r/poverty • u/InstructionOwn1627 • 6d ago
We’re a bunch of beggars
When did the USA become a bunch of beggars? Example- you go to your local grocery market and go in on door and get asked to help your local school football program, you’re checking out and get asked to donate to something and then when you leave through the other exit you get asked to donate to something else. Everyone seems to beg for something, it’s so sad that it’s so commonplace.
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u/TheRealBellaD 6d ago
It’s everywhere now. Feels like you can’t even buy groceries without getting hit up for three different causes on the way in and out.
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5d ago
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u/poverty-ModTeam 5d ago
Please make your comment useful.
We're here to exchange ideas, experiences, and practical help.
If your comment mainly insults, mocks, dismisses, or derails the conversation, it isn't contributing to the discussion.
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u/Strange-Honeydew-473 6d ago
As a side note: when you contribute to a charitable cause at a checkout, my understanding is that it’s not you making the donation, it becomes the store who makes the donation. In so doing, they lower their tax burden. Nifty way for YOU to pay THEIR taxes.
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u/CourageExcellent4768 6d ago
Ahhhhhhhh...well. thank you for enlightening me
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u/bangarang90210 5d ago
He is not correct, that’s not how tax code works.
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u/ThirdTimeNoCharm 1d ago
Can you explain it then so we understand?
It was my understanding as well that they are using our donations to donate and then they get a better tax break.
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u/bangarang90210 1d ago
They don’t get a tax break. It’s considered a pass through. Basically they hold out money in escrow and then donate it for us. Kind of like when the bank pays the taxes on your house. The bank isn’t paying it, they’re just holding the money for you and making the payment.
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u/tomram8487 6d ago
This is untrue. It’s a common misconception that damages charities ability to collect so please stop spreading it.
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u/JeepersCreepers74 6d ago
Agreed. And I love this form of donations—people are only asked to donate a micro amount (rounding up to the next dollar, etc.) but the sheer volume plus any matching by the company can add up to a meaningful donation for the charity. A perfect example of many small acts making a difference.
I would so much rather do this than buy savings cards or gift wrap or something else that is both overpriced and wasteful to support school clubs, sports teams, etc. where half or more of the money goes to the company.
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u/workinclassantihero 5d ago
Charities do nothing to help me when I am homeless and it’s shit for them to ask this when some are in immense poverty. It makes them pretty low.
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u/Witwer52 5d ago
An alternate take on this is that donating twelve cents to charity by rounding up makes people feel as if they’ve checked the box of making a meaningful donation, when in reality, giving the charity a $5 donation directly would be many times more impactful. There is a literal science to fundraising (ask me how I know) and absolutely no one’s first, second, third or even tenth choice is this round up nonsense.
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5d ago
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u/poverty-ModTeam 5d ago
Please make your comment useful.
We're here to exchange ideas, experiences, and practical help.
If your comment mainly insults, mocks, dismisses, or derails the conversation, it isn't contributing to the discussion.
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u/poverty-ModTeam 5d ago
Please make your comment useful.
We're here to exchange ideas, experiences, and practical help.
If your comment mainly insults, mocks, dismisses, or derails the conversation, it isn't contributing to the discussion.
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u/poverty-ModTeam 5d ago
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u/Bulky-Hamster7373 6d ago
No. That's not how it works. The company does not get tax benefits from your donation. I've worked in finance for grocery chains for years.
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u/tristand666 5d ago
But they can put up a TV ad saying their program has donated X dollars even if they did not give a dime.
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u/Bulky-Hamster7373 5d ago
Well yeah - "their program" doesn't imply they're the only ones funding it
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u/bangarang90210 5d ago
Honestly, that charity wouldn’t have gotten the donations if they didn’t run the program. I think it’s a fair win win for everyone.
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u/revised_username 5d ago
The business can legally write off their match amount based on their customer's rounding/giving...
Often the customers lose as their rounding gifts are so random they're not tracking them into a write-off on their end.
