What we're going to do over the next 4 years.

[LAS14]

If our taxes go down over the next four years, we're going to take the difference and give it to charities that support those who will have suffered from tax cuts.

I'd like to hear from anyone who wants to join in. I wish I knew how to make something go viral.... Do you think it's a good idea?

[Turbineguy]

1. Good idea!

I'm conflicted about charities as they seem to provide cover for republican torments.

[LAS14]

2. ???/

Not sure what you mean here. Could you elaborate?

[Turbineguy]

3. Republicans dismantle the safety net

they say charities will step in and take up the slack. Shut down Planned Parenthood and you can go the the Roman Catholic Church for an abortion. You know, the way people do?

The logic reverses. If there's a charity for something, the republicans can give themselves a tax cut.

[treestar]

4. I know what you mean

Republicans are not against helping poor people really. What they are against is it being via government, because the government has to do it with an equal hand and not promoting a religion.

They want it to be via private charity. That way they can subject the poor to their religion and guilt the poor being helped into the religion and to follow the religious dogmas.

I have relatives who are right wingers who do charitable work. I believe their reason is not to help others. They are more like Mrs. Pardiggle in Dicken's Bleak House. They do it to make themselves look good and to scold and look down on the poor, as a chance to feel superior.

Making that literary reference makes me think also of Jane Austen's Lady Catherine, who goes out from time to time to scold the poor into harmony and plenty:

"whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty."

And of course, Lady Catherine was the ultimate snob. Very proud due to her class privilege.

[Turbineguy]

5. That's it!

[LAS14]

8. Well, if congress cuts taxes that hurt, say, environmental...

... protection, and my taxes go down by $1000, I plan to give $1000 to an environmental charity. In practice, I'm sure I'll be dividing my tax cut among many charities.

I realize that this sounds like the Republican plan, but I just don't see letting these causes tank in order to preserve that principal. Hopefully we'll get back in power and create a society where we all take care of one another and our world in a universal, proportional manner.

[Coventina]

7. I tend to give the most to environmental causes and to animal rescues.

The way I figure it, the web of life they are so busy shredding supports all of us.
By the time they figure that out, it will be too late for me, so I'm going to do all I can to support it.

Animals have no voice, so I will do all I can to be a voice for them.

When I give to humanitarian causes, it tends to be for overseas work.
Again, not something Republicans tend to care about.

[Coventina]

6. I am only buying basic necessities. Everything else goes to charity.

No new books, music, clothes (except shoes if needed), costume jewelry (can't afford the real stuff).
Just food, gas for my car, paying bills, and that's it.