My Friend

I was talking to a friend who said he voted for Romney but had to hold his nose while doing so because he believed Romney only cared about the rich.

So let’s do a little thought experiment.  Who cares more about their fellow Americans; a) a wealthy person who donates 1.4% of their annual income to charity or b) a wealthy person who donates 16% of their annual income to charity?  (The national average is 3%.)

Now answer this question.  Who cares more about their fellow Americans; a) Joe Biden or b) Mitt Romney?

If you answered b) to the first question but a) to the second, you are probably not alone.

Turns out Biden gave a little over $5000 to charities in 2010 while Romney gave millions.  Biden is notoriously stingy.  Before becoming VP Biden donated an average of $369 a year to charity.  Romney, on the other hand, has given generously to charities throughout his life.  In fact, he donated his entire inheritance from his father to Brigham Young University.

So, who cares more about their fellow Americans?  I think they both care about Americans.  Surprised by my answer?  I think they both care but address the issue differently.  In general, liberals believe it is the federal government’s job to force other Americans to provide for the needy while conservatives believe the constitution severely limits what the federal government can do with regards to benevolent acts and delegates that responsibility to the states or directly to the people (see Constitution or Bust).

Believe it or not, conservations are not the mean, cold-hearted people liberals make us out to be.  Romney is not a greedy rich guy who doesn’t care about anyone but the rich.  We just believe that making charity a federal entitlement is destructive to society.

For thoughts on a related topic see Imagine.