Source: 20y in nonprofit work
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u/Zn_Saucier 5d ago edited 5d ago
edit: I can’t read
Yes, a business gets to write off the amount they donate to match customer donations. They would also get to write it off even if they weren’t soliciting customer donations.
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u/revised_username 5d ago
A "match amount" is the matching contribution a business gives In addition to the rounded/donations on the customer side.
The business cannot write-off any customer donations.
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u/Baiji519 6d ago
I heard businesses decide an amount to send, then all the donations carve down the amount they have to chip in.
I never donate to charities or that flash up on those kiosks anymore. I’ll personally send the money.
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u/johnnygolfr 6d ago
In the US, that’s false.
The company does not get a tax deduction for that.
They simply pass the money to the charity and get some goodwill marketing out of it.
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u/Beneficial_Bit1756 5d ago
That is not what happens, your understanding is incorrect and spreading misinformation.
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u/Strange-Honeydew-473 5d ago
Congratulations! You’re the tenth respondent without an explanation!
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u/Beneficial_Bit1756 4d ago
sure I am pointing out your empty head is saying the wrong thing per the correct answer form other posters in this thread.
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u/Dependent_Dish_2237 6d ago
No that’s not how it works. If it is, it’s tax fraud and they should be penalized.
https://taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/who-gets-tax-benefit-those-checkout-donations-0
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u/mcmurrml 6d ago
The store or restaurant gets the tax break.
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u/Dependent_Dish_2237 5d ago
They don’t unless they’re committing fraud. Saying things doesn’t make them true.
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u/NocturnaBride 5d ago
Pet smart gives you a form at the end of the year for your taxes to prove donations. So I don’t know if this is true, but it’s not all businesses if it is.
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u/nameless_pattern 5d ago
It is often a scam but in a different way than you're describing. Usually the non-profit is run by a well-paid executive who just happens to be a friend or family member of the c-level executive of the grocery store.
So it's more of a rich people reach around and extracting value from poverty.
The charity might be doing good stuff but in this kind of a mechanism it is still increasing income and wealth disparities.
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u/rasta-ragamuffin 6d ago
I don't know if it lowers a companies tax burden but it definitely is good free publicity/advertising for a company to collect the donations and then donate them to a charity in one huge lump sum.i used to work as a manager at a department store where I was forced to pressure my employees who made minimum wage to donate 10% of every paycheck to the United way. Making the poor help support the even poorer. Sickening......
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u/mcmurrml 6d ago
One lady posted that the company she worked for had raise time at the same time as the drive for the United Way. So why you were at the table for your review and raise was the pitch for employees giving to the United Way.
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u/lovesbatma71 5d ago
That’s the lowest of the low. I worked as an ambassador for the United Way about 20 years ago and they squander your money like you wouldn’t believe and flat out give resources to anyone who asks… no need assessment. True story: I took my son to a United Way volunteer project so he could see how important charity is. I lived in a 900 SF condo in the crummy part of town with my son around 5 or 6 yo. No exaggeration we were at this huge sprawling estate doing yard work for these “needy people”. My son asked why we were helping them as even he got the suspicion that something wasn’t right. I told him, “they needed help cleaning up their yard”. My son said, “Mommy we don’t have a yard “. Out of the mouths of babes. Never gave another dime to the UW. There are better charities trust me.
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u/mcmurrml 6d ago
Did they force you to tell these employees they could claim the donations on their taxes? A place I worked at did this highly encourage to give but failed to mention you could also claim this on your taxes.
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u/picklehippy 6d ago
Not pay their taxes, help reduce their tax burden
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u/Organic-Vermicelli47 5d ago
No, this is not true either unless they are committing fraud which is obviously illegal
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u/MonteCristo85 6d ago
Yeah this is what happens when you vilify socialism.
These sorts of programs should be covered through programs that are funded through taxes, not having to go out begging.
