compassionate conservative?

[mini]

<p>Let’s agree that “compassionate” conservatism would be an advance, as would be “compassionate” liberalism. In politics these days, I see previous little evidence of either.</p>

[barrons]

<p>dmd77–We have several left-wing liberals here. Actually it’s about 75% liberal as one of my conservative friends decided staying home with the two kids was more important than the money.</p>

<p>Take a couple of classes in real estate analysis–Udub has a good certificate program–and start following the commercial RE market. You could also use the Appraisal Institute classes to learn the basics and they count toward the hours you need for a state license. Since several of us are about to move to another firm they will be hiring a lot of people in the next year. Feel free to send me a private message and I can give you the details.</p>

[digmedia]

<p>Away from liberal vs. conservative, but back to charities, especially faith-based charities. Look before you leap. Comparing three Christian organizations that I am very familiar with (disclaimer: the President of one of these is a friend and neighbors on either side of me are higher-ups in the other two):</p>

<p>Young Life uses its contributions to proselytize youth (via camps, etc). Money you give does not go to the needy, but is used to make more converts.</p>

<p>Focus on the Family uses its contibutions for proselytizing as well - radio shows, publications, and more recently to push social and political agendas. Money you give does not go to the needy, but is used to make more converts.</p>

<p>Compassion International uses its contributions to help mainly children in desparate situations - feeding, clothing, and especially educating (and not necessarily Christian-based, but the type of education that can hopefully lift them out of poverty). I’ve seen some of their results in Haiti.</p>

<p>So which of these would I contribute to?</p>

<p>Also think about the money you contribute to churches. I was on our Missions Committee for our church. The GOAL was to try to use 10% of the contributions for charity. We never made it. It seemed to hover around 6% (after salaries, expenses, and building mortgage payments). And of that 6%, more than half of that went to either missionaries (a waste, if you ask me) or to the national organization for pastor retirement homes, administration costs, etc… Only a little more than 2% went to “charities” as I would define them. After that experience, my wife and I started contributing the money that would have gone to the church directly to the organizations that needed the money, where almost all of it went to where it would make the most impact on people’s lives.</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p><a href=“http://www.charitynavigator.org/[/url]”>http://www.charitynavigator.org/&lt;/a&gt;
You can use this site to see evaluations of charities
To be non profit- just means that they put profits back into company- some as you mentioned have as their primary goal proselytizing- but no one should have the impression that it is anything but.</p>

[Woodwork]

<p>Dig,</p>

<p>“Charity Navigator,” one of the most thorough Charity assessors out there has a few things to say about the three charities you warned us of [one may also want to consider what sort of outreach is involved before giving. Not all charities are designed to give food for free, some offer other services that any particular individual may or may not think worthy of their money].</p>

<p>Young Life Charities:
They are given 3 stars with an efficiency rating of 53.74
Mission Statement:

Young Life (YL), which began in 1941, is committed to making an impact on kids’ lives and preparing them for the future. YL has been a non-denominational Christian organization reaching out to teens with programs in more than 800 communities in the United States and Canada and more than 45 countries overseas. More than 100,000 kids are involved in YL weekly, with more than one million kids participating in YL throughout the year. Young people have the opportunity to spend the greatest week of their life at a YL property. YL has grown from a ministry with suburban senior high school kids to a ministry to middle school kids, as well as kids in rural, multiethnic/urban and international areas, kids with disabilities and teenage mothers.

<a href=“http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/4791.htm[/url]”>http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/4791.htm&lt;/a&gt;
Focus on the Family:
3 Stars with an efficiency rating of 53.59
Mission Statement:

Founded in 1977 in response to Dr. James Dobson’s increasing concern for the American family, Focus on the Family (FOF) is a nondenominational religious organization whose primary objective is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ by helping to preserve traditional values and the institution of the family. The primary means of accomplishing these goals are radio broadcasts, periodicals, books, films, videos, internet and events which share the message with constituents, schools, churches, and the public at large in the United States as well as around the world.

<a href=“http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/3706.htm[/url]”>http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/3706.htm&lt;/a&gt;
Compassion International:
4 Stars with an efficiency rating of 60.67
Mission statement:

Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, releasing them from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enabling them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. Founded by Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean war orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training. Today, Compassion helps more than 600,000 children in more than 20 countries. All of Compassion’s programs are rooted in Christian child development and child advocacy. It’s truly a long-term process, beginning in some cases with prenatal care and going all the way through leadership development for qualified young adults.

