Originally Posted by brokenrobot
Here's the thing. Charity is of course to be commended, but it is not a replacement for one's civic duty. No successful American ever got that way without taking advantage of the benefits provided by our governmental system: the schools, the good roads, the armed forces, the scientific and medical research, the law enforcement and emergency medical services, the fire department, and lots and lots of other programs that we all depend on every day.
When a person becomes successful after depending on such public goods and then refuses to pay his fair share of taxes, that person is not just avoiding "giving money to the IRS"; he's working to cripple the system that helped him become successful and decreasing the likelihood that others will become successful in their turn. The tax-evader is a lousy American and a bad example even if he gives to his church and to Doctors Without Borders.
Boy, has this thread drifted or what?
In other forums it has been claimed that Americans give
less per capita than other countries. Does anyone know of a good source for comparing giving among countries? I suspect that some people will concentrate on "charitable" giving and conclude that Americans are more charitable (though our charities are tax deductable) and others will concentrate on our government programs and conclude that Americans are less charitable (because its impossible to chart what the myriad of government agencies are all doing).