Faith

Beck Pens CNN Belief Blog Op-Ed: What Tax Day Reveals About Our Politicians

Glenn Beck Pens Article on Charitable Giving & Small Government | CNNCNN’s Belief Blog invited Glenn Beck to share his views about small government and the responsibility of every citizen to give back to their communities. Additionally, the radio and television host delved into Tax Day and the bits of information that income tax releases reveal about politicians and their generosity.

In the piece, entitled, “As We Shrink Government, Let’s Grow Charitable Giving,” Beck writes:

I have never felt particularly charitable on April 15.

Instead, I typically feel like the victim of the most sophisticated burglary in world history. Yet it is on Tax Day that we learn a lot about the giving nature of our political leaders, at least those who release their tax records. Those documents provide a lens into politicians’ financial priorities and benevolence.

While the American people certainly don’t have a “right” to see the tax returns of any private individual, the public has grown to expect that those running for the highest office in the land will voluntarily allow us to view their filings.

Beck discusses the “voyeuristic pleasure” that the public and media, alike, enjoy when candidates release their tax returns. Additionally, he brings up the sometimes stark differences that exist between what a presidential candidate donates before seeking office and after. He continues:

According to his tax records, President Obama gave about 14% to charity last year, a laudable amount by any measure. However, that’s about 12 times the rate he gave before he arrived in the Senate in 2004 and over 35 times the rate at which he gave in 2002 (when he managed to donate only 0.4% of his quarter million dollar income).

This raises questions about how much of the president’s recent charitable contributions can be chalked up to political calculation.

Glenn Beck Pens Article on Charitable Giving & Small Government | CNN

Additionally, Beck delves back into Santorum’s admitted need “to do better” when it comes to giving to charity. But it isn’t just presidential hopefuls who the radio host challenges to give more:

At the end of the day, the lesson – that it’s important to pitch in and give to help those in need – doesn’t just apply to presidential candidates; it applies to all of us, but particularly to conservatives. [...]

Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus command us to elect a government that will take our money under threat of imprisonment so that bureaucrats can figure out the best way to help people in need.

But as so many on the left have pointed out, Scriptures do direct us to help the poor. Yet God puts the responsibility on us, not on the government.

Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians says that “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Read the entire article here.

Comments (38)

  • Clare Clare
    Posted on March 31, 2012 at 3:58pm

    I’m not a huge fan of Santorum. BUT he did point out to Glenn that not only does he have seven children, but caring for his special needs daughter, who needs 24-hr care, is incredibly expensive! Personally I think that he, of all people, deserves a pass. I myself have no children and consequently am much more able to give to charity than he is. Family obligations come first.

    Report Post »  
    • MHSETRadTech
      Posted on April 1, 2012 at 5:43pm

      What kind of a blessing it to give when it doesn’t hurt? The bible says to pay your first fruits, not pay your bills, pay fr entertainment ect… And then give god what is left over. Im for sabtorum but that’s a bull crap excuse

      Report Post » MHSETRadTech  
  • nilo
    Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:53am

    Jesus said: (Mat 22:17 NASB) “”Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” (Read the context). Our “Caesar”, big government thinks he deserves all of what we have to render. The passages in the New Testament about giving, reflect two things. The Will of God for Christians to be unselfish and the Church collections that are to be taken to help Christians in need. The Church treasuries cannot support every need in the world at large. But that being said, we individuals who are God’s children, are to follow the gudelines of love for another that The Word reveals.

    Report Post » nilo  
  • nilo
    Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:53am

    Jesus said: (Mat 22:17 NASB) “”Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” (Read the context). Our “Caesar”, big government, thinks he deserves all of what we have to render. The passages in the New Testament about giving, reflect two things. The Will of God for Christians to be unselfish and the Church collections that are to be taken are to help Christians in need. The Church treasuries cannot support every need in the world at large. Everyone surely recognizes that. Government thinks they can, but they really can’t. But that being said, we individuals who are God’s children, are to follow the gudelines of love for another that The Word reveals. “Rendering unto Caesar” means to pay our taxes. “Rendering unto God” means that we do our Christian duty to God and our fellow man, which is not all about money.

    Report Post » nilo  
  • Lion420
    Posted on March 28, 2012 at 12:29am

    Wow…a BIG thanks to Glenn for once again reminding me of the beauty in the Bible!

    Report Post » Lion420  
  • marybethelizabeth
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 7:53pm

    Nothing is stopping religious charitable groups from eliminating poverty in the United States.
    But they aren’t even making a dent. If they can do the job then do it.

    But the fact is, even with tax exempt status they can’t. They do have near enough resources.