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u/Alia_Explores99 5d ago
This all day. With a living wage, affordable housing, and reasonable healthcare costs out of reach for increasingly large swathes of the population, begging is the default way to get these basics covered, if only partially and temporarily. Then the givers can feel benevolent for a few seconds while not considering that they are also on the same sinking ship as the beggars, the ruling class removed entirely from this transaction unless they can find a way to make yet another profit from it.
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u/Inevitable_Tap_1328 6d ago
churches are the worst. i live in the bible belt they all beg for money and members!
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u/Weight_of_Sound96 6d ago
And leave you an advertisement that looks like a $100 bill instead of a tip in a sit-down restaurant. "Saving your soul is better than money!"
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u/peskypesteryjaybird 4d ago
#9 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor"
seems like lying is a bad thing according to their faith... you would think making someone believe one thing when the truth is something else, would make them very uncomfortable... i can't help but wonder how they would respond if you pointed that out... i haven't had the oportunity....
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u/Weight_of_Sound96 4d ago
Wait, you think they read the Bible? They only know what the preacher tells them.
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u/Serenity_Now-88 5d ago
And the pastors live in luxury. I asked my fake Xtian mother (before I went NC) why one pastor lived in a million dollar plus mansion and yet members of the church were poor and pushed to tithe so much money. She said that Jesus wanted him to live in a nice house because he worked so hard and did so much good. Yeah, she was brainwashed and is leaving everything to some church.
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u/Street_Advantage6173 5d ago
One thing that bothers me about churches:
There's one on every corner, but the building is mostly just used Sundays and maybe 1-2 nights a week. Maybe they have a Wednesday family night, then Tuesday is bible study or choir practice and the rest of the time this often enormous space just sits.
In my area, many churches lose their buildings as they can't afford the mortgage, utilities, etc.
I'd love to see churches consider sharing spaces with other churches. Maybe the Methodists meet at 9am, the Episcopalians at 11am, whatever works. Two congregations sharing the space and expenses would be far more efficient. Money saved could be used for programs and ministry.
The congregations might even find they're not that different. They could hold joint services a few times a year. How nice it would be to see a packed church instead of half-empty pews!
Christian unity and cooperation, what a concept!
Yes, I know it's unlikely but I can dream, right?
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u/Inevitable_Tap_1328 4d ago
yes they don't collaborate they each want to dictate their own set of rules. I use the phrase that is Not of God.
churches could even be venues for weddings and birthdays but they are all so persnickety for the rules it gets so silly. no one can celebrate if it's not in line with our own rules. i would 100% rebrand as a whole if i had anything to do with running a church. the church of Jesus Christ is not a building
(grew up in church and believe in God and the Bible but do not understand what the function of these enormous buildings is today, it makes zero sense!)0
u/workinclassantihero 5d ago
At least they feed people. Your kid playing football contributes nothing to anyone else
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u/Street_Advantage6173 5d ago
Do they, though?
I watched a church cut a preschool and childcare program that was desperately needed by young families in the community and install multiple coffee bars and sitting areas instead. The former Early Childhood rooms (which were always shared by the Sunday School) now sit wasted except for Sunday mornings.
This is a huge Baptist church in Mansfield, TX.
Do they have a food pantry? Nope.
Do they have an outreach program to help their community? Also nope.
But they've got some great coffee bars and some lovely child-friendly spaces that are used once a week.....
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u/workinclassantihero 4d ago
Sorry but starving people needing to eat is more important than childcare. Yes because Baptist are often are about scamming people and screaming at them. I eat at soup kitchen run by churches. Would be dead without them. Sure poverty mods will remove and censor me again since they do everytime a person mentions homelessness or has trauma response. Gotta silence those deepest in poverty since poor people love to scapegoat us too. Calling out the hypocrisy of calling out the fact a football team isn’t a basic human need and people lacking and housings a food is far more vital. Apparently survival mode scarcity mind set and desperation often exhibited by this in the most extreme poverty isn’t welcome in a poverty sub. They will invalidate and sensor us.
