Experience in the European welfare state has shown that the public is LESS caring about the needy when the State takes the place of private charity.

While a little off topic, I have to admit that since the USA voted for more government to take care of more things I have have become much less inclined to make private donations to help the poor. Especially as those ´poor´ are almost all Obama voters. Before the election, charities I was planning to significantly up my donations to are now pretty much getting zero. The choice was not in anger rather every time I thought about writing a check I just got depressed.

Merry Christmas.

I hate the way the story has been subjected to political manipulation by so many preachers.

Jesus was born in the stables because Mary and Joseph couldn´t find room, not because they were too poor to afford one. Thouh not particularly wealthy, Joseph´s carpentry trade was in high demand, as the Romans hired plenty of skilled craftsmen for building the ten cities of the Decapolis near the Galilean region. Telling people they were homeless, when they had a home in Nazareth, is misleading.

#2 - I´ve been that way for a few years now because of illegals working the charity system, and an in-law with two degrees who works the welfare system, private charities and family to make sure she never has to work and has plenty of prescription drugs to keep her zoned out most of the time.

I give to local animal charities these days, and make sure they aren´t the crazies who lobby against meat.

My charity list doesn´t include low-information voters.

Chuck, when donations dry up, the charities will rely on the government for funding. The government will determine which charities get funded and which do not. Do you see a pattern?

For the past several years I have limited my charitable donations to one organization, the Shriners´ Burn Clinic. I know my money goes directly to medical care, research and education with no flashy jets, television ads or money set aside for other projects.

Bell ringers, telemarketers and junk mail are all ignored without a moment´s hesitation.

Previously I gavr good amounts to politicians, a university and other orgs. Now I choose to help out my own family, including one family hurt by yh the closjng down or NASA, an now I am being pursued by high-salaried fundraisers. (Check out today´s repeated ads for ASPCA donations-expensive investment) They all fund fund-raisers before they help sick people or srudents or abused animals. I am out of it so I am evil.