Charity Does Not Come at the Barrel of a Gun

Redistribution of wealth is not charity! Politicians on the Left seem to forget that. Or perhaps they know it, but forcing someone else to pay eases their consciences (if they have them) for not contributing personally. Between 2000 and 2004, Barack and Michelle Obama made approximately $1.2 million. They gave less than 1% of it to charity. They stepped up their giving to 6.5% in 2008. I'd guess because people look more closely at the president. Though Joe Biden must have missed that message. He gave a whopping $1885, or 0.69% of his income to charity that year. Contrast that with the Cheney's who gave 78% of their income to charity in 2005. Yes, I typed that right.

Conservatives, it seems, are more likely to give than their liberal neighbors. I guess the liberal belief that it's government's job to level the playing field and create fairness for all abdicates them from any personal responsibility. That and it's always easier to spend someone else's money. They have this Robin Hood "Steal from the Rich, Give to the Poor" mentality. (This does a disservice to Robin Hood, who "stole" tax money back from the rich landowners who were starving their serfs to death. It seems Robin was returning to the poor that which was stolen from them, but I digress.)

The Obama's have traded radical Rev. Jeremiah Wright in for a new spiritual advisor, Jim Wallis. In a 2006 interview Wallis was asked, "Are you then calling for the redistribution of wealth in society?". He replied, "Absolutely, without any hesitation. That’s what the Gospel is all about." Methinks Rev. Wallis needs to reread the Gospel.

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:8-10

Last time I checked, God said, "Thou shalt not steal". Forcibly taking property from one person and giving it to another is not charity, it is theft. Calling it redistribution or social justice does not change that.

In wrapping this up, I'd like to point out the law of unintended consequences. Charitable giving was down in 2008 and again in 2009. With less money in our pockets and more uncertainty about our futures, Americans give less. But that's what they want, isn't it? To put the government in charge of all "charity" and "giving". Why else would this administration seek to limit the income tax deduction for charitable contributions?