Joe Heller for November 12, 2019

Everybody: Need a society where these problems are fewer, further between, and dealt with in a much less haphazard way. Though most people typically are more generous than federals.

Yes, but the 1% needed that tax break./s

Donations substantially down since removal of tax break. Thanks mr tweety. Hurts us not wealthy people who want to give also.

“Charity Navigator” can help guide you to a charity that isn’t a scam.

Of course the Republicans will raise a HUGE outcry against this “Socialism”….

The Republican way of feeding and caring for the downtrodden. Don’t take my money thru a tax, charities and church will fill the gap. Sure right.

Thanks for reminding us, Joe.

Poorer people give more of their net worth than do middle and upper middle class; the rich use charity for political access.

I have upped my charitable donations this year as my income has gone up. My wife and I give to the local food bank not to mention giving food to several other food drives like the boy scouts. I typically round up donations of clothing and personal items for the Homeless Veterans organization but they’ve actually asked me NOT to do so this year as they have no need for those things due to increased donations this year. So I’ll write a bigger check. There’s a children’s charity in NH that is run by a college friend of my wife’s that we have upped our support for, too, which includes buying Christmas gifts for kids and donating money. We also donate a bunch of toys through church to go to kids without much to look forward to at Christmas. I travel into Boston several times a month for work and I will bring some gently used winter coats and some gloves and mittens. I can walk for 30 minutes and find enough homeless people who need these items and give them to them. I shake their hand and bless them. Some of them will hug you, some cry. Most say thanks. Some are confused. My wife also knits scarfs, so those get handed out, too.

Instead of bitching about trump or whomever, get out there and do something to help in your community. I know some of you probably already do, but maybe you can step up a bit more this year? Charity is non-partisan…let’s do it, people! :)

Need an economy where people are better off and not in need of such charities. Meanwhile we up our donations of time and treasure.

The Economy does better under Democratic Administrations. Period!

Try putting a favorite charity on autopay. Not bragging it just becomes “automatic” and part of life. It also seems to make other donations easier.

Charitable giving is fine, but an “advanced” nation that fails to assure that its citizens have adequate basic nutrition and housing doesn’t seem to me to be so advanced. People need to eat 365 days a year (366 on leap years), not just in the holiday season. People need a secure residence to be able to hold a job, educate their children, and contribute to the society as a whole. This has been fairly specifically shown by the Finnish experience. So what do we do? Raise rents on public housing and cut SNAP at a time when economic hardship is growing. Programs that are supported by all of us as taxpayers should be more reliable and more effective for the society than scattered private initiatives in the long term. Emergencies are always going to occur that need our donations of financial support and personal involvement, but the day-to-day expected needs of the society should not be dependent on charitable donations.