The Widow's Mite vs. Other People's Money

Why is it that the working poor give the most money to charities relative to their earnings? Remember Jesus' observations on charitable giving in the Bible?

The Widow's Offering
Mark 12:41-44 NIV (thanks to biblegateway.com)

41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[a]worth only a fraction of a penny.[b]
43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

So, I've heard that conservatives far outgive liberals in money and time resources. Let's examine a few candidates...

Obamas: According to this Arthur C. Brooks's article, the Obamas gave less than one percent of their income during 2000-2004 when their average income was $244,000. After media fallout and their income raising to nearly a million dollars, then they generously started giving about 5% to charities.

BTW, the national average for charitable giving is 2.2%. The poor give the most, followed by the rich. The middle class gives the least.

Clintons: According to The Tax Foundation, the Clintons have averaged over 8% in charitable giving from 2000-2006, with a peak of over 12% in 2004. Not bad.

George W's: I couldn't find recent tax info, but this article gives early 1990s numbers typically over 10%.

Bidens: This record shows Bidens' giving since 2000 at far less than 1%. Biden's spokesperson David Wade claims he gives to his church - so I ask who gives to a charity and doesn't claim it on his taxes?

Gore: The Washington Post, for example, shows he gave about 0.2% one year, to the tune of less than $400, but he gave over 5% another year.

For contrast, try this giving level: In 2005, the Cheneys gave away 78% of their income to the tune of $6.9 million!!! Now, I don't think they do this every year.

But this takes the cake! R.G. LeTourneau, one of the world’s greatest inventors of earthmoving equipment and founder of LeTourneau University, gave away 94% of his income yearly before he died, according to his autobiography, Mover of Men & Mountains.

And any good Christian knows that Biblical tithing is a minimum of ten percent. When I was a toddler, my dad started giving me a weekly allowance of $1. I was taught to give a dime to the church as my tithe and a nickel toward a missionary. Thankfully, I wasn't taxed on the remaining 85 cents.

Here's a link with a few more fun facts about how liberals like to give away OPM (Other People's Money) through taxes and government socialism, but not their own.

So, who really cares about the poor?

Ian