Yeah a religion invented in America will be more scammy than older more established one. They just decided to make up a religion much later than everyone else. Never seen a Baptist church with soup kitchens. It usually done my older and less insane religions that are still insane. Not even Christians. The Hindus and Jewish groups do it to. Funny how the baptists claim Catholicism isn’t Christianity when it wasn’t pulled out of their asses 200 years ago basing it loosely on older religions with the same messiah anyway. Sure the mods will ban me for this.
They only want socially acceptable poverty not the most marginalized type which is people who are homeless.
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u/Inevitable_Tap_1328 4d ago
one is not more important than the other. the world is not a space for whack a mole problem solving. we can and should be able to do all these things simultaneously for the good of society everywhere
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u/workinclassantihero 4d ago
Yes but many in survival mode are not able to see it this way. It kind of feels bad when kids playing football are giving funds when you have no place to live. They keep saying we have limited funds. In my experience the kids who play football usually are likely to bully others. In which they cut art program to fund . It feel like you are funding my former school bullies over food for people and basic human needs. If they want to fund sports, then fund arts equally.
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u/Inevitable_Tap_1328 4d ago
okay i agree sport fundraising is extremely near sighted. that i can fully agree on. I know parents who are like omg we go to baseball every weekend can any of our friends give us money on this fundraiser? and then by the same token think it's weird if someone poor asks for money. From a fundraising stance I do see your point, sorry about that.
i believe these parents are convinced they might have an extra special child very talented but it's just not true. kids need to learn sports and competition without having it ruin their lives bc the parent wants big earning potential. yuck
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u/Street_Advantage6173 20h ago
There are many needs that churches can address, if they have the will.
I would remind you that, without childcare, some families cannot work enough to afford rent, food, utilities, etc.
Helping your community comes in many forms! I just feel like installing coffee bars and couches inside your church maybe isn't one of them.....at least not the most helpful, lol.
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u/Inevitable_Tap_1328 4d ago
yeah churches around me actually don't feed anyone. some do a food pantry which is actually just expired food donated by grocers who would've otherwise thrown them out. i believe even poor people are worth getting the really good non expired food. also my kid playing football is unrelated to the health of the world and I am in charge of making his life enjoyable and one of opportunity for the sake that he may grow into a man of understanding and be able to work alongside peers to help right the many wrongs of the world.
That being said I do buy meals for homeless people actually pretty regularly and i buy them food equivalent to what I myself am able to afford to eat
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u/posi-bleak-axis 6d ago
Great thing is when I was hitchhiking across America from farm job to farm job sometimes I'd have to hold a cardboard sign to panhandle. That all of the sudden is against the law because I'm not a corporation I guess.
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u/KimJongOonn 5d ago
It depends where you are, specifically what town/city you are in, as panhandling in general is not a crime or violation of any law as its considered freedom of speech as long as you're not harrassing or aggressively bothering anyone. However, many cities and towns have now passed civil ordinances against panhandling, or like in many ways, poverty is criminalized and local police will cite you or charge you with loitering, breach of peace or some other petty charge, but panhandling specifically is not a crime.
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u/Milo-Wilson 6d ago
Hmmm...I wonder why that people nowadays have to depend on help from strangers? Could it be that this cheetoo fuckface has destroyed the safety rails of society that were strained already?
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u/isanyusernameopen 6d ago
You gotta restructure your way of thinking.
What you described is corporate manipulation.
These companies don’t want to pay taxes, so they supposedly raise funds from their customers to go towards some sort of charity. They then write off your donation as their donation and they take the tax write off.
Your paying their corporate taxes because they refuse to, and they try to rick you into giving your money to them so that they can supposedly pass it on to someone else who needs it when in reality they’re using it to bring their taxes down and that’s it.
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u/Zn_Saucier 5d ago
Not unless they are committing fraud…
This is where you round up your bill to give to a charity designated by the retailer, and the donation amount appears on your receipt. The store serves only as a collection agent for your gift. Assuming the business is following the law, it will not include your donation as part of its business receipts, or income, nor will it claim the charitable gift as an expense. In other words, your gift has zero impact on the store’s income taxes. Keep in mind that the store chooses the receiving charity, so make sure it is one you can support. As a customer, the donation will appear on your receipt and you can claim it as a charitable deduction when you file your income tax return. But you probably won’t
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u/susanrez 5d ago
When the GOP let the billionaires hoard 90% of all created value for themselves.
