Uncaring America

I've heard this so many times from inside and outside the U.S. that I was starting to wonder if it were true.

Then I read: "Americans lead world in generosity" by Star Parker.

[all emphasis: mine]

Americans are hearing so much these days about how bad we are that we're starting to believe it. "We are such a rich nation and care little for the poor, we should give more."

In a recent Gallup poll, 68 percent said they are "dissatisfied with the position of the United States in the world today," and 55 percent said they think that the rest of the world views us unfavorably.

See I wasn't the only one.

However, as I page through a publication called the Index of Global Philanthropy, which is produced annually by the Center for Global Prosperity at the Hudson Institute in Washington, it becomes obvious that these American feelings of self-deprecation are misguided.

This is the just-released third annual edition of this index. It produces a unique snapshot portraying the full extent of American generosity to developing countries, by amount and by source.

Usually when the question of aid to the developing world arises, we think of government funds. But this index shows that, whereas it may be the rule in the rest of the industrialized world that most aid is government aid, in our country this isn't the case. Most of the contributions that Americans make abroad are private and voluntary. And they are large.

And how large?

In 2006, the latest year for which data are available, the index reports that Americans contributed privately and voluntarily $34.8 billion to individuals and organizations in developing countries.

Philanthropy is distinct from government aid in that it originates with private citizens and is voluntary, but also the recipients are private individuals and organizations, as opposed to governments. Private to private versus government to government.

The $34.8 billion in philanthropy from private Americans exceeded the $23.5 billion in official U.S. government aid abroad by $11.3 billion, or 48 percent.

Damn near 50% more that the U.S. gov't gives, and remember, we taxpayers gave that $23.5 billion also.

This private philanthropy is flowing from foundations, corporations, private and voluntary organizations, universities and colleges, and religious organizations.

Of particular interest in this year's index is the $8.8 billion reported from religious organizations. According to Carol Adelman, who directs this work, the data were produced by commissioning "the first national survey of congregational giving to the developing world" ever done.

The average contribution of congregations was $10,700.

Only $10,700? when you add it all together that is 25% of the total being given, voluntarily by these congregations.

To put this in some kind of perspective, the $8.8 billion in giving from American religious institutions to developing countries was $1.5 billion more than the total giving from all private sources in 30 of the world's major industrialized democratic countries combined.

You got that? You add up the total from next 30 democratic nations and we've still given $1.5 BILLION more!

When consolidating all assistance funds flowing from the United States to developing countries, the total is $129.8 billion. This is the total of government aid, philanthropy and remittances – funds sent directly by private individuals to other private parties in developing countries, often family members. A far second in total giving behind the United States is the United Kingdom at $20.7 billion.

The next most generous country in line, Great Britain, gives 16% of what we do.

There are a couple of important messages here.

First, of course, is the incredible compassion and generosity of Americans. American largesse does not need to be pried or forced by the government. It flows organically from free, civic minded and often religiously motivated citizens. And it comes from citizens of every income strata. The religious giving data show that whereas the average congregation gives $10,700, the median number is $2,500, indicating that there are many smaller, less wealthy congregations engaged.

The other headline is the central importance of the private sector in both generating prosperity, but also in sharing it.

We know how good we have it here, and we want to help those in need or who have been hit by disaster and we are willing to sacrifice some of our blessings to the rest of the world..."the median number is $2,500, indicating that there are many smaller, less wealthy congregations engaged." Help when you can, as much as you can.

Bookshelves now strain with studies showing the failures of government-to-government aid.

Always seems to end up buying munitions to further suppress the people it was suppose to help, or they just build another palace.

It is individuals who create wealth. Compassion and personal responsibility reside in the breasts of those same individuals. Neither can be said of government bureaucracies.

Amen!

Barack Obama spoke at the commencement ceremony at Wesleyan University the other day. He talked about national service and, recalling John F. Kennedy, committed to doubling the size of the Peace Corps if elected president.

From what I see and what the data show, Americans don't need government to make them care, contribute and volunteer. If anything, they need less government so they'll retain and keep control of more of what they produce and subsequently share with those in need.

Like I said at the beginning, I was starting to believe the BS that maybe we don't give enough. They can take that a shove it sideways.

Other countries may have their own motivations for what causes them to view Americans the way they do, but the data are clear. Americans are unmatched in creating prosperity and sharing it.

It's time to pay closer attention to what Americans do rather than what others say.

I don't know about you, but my family also give to charities that operate strictly within the U.S., so the numbers there are not figured into the grand total.