    Catholic Community Services, the largest religious charitable organization, provides the most help for the most people, but they get $3,000,000,000 in federal funding yearly.

    Mr. Beck is blinded by ideology and often absent from the real world.

    Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • Texas.7
      Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:31pm

      The problem is, when community does it, the needy are helped, mentored and given opportunity as needed. When the government does it, dependency grows.

      Government programs may be needed to a much smaller degree than we see happening. But abuse also happened in the early church, to which Paul responded:

      2 Thess 3:6 “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you [fn6] keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.”

      Report Post »  
    • Thomas Payne
      Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:41pm

      Not making a dent? Seriously? Charitable groups house, feed, and clothe countless millions around the world.

      Poverty can never be eliminated only alleviated because it is a state of mind, not a condition.

      Report Post » Thomas Payne  
    • suz
      Posted on March 28, 2012 at 3:59am

      beck’s not blind at all.

      the ny government this past week heavily regulated feeding the homeless. the government doesn’t want people to see charities and just plain folk feeding the homeless so they make it very difficult for them. WHY? because they want people like you to see that you should go to the government for everything you need.

      government is better than your mommy and your daddy. it knows more of what’s best for you and it has all the money…and guns.

      whose blind?

      Report Post » suz  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on March 28, 2012 at 8:25am

      Sometimes people can get themselves into such dire straights that there’s no help whatsoever for them.. Most of the time it’s best to let them just work it out with themselves, family and creator.. No amount of wasteful and fraud laden gov’t sponsorship can help. It’s simply foolhardy. We need to return to the society in which our founders gave us and the one which the Apostle Paul referred to in the scriptures where if a man doesn‘t work he doesn’t eat.. It’s really that simple.

      Furthermore it‘s time for people like you to stop corrupting our gov’t. If you don’t like our Founders ideology then amend their Constitution or leave! But stop perverting it!

      From a personal experience I‘ve seen local Churches help countless needy families when they’ve fallen on hard times..

      Report Post » techengineer11  
    • HuskerDave
      Posted on March 28, 2012 at 9:47am

      It is incredibly naiive to believe that the answer to poverty is money. Only the most shallow examination of the problem can result in such a foolish conclusion.

      When the lazy and shiftless are given “charity,” it results in an increase in poverty. When those who can work, choose instead to leach off those who do work, it creates an incentive to remain “poor” in order to keep the benefits coming.

      Don‘t tell me it’s “for the children” or that “every child deserves…” That’s a platitude used to criticize anyone with an opposing opinion. When children living in “poverty” have cell phones, video game consoles, iPods, Facebook accounts and $400 tennis shoes, we do not have a poverty problem, we have an entitlement society problem.

      Report Post »  
    • LogicalMetaphysician
      Posted on March 28, 2012 at 4:50pm

      It’s difficult to have much left for charity when the various state, local, and Federal Caesars take in excess of 50% of what you earn before you even see it. But of course, that’s by design. If we were all self-sustaining and profitable, the Democrat party would cease to exist over night.

      Report Post » LogicalMetaphysician  
    • boyd9
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:14am

      Nothing is stopping the federal government from eliminating poverty either. They have spent Trillions of dollars doing it for more than 50 years. It is time to admit that what they are doing is not the solution, its the problem and to find a new and better way to actually help people rather than creating an entitlement driven group of permanent poor. Of course that is a good way to buy votes as long as the money lasts, but Europe is proof that the government eventually is unable to keep the promises it has made to buy votes. Wake up, take a look around the world, The EU is crumbling and Obama type FAIRNESS policy is 100% of the reason, yet Obama still wants to emulate them. Gee I wonder why?

      Report Post »  
  • MrKnowItAll
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 7:32pm

    I really want to know Glenn Becks HONEST opinion on Nancy Grace. When she worked at Court T.V. I e mailed them several times telling them she was Dangerous. Never once did I get a response.

    Report Post » MrKnowItAll  
    • Basharr
      Posted on March 31, 2012 at 3:26pm

      I would like to his opinion on Grace as well. I believe the woman partly hurt the Casey Antony case because of her unrelenting assumptions. By the time the case got to court it had been tried in the court of public opinion and was a huge let down to the masses. I do not watche her anymore because what perhaps she started doing out of honesty has been replaced by and overly large EGO. And I’m not talking about a waffel.

      Report Post »  
  • Annika2011
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 6:39pm

    Very thoughtful article Glenn.
    Well done. Good to branch out to those who don’t
    usually see or hear you. Who knows. You might
    change some hearts. My prayer are with you & all
    the Blaze folks.