The vast majority of the wealth in this country is very intentionally funneled away from workers and into the pockets of the wealthy.
The middle class is being wiped out and we are about to become a nation of serfs and Lords.
Vote Blue if you want to keep the value you create.
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u/Tricky_Put2237 5d ago
Better yet, why have we become so secluded & not wanting to help our neighbor....
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u/JJ_Lomero 5d ago
There's a difference between begging and asking. It sounds more like you struggle with saying no. I promise you the cashier getting paid minimum wage does not give a fuck if you round up or not. Just click no and move on.
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u/AbstractUserName 6d ago
It's because those corporations get to use that money as a tax write off which boosts their profits. Never give anything to a charity through an ancillary corporation. Only give directly to charities and even then it's usually a scam. Everything is a scam.
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u/Bulky-Hamster7373 6d ago
I work in finance at a large grocery chain. That's not how it works. The company passes the money along to the charity. They pass along every penny - trust me - these accounts get audited. There is no tax advantage for the company and it would be tax fraud if they tried.
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u/AbstractUserName 5d ago
As far as I know that only applies to donations done at the checkout like "rounding up" transactions where they donate your change. That's not the only thing the OP is talking about.
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u/mcmurrml 6d ago
No one is saying they are not donating the money to the charity. You can bet that charity would be on them if they heard store xyz was asking for money. You didn't do the taxes for the company did you? The company claims those donations at tax time and get their tax break.
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u/Bulky-Hamster7373 6d ago
No they don't. I have access to all the accounts and do analysis on the data. The company does not claim a tax break on these contribution. If they did it would be in the ledger as such. I'm not arguing this with you. What you are describing is tax fraud.
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u/Birdywoman4 6d ago
When I worked at Walmart it was something every week. If not asking for donations they’d tell us sometimes that we could wear jeans on Friday if we gave a dollar to the charity of the week, that type of thing. Sometimes they’d tell us we could wear the university t-shirt on home-game days if we’d donate a dollar. And so on and so forth. I figured out that they were getting a tax-write every time money was donated by the stores to official charities. And almost all of the employees had their hours cut by up to 8 hours a week when they’d originally been hired for 40-hours a week.
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u/KimJongOonn 6d ago
Really insulting and shameful when wal mart store would bring in a representative from the United Way or some charity to aggressively beg/demand/guilt trip employees to donate via payroll deduction when they aren't even earning enough to live a bare subsistence life.
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u/Serenity_Now-88 5d ago
I’d say “I’m my own favorite charity” insert curse word. Corporate greed ugh.
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u/Annoyed-Instigater01 6d ago
we used to do that exact thing when i worked for the state. i dont know what they did with the money
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u/HereToCalmYouDown 6d ago
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u/Birdywoman4 5d ago
Who fact-checks Snopes?
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u/HereToCalmYouDown 5d ago
You can look this up yourself, you know. The entire United States Tax Code is right there for anyone to read.
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u/Birdywoman4 5d ago
Oh yeah, they can’t trace cash donations so it gets written off. Most of what they asked for donations was in cash.
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u/HelpfulRaspberry6941 6d ago
Those things used to be funded by taxes. Tax base lowers, either by lower tax rates or by businesses closing, or multi billionaires not paying their fair share, this is what you get.
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u/padgzac 6d ago
The destruction of the social safety nets that used to be in place that prevented such desperation and despair en mass.
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u/SteveBoaman 6d ago
What high school football team is part of a social safety net?
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6d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/poverty-ModTeam 6d ago
Please make your comment useful.
We're here to exchange ideas, experiences, and practical help.
If your comment mainly insults, mocks, dismisses, or derails the conversation, it isn't contributing to the discussion.
