Are Conservatives Really More Compassionate?

Liberals like to claim that they're the compassionate ones, that they care more! George Bush ran in 2000 as a "compassionate conservative." So who is really the compassionate one? The liberal or the conservative?

Arthur C. Brooks, a professor at Syracuse University, has just published a book entitled "Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatism." Brooks writes in the book, Religion News Service writer Frank Brieaddy reports:

"For too long liberals have been claiming they are the most virtuous members of American society. Although they usually give less to charity, they have nevertheless lambasted conservatives for their callousness in the face of social injustice."

Liberals seem to disdain charitable organizations, insisting that this is the work of government, something conservatives disagree with. From the reports I've read, Conservatives are making great hay of this. Brooks is making appearances on all the big news shows and even Dr. Laura deemed it something to comment on in her new Santa Barbara News Press column. Liberals, it seems, are all talk.

Now, I've not read or even looked at the book, but I've got some questions to raise. From what I've read about the book, a distinction is made between secular liberals and religious conservatives. Well, what about religious liberals and moderates like me? What of our giving? What side do we fall on? Then there's the question of what constitutes charitable giving. I would agree that churches are likely the largest recipients of giving in the country, but I guarantee that most of that money is spent on the churches themselves and not on feeding the hungry. Lutheran World Relief, Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief, Church World Service are all religious charities given to relief -- but where do they fall on this spectrum. Mormons are required to give 10% to the church -- but is this used for relief efforts? Pentecostals make much of tithing, but with a focus on prosperity teaching and numerous scandals, can we include them in this analysis. Like I've said, I've not read the book, but neither have I seen any of these questions raised. All I've heard, seen, or read is that conservatives are more generous than liberals.

Another thing needs to be said here and that is about systemic issues. In the news release I read from Frank Brieaddy, Brooks criticizes Ralph Nader for making this comment in 2000: "A society that has more justice is a society that needs less charity." I'm not sure why this is worthy of attack. If society is more just, if less people fall through society's cracks, then less charity is needed. Liberals, by and large, believe that government can and should work to change the systems that keep people down. Conservatives by and large believe that people should pull themselves up by the bootstraps. If they can't, well charity should step in. Reality says that charity can never do the whole job. It can help, but it's not the full answer.

I look forward to hearing more in the future, especially from those who can make sense of the broader issues involved.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Such a complicated issue.
Anonymous said…
I have to agree with Steve. This is something to keep in mind. Tue 5 Dec 2006 By Tarmo Virki: Richest 2 percent own more than half the world..HELSINKI (Reuters) - Two percent of adults command more than half of
the world's wealth, while the bottom 50 percent possesses just 1
percent, according to a U.N. development institute study released on
Tuesday.."Wealth is heavily concentrated in North America, Europe and
high-income Asia-Pacific countries. People in these countries
collectively hold almost 90 percent of total world wealth," the survey
said<.. ..

Recent comments: "We need to be cautious about contributing to any charity. There is just too much mismanagement and shady activities. We have local examples. Check them out before you write out the check." Don said... . .. .. .. .. .. "Conservatives donate money...liberals donate time and effort. Many charities are organized and run by some of our more liberal citizens. I think that is how they see their contribution being made. One thing for sure, the organizers and bosses of the charities are pretty good at getting the conservative and religious segments to donate money!" Anonymous said...

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