers he uses in his article

NO THANKS!!!

It was individual independene that made this country great, not social group thinking.

BTW, the artcile you cite used % of GDP. Why not be HONEST for a change and look at total dollars spent, or dollars per person at least!!!

Once again you grasp at liberal articles with no credibility to try to back your points.

Here is an example, the US spends more per child on education than almost any other country. So, how do you think we are doing on the education front?? That is what government involvement gets you, teachers who are too busy striking to worry about the welfare of our kids...

far more likely to give to charities and religious institutions and social programs than most any other country. So, while our government might not be "taking care of us" (I detest that idea in the first place, but I think I've already stated that elsewhere), our families, friends and neighbors are.

Heck; can't make the link work, so here's part of the article:

Giving Statistics
[my note: from the Dept. of the Interior and GivingUSA]

A widely-held perception is that corporations and foundations are the biggest sources to tap for grants and donations. The reality is that 83 percent of philanthropic dollars are contributed by individuals and bequests. That rises to 88 percent if you include family foundation giving. Corporations and foundations are easier to target, their contribution of 4 percent and 13 percent respectively was 17 percent of the total philanthropic dollars in 2009. Individuals are more of a challenge to reach and solicit, but are by far the largest philanthropic resource. Fundraising strategies for parks need to consider all sources and how best to connect park needs with all potential donor sources and their motivations for giving.

According to Giving USA, a report compiled annually by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel, figures on American philanthropy showed that:

   * Americans gave more than $307.75 billion to their favorite causes despite the economic conditions in 2009. Total giving, when adjusted for inflation, was down 3.6 percent, the steepest decline since the Giving USA annual reports started in 1956. It’s important to keep in mind that despite the downturn, giving still totaled $307 billion.
   * The greatest portion of charitable giving, $227.41 billion, was given by individuals or household donors. In 2009, gifts from individuals represented 75 percent of all contributed dollars, similar to 2008 figures.
   * Charitable bequests, which are made by individuals, totaled $23.8 billion or 8 percent of total giving. This is a decrease of 23.9 percent from unusually high level of bequest giving in 2008. The sum of gifts by individuals and charitable bequests in 2009 is $251.21 billion or 83 percent of total giving.
   * In 2009, foundations decreased their giving by 8.9 percent to $38.44 billion, accounting for 13 percent of all philanthropy in the USA.
   * Individual, bequest and estimated family foundation giving combined were approximately $266.61 billion or 88 percent of the total giving in 2009.
   * Corporate giving, which is tied to corporate profits, increased 5.5 percent in 2009 to $14.1 billion. This reflects an increase in corporate in-kind donations. Corporate giving accounted for 4 percent of all charitable giving in 2009.

Pie chart of 2008 contributions by source of contribution

Source: Giving USA 2010


-- Modified on 4/18/2011 7:11:13 AM

Are you suggesting that individuals make their own choice on which charities to contribute to as opposed to the government wasting it on inefficient, failed programs?  BITE YOUR TONGUE!!

when some poor soul gets sick and can't treatment. Now you want make them beggars. One has nothing to do with the other. Ideology, finally has done away with rational and critical thinking.

Let me ask you question, aren't the so called Christians supposed to compassionate and empathetic towards the have nots? Did that get erased from the Bible recently?

STRANGERS or family, friends, neighbors and other places - except the gov't.

So, you'd rather we all depend on the gov't instead of ourselves, depend on them feeding and clothing us instead of the local charities and ministries and foundations that are set up for that kind of thing?

I'd like to think that you're just being absurdly earnest, but you'll miss the point.

As for the Christian thing, I don't know and I don't care. I'm not in that camp.

especially any point that includes it is ok to give, but it is wrong to have your money taken at the point of a gun. and yes anything that can result in prison time for noncompliance qualifies as "at the point of a gun"



-- Modified on 4/19/2011 8:00:33 AM