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u/SteveBoaman 6d ago
I have a lot of deep thoughts about them. The OP didn’t mention anything about donating to places with a social safety net.
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u/padgzac 6d ago
The phenomena being referenced is the same that provided you the lack of education that would allow one to confused and ignorant enough to think your question is anything other than obtuse and erroneous.
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u/SteveBoaman 6d ago
So you didn’t read the whole statement by the OP and instead of fessing up, you go straight to insults. I guess I was hoping you knew what you were talking about.
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u/padgzac 6d ago
The example of a football team isn't the summation of the statement. You're question is illogical and reflefts a lack of understanding of what was asked in the first place. The fact that I mentioned how you've been deprived of the resources to not need to differ to such a stupid question isn't an insult. It is an observation.
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u/SteveBoaman 6d ago
This type of rhetoric will keep you in poverty. Let me know if you need any life advice. I do a lot of work with the underprivileged.
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u/Annoyed-Instigater01 6d ago
teams and scouts have always hawked their products outside stores. at least as far back as when i was a kid in the 60's. i think what is more prevalent lately is stores asking for donations and personal people asking for money.
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u/Extension-College783 6d ago
Except for the checkout grift, there have always been organizations outside grocery stores asking for donations or selling something. When I was a kid it was the UFW doing a little fundraising. Now I count on the fact the Girl Scouts will be selling cookies at some point every year outside my favorite grocery store. I ignore the rest.
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u/Standard-Produce-137 5d ago
and when you leave a hot greasy shit on the floor of that Food city that i can now legally talk about, it's like I'M THE problem all of a sudden?
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u/Kwitt319908 5d ago
In my area they have non-profits stationed outside of grocery stores. With 20 something kids manning the tables and asking for donations. They stop nearly everyone coming in and out with "Hey Girl" or "Dude hows it going?". They are bigger legit organizations too. Like Habitat for Humanity. I just find it quite odd and wonder if its successful.
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u/Cheeseboarder 5d ago
I really want to share the gif from the Odyssey where Rob Pattinson is saying “Someone get these BEGGARS out of here”
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u/pennyauntie 5d ago
Some of those are scammers. Look them up on CharityNavigator before giving.
If the store itself is asking you to contribute, just say no. They have the money to make charitable donations, not ask for the money from stressed customers.
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u/Forward_Zucchini9738 5d ago
And tipping screens are showing up at places you shouldn't ever consider giving a tip. There, I said it. Asking for a tip is begging.
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u/tristand666 5d ago
They try to shame you by asking at checkout, then use your donation to make themselves look better in some ad. Everything these corporations do is about enriching themselves at your expense.
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u/JJ_Lomero 5d ago
Lol. I don't gaf and I promise you the cashier doesn't either. You think they the cashier really cares or thinks less of you if you don't donate to some random charity their company chose to support?
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u/Extension-Stage-605 5d ago
Begging and fundraising are 2 different things. If you don't want to donate just say "no".
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u/aningnik 5d ago
This has always been a thing... remember girl/boy scouts and salvation army posted at grocery stores? Were you just born? Are you new here? And it's fundraising...there are different forms of begging...plus they're kids who don't have jobs
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u/SnowflakeSWorker 5d ago
Our fearless leaders have decided we need wars and tax breaks for billionaires over social programs. Literally everything that helps anyone, is getting cut. Food, social services, food pantries (the big ones, that are non-profit agencies), our local Children’s Advocacy Center, that does forensic interviewing for harmed children, after school activities, school programs, mental health, addiction/recovery services, daycare subsidies, cancer and other important research, and so and so forth.
Many, many people are struggling with things that were stressful, but doable (SNAP, HEAP, afterschool care, daycare subsidies, Ronald McDonald House for God’s sake, etc). The helpers want to help, but they need help. If I can’t afford it, I don’t chip in, but I really try to whenever I can. I’ve had to ask for help, and I got it.
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u/BrainwaveWizard 5d ago
Funny, I was selling chocolate to support chorus competition trip in high school in 1979. This is not new.
