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Dr Douglas

Conservative voting record is explained by the fact that we don't think people are helped by setting them up to be lazy and dependent their whole lives. We choose candidates that recognize that government does just that, to the detriment of everyone who receives aid or has their income reduced through forced taxation.

Have you ever studied how much of our tax dollars that are designated for charity ever makes it to actual people? I have. Good example is the Literacy Council of my town. Government-grant of 200,000 yearly. The exec director is paid $50,000. The assistant is paid $35,000. The office staff is $25,000. Add another $25,000 for benefits. The building costs $20,000 a year, mortgage and utilities. $155,000 goes for staff and the building. That leaves $45,000 to educate people. They estimate they help 50 people a year using volunteer teachers at a cost of about $50 per class to the students.

My church has been doing the same thing for 60 years. We teach about 50 people a year (our best year was 80, but that was pre-Lit Council) completely free of charge and completely with volunteers, except for those times when our pastor steps in to sub and his salary comes from something else.

If my tax rates our lowered because the government no longer provides the services of the Lit Council, I will give more to my church and my church will spend that to help more people -- completely free of charge.

That's why we object to candidates that want to spend money on "charity". Not because we don't care, but because we recognize that government wastes money while truly non-profit organizations (as in volunteer) do not. Lower taxes means more people get helped.