Conservatives Aren't Heartless

The above statement is a statement of fact. Granted, it's a statement of fact that runs against conventional wisdom, but it is nonetheless true.

Every so often, a major survey comes out on Charitable giving in the United States. The United States is one of the most generous nations in the world. Americans give to countless charities that help people both at home, but also abroad. The overwhelming response from private citizens to something close at home like Hurricane Katrina and something half a world away like the Tsunami are clear indications of the good hearts of Americans.

Yet, I cannot count the number of times I have had a Liberal Friend tell me that the reason we need higher taxes is because conservatives don't give to charity and this is the only way to make them help other people. The other charge is that conservatives don't care about poor people, or sick people, or homeless people. Both charges have become viewed as "fact" in the Mainstream Media and Culture. Yet both charges couldn't be further from the truth.

Numerous reports and surveys have shown the charge to be false and now another response to the great lie has now been released. The Wall Street Journal, the best American Newspaper today, carried a piece by Arthur C. Brooks. It is titled, "Conservatives Have Answered Obama's Call". The survey, like many before it, finds that conservatives generally give more to charity than liberals. This is not to say that liberals do not care, but there probably is something behind greater private charitable giving by conservatives that has to do with their ideology and worldview. This is also not to say that they could not give more, they could, but it shows for a lie, some of the great slanders of the left.

So the next time (if you are conservative), a liberal tries to tell you conservatives don't care, give them the facts. And for the liberals, the next time you think about saying conservatives don't care, look at the facts.

There are so many deserving charities out there, even in these tough economic times, it is worth taking the time, to do our part, and help them carry on their mission.