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What 'charity' should really mean
Key Excerpts from Article on Website of Christian Science Monitor


Christian Science Monitor, December 16, 2013
Posted: December 30th, 2013
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Robert-Reich/2013/1216/Wha...

As the tax year draws to a close, the charitable tax deduction beckons. Americas wealthy are its largest beneficiaries. According to the Congressional Budget Office, $33 billion of last years $39 billion in total charitable deductions went to the richest 20 percent of Americans, of whom the richest 1 percent reaped the lions share. The generosity of the super-rich is sometimes proffered as evidence theyre contributing as much to the nations well-being as they did decades ago when they paid a much larger share of their earnings in taxes. Think again. A large portion of the charitable deductions now claimed by Americas wealthy are for donations to culture palaces operas, art museums, symphonies, and theaters where they spend their leisure time hobnobbing with other wealthy benefactors. Another portion is for contributions to the elite prep schools and universities they once attended or want their children to attend. These arent really charities as most people understand the term. Theyre often investments in the life-styles the wealthy already enjoy and want their children to have as well. Increasingly, being rich in America means not having to come across anyone whos not. As with all tax deductions, the government has to match the charitable deduction with additional tax revenues or spending cuts; otherwise, the budget deficit widens. In economic terms, a tax deduction is exactly the same as government spending. Which means the government will, in effect, hand out $40 billion this year for charity thats going largely to wealthy people who use much of it to enhance their lifestyles.

Note: For more on government corruption, see the deeply revealing reports from reliable major media sources available here.


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