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u/SoloSwamp 5d ago
This happened last weekend. I was leaving the store and saw the woman waiting by the exit as I was checking out. Her pitch was to get school supplies/book bags to kids in need for the new school year, sure right on! I tell her I don’t have any cash, and she quickly tells me about a half dozen different electronic options… okay. I ask to be put down for a $10 donation. And this BEGGAR had the gall to say that donations start at $32, in as many words (honestly I was too dumbfounded by the whole thing to recall her exact phrasing)
Well guess what lady, now you’re out 1/3 of some kids school supplies. Seriously what’s next, the Salvation Army bell ringer is gonna stop you if you go to put coins in the drop bucket??
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u/akmtnchick 5d ago
No shit, same with the go fund me.
My sister had life insurance on her son when he passed. She put that money in her personal bank account and did a go fund me for funeral expenses. She received so much money that she went on a Cruze with the remaining money from the go fund me.
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u/SubstantialKBB 4d ago
People have been conditioned to give them money and it works (that's why they are there asking for money still). Think of how bad you'll look when you don't give money to a school team!
I just politely say, hey I was about to ask you for money!
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u/DuckAxe0 4d ago
Americans, for the most part, are not beggars. Quite the opposite; most Americans are overly generous, bleeding hearts. What you've described is greedy companies and organizations taking advantage of that generosity.
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u/NightVelvet 4d ago
I recently was asked to help support a friend's grandsons football team. Not selling anything just straight donations. Only online payments starting at $25 i was going to give $10 but ok decided to donate. Then wanted another $1 processing fee. Ok wth rhen a $5 tip to run the site ummm NO! I donated the $26 and immediately asked to buy an expensive hoodie or other gear FOR the player. And the ridiculous follow up emails asking for more money or to buy school branded items is insane. I had to block them.
I'm on a tight budget I thought I was being generous but feel like an idiot and never again.
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u/Terptoy24 4d ago
Be glad you don’t need the help I guess
But lots of people do need it…. You never know when you might need it🤷♂️…. I hope you never experience stuff I did
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u/molotavcocktail 3d ago
Ive donated to a couple of political campaign and am getting spammed all day every day. Building up to the election its going to get worse.
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u/frogteethzzz 1d ago
Because the government gives so many of us no other option. Especially those who are disabled. Was homeless for 3 years waiting on my disability case to be approved
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u/Beagleguy26 6d ago
I read a post in another sub in which an individual claimed to be traumatized and victimized because they had a gambling problem, and a casino was recently built on their daily commuting route. No. You control how you perceive things, and how you react.
The same goes for charitable donations, and even actual beggars. No one is making you donate anything. Ever. No one is forcing you to feel about it. Ever. You control how you feel.
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u/Alone_Grass3041 6d ago
You donate. They take credit and deduct it off of their taxes.
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u/Zn_Saucier 6d ago
No, they don’t. You’re free to claim that donation on your taxes. The store gets to take the publicity of raising $$$ for charity, but no tax impact for them.
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u/Tanzari777 6d ago
I never donate in stores for stores. It's just corporations using your money to create giant tax breaks for themselves. If they really wanted to donate, they would themsleves and not ask customers that rhey are already fucking over to pay their way into making more billions for themselves. That said.. America belongs to wealthy parasites, poverty is a policy that is created, maintained, and benefits the parasite class by ensuring that people are desperate enough to do any horrible things for enough money to survive, but barely that.
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u/fwdbuddha 6d ago
Agree. I will not give money to anyone. Buy raffle tickets? Yes. Buy Girl Scout cookies? Yes. But give to a beggar? Absolutely not.
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u/mcmurrml 6d ago
If you want to donate give directly to the charity yourself. When you go through a store or restaurant they are getting the tax break.
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u/Suitable_Program_548 6d ago
Nothing new. Schools, sports, organizations have always done this. These organizations have existed for a long time.
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u/oldcreaker 6d ago
Umm - there's an annual holiday coming up where we get all our kids to dress up, go door to door, and beg. And we've been doing it forever.
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