    Report Post »  
  • Firebrand
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:21pm

    Once again, the comment section (at CNN) is filled mostly with posts describing people’s personal opinions and not discussing the merits of what was said (written). Not to be overly hypocritical here, but have we gotten to a point where we are all so selfish that we think the rest of the world NEEDS to know what we think?

    Report Post » Firebrand  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:06pm

    Andy Stern has a simular philosophy, “Give until it hurts, or it’s gonna hurt, capice”.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • Stupid Windmill
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:06pm

    So, god puts responsibility upon us the people, the government is made up of people thus god puts responsibility upon the government. Sounds awfully liberal to me. Is Glenn Beck going liberal….?

    Report Post » Stupid Windmill  
    • Komponist-ZAH
      Posted on March 27, 2012 at 6:23pm

      No. God puts the responsibility on me, a real individual, not some abstract “people”.

      Observe the absence of plurals: “Each ONE must do just as HE has purposed in HIS heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

      The “not grudgingly or under compulsion” part bears repeating.

      Report Post »  
    • Sirfoldallot
      Posted on March 27, 2012 at 6:25pm

      I’m in the land that burns flags, kills eagles , & trying 2 whipe out God, where r u from ?

      Report Post » Sirfoldallot  
    • We are Americans
      Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:19pm

      Glenn, no disrespect but I’ve never claimed charity on my
      tax return. If you get a write off is it really charity?
      Also, Glenn, Paul does talk about government and taxes.
      Would be nice to read the Bible before commenting on it.
      One of my personal Glenn pet peeves.

      Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1-7 NIV84)

      Report Post »  
  • hi
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:03pm

    Amen. God loves a cheerful giver.

    Report Post » hi  
  • James 2.26
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:02pm

    I agree. However, we must be very careful if we judge other people’s giving by glancing at their tax return, especially if they’re Christian. Jesus commands us to make sure our giving is done in secret lest we receive our reward here by being thought well of by our peers. Those of us that remember this commandment choose not publish our giving on our taxes. The first reason being that we don‘t want the government paying us back in the form of deductions and the second reason being we don’t want to be thought of well by men and lose our heavenly reward.

    Report Post »  
    • We are Americans
      Posted on March 27, 2012 at 8:23pm

      Agree 100%. I like Glenn but I don’t like when he delves
      into scripture. How is it charity who u get a write off?

      Report Post »  
    • boyd9
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:25am

      I cheerfully give to charity, then I cheerfully claim my tax deduction. The less money I give to the federal government which for the most part purely wastes it on Green Energy subsidies, putting it in peoples pockets to buy political contributions,like Obama’s solyndra friends, and enslaving people to entitlement programs in order to buy votes, the more cheerful I feel,

      Report Post »  
    • bullcrapbuster
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 4:12pm

      @we are……..You are being silly.

      Report Post » bullcrapbuster  
  • PJL
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:01pm

    Great Glenn…Loved it.

    Report Post » PJL  
  • summersmom
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 4:58pm

    Wow, Glenn you are so brave to do anything with CNN, i just read some posts on their site about what they had to say about what you wrote. I feel much better back here, those people scared the crap out of me. Stay away from the crazy people!

    Report Post »  
  • martinez012577
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 4:56pm

    Just think if Glenn had supported the one true follower of the Constitution.

    Report Post » martinez012577  
    • Stupid Windmill
      Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:08pm

      Barack Obama?

      Report Post » Stupid Windmill  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:13pm

      The one and only one, the mesiah, Ron “To-The-Left-Of-Obama-On-Foreign-Policy” Paul.

      Imagine that. Gosh, if only this one man could become Supreme Benevolent Dictator, then he could change everything. Oh, Hope and Change could be his campaign slogan.

      At least until he gets into power. Then we could hear him whine for 4 years how he can’t accomplish anything, because that pesky Congress keeps getting in his way. Stupid Constitution!

      Report Post » Jaycen  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 27, 2012 at 4:48pm

    Well said Glenn; we have a duty given to us by God for helping the poor – not the government.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • boyd9
      Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:37am

      Yes
      You can interpret the biblical scripture on rending unto Caesar that which is Caesars and unto God that which is Gods as the first time the doctrine of separation of church and state was taught. With this one sentence Christ taught that it was OK to pay taxes but also implied there was a line that no legitimate government should cross-government does not have the right to request from us that which is Gods.
      I believe that the government in general and this current president in particular are beginning to cross that line and interfere with the free exercise of religion. We need to be free to render unto God that which is God’s and no government has the right to interfere with that.,

      Report Post »  

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