<a href=“http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/3555.htm[/url]”>http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/3555.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>edit: sorry Emeraldkitty, I didn’t see your post before I posted.</p>

[mini]

<p>Meanwhile, couldn’t the “compassionate conservative” Prez have at least sent his VP sidekick to the Parks’ funeral? Was Cheney REALLY that busy today? Or at least someone? (I apologize in advance if he did - I just didn’t see anyone from the White House in the press coverage). Anyone other than the “designated Black person” (who was only sent to Montgomery?) </p>

<p>Symbolism matters. A lot, if you ask me. That’s most of what the White House is about.</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>:)
woodwork
I see that a non profit and a charity are actually seperate things- and more complex than I can explain
( Which is why I have my list of charities that I donate to- and try not to give to anyone who comes knocking- I feel like my contribution can mean more if I focus my giving of time as well as money)
<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_organization[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_organization&lt;/a&gt;
I try and limit my participation to educational groups-
not that I don’t believe in other efforts- but like many people I don’t want to be burned out-
If I strongly identified with a groups mission- for instance Focus on the Family ( which would be the last group I would IRL donate to) I probably wouldn’t have a problem that they didn’t do typical “charity” work, but were all about bringing more “sheep into the fold”.</p>

[barrons]

<p>Symbolism–lying in review at the Capitol.</p>

[bullwinkle]

<p>Mini- the prez has time to throw out the first pitch at baseball games and spend months at the ranch but to honor a true american heroine…</p>

<p>As far as Cheney -lol.</p>

[mini]

<p>“Symbolism–lying in review at the Capitol.”</p>

<p>Did the Prez come? Did Cheney? How 'bout someone important, like Scooter?</p>

<p>To be far, I’m sure, today, Cheney was too busy preparing to meet Camilla. The designated Black person must be somewhere else.</p>

[barrons]

<p>The President ordered it–that’s enough.</p>

[mini]

<p>It was a difficult decision for Vice President:</p>

<p>“Camilla…Rosa Parks…Camilla…Rosa Parks…can’t send Scooter…Camilla…Rosa Parks.” He came down on the side of compassionate conservatism.</p>

[TheDad]

<p>

Genuine compassion and posturing exist on both sides.

</p>

<p>Driver finds a truffle. Broken clocks, blind pigs, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.</p>

<p>Btw, Driver, it’s amusing that you may have seen one of my other avatars on one of <em>the</em> canonical Progressive websites taking to task one of the high priests about the characterization of Steele as a minstrel. His justification that he, the critic, is black, which therefore makes it okay, doesn’t wash.</p>

<p>[makes wager on a given question at this point]</p>

[lizschup]

<p>I don’t know if this is the question you’re looking for theDad, but what the heck are you talking about …blind pigs, broken clocks? And what “canonical progressive websites” are you talking about? DailyKos?</p>

[spoonyj]

<p>Time to bone up on your folksy wisdom:</p>

<p>Even a blind pig finds an acorn every once in awhile.</p>

<p>Even a broken clock is right twice a day.</p>

<p>And my personal favorite (although it means something different, it applies to many posts in the Parent Cafe): You can put your cat in the oven, but that don’t make it a biscuit!</p>

[lizschup]

<p>Ookay then, I’ve never heard any of those except a broken clock is right twice a day.</p>

[TheDad]

<p>Can sub a truffle for the acorn.</p>

<p>Liz, that would be telling. I try to keep my various on-line identities unlinked. I have, let’s see…five, for five very distinct fields: CC, politics, writing, real estate, college athletics. I keep waiting for someone on the athletics board I haunt to put two and two together and realize that they’ve read my posts on CC…it’s a virtual certainly that some have.</p>

<p>Spoonyj, there’s also the Russian expression, “Yeah, in the asylum the inmates wash their face with soup.”</p>

[driver]

<p>The minstrel comments/oreo-pelting of Steele made the rounds of all sorts of “canonical” websites, but I’ve never encountered a poster that reminded me of TheDad except for Arianna Huffington.</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>uumm truffles
would these be the chocolate or fungi versions?</p>

<p>Im kinda ill from Halloween candy so lets go with the fungi</p>

<p>( I only had ADD a little bit - why do you ask?)</p>

<p><a href=“NameBright - Domain Expired”>NameBright - Domain Expired;

[bullwinkle]

<p>Mini- I don’t think Cheney was trying to decide between Camilla and Rosa Parks. I gotta believe that instead he was trying to figure out who Rosa Parks was. </p>

<p>Seems at first he thought the name referenced some new addition to the White House gardens. When told who Ms. Parks was and of her famous actions, “W” assured Cowboy Dick that it couldn’t be a true story (neither had ever heard of a white person riding a bus).</p>

<p>And don’t forget, “The President ordered it–that’s enough” (whatever the heck that means).</p>

<p>BTW, if you really want some examples of compassion, Mike Brown’s emails during Katrina are now available on the net. Great reading.</p>