by Lam Luu

Created on: December 23, 2008

In today political world, there are people calling themselves "Compassionate Conservative." This means that they care about others, as well as about values such as liberty, and that they work to conserve the defining values of America (In the scope of this article, please understand "America" as "the United States of America" except when I explicitly write otherwise). These people, "Compassionate Conservatives," declare wars on Liberalism, which is broadly understand as Democratic party, non-Christian ideals, and anything related to the government except eliminating it. There question here is: Are these self-proclaimed "Compassionate Conservatives" Compassionate and Conservative at all?

To demonstrate their compassionate side, these Conservatives show statistics where they (conservatives) give to charity more than liberals. 30% more. In the 2000 election, 24 out of 25 states which gave more to charity voted for Mr. Bush, the conservative candidate. Furthermore, conservatives also help others by fighting for tax cuts, which everyone is supposed to enjoy, and eliminating of the government, which supposedly free all people. So compassionate, they tell themselves and others. Really?

As a matter of fact, most of the money given to "charity" is given to churches, only 10% of which is given to parachurch organizations which will actually give to the unfortunate. This is, of course, not the end. These parachurch organizations only help people who attend to their worship service. In short: if you don't agree with Christianity, no help for you. Of course, common sense tells us that such thing is not charity. It is missionary, spreading faith, whatever, but not pure charity for sure. But, oh well.

On the other hand, other social activities which also help out the unfortunate, such as Medicare, MediAid, universal health care, free lunches at school, breakfast for poor children, etc. are passionately hated by "Compassionate Conservative." Statistics shows that these programs are constantly under-funded in Conservative State. Oh, of course, the government may restrain your freedom! This leads us to the next point...

Conservatives love to say that "when you give someone a fish, that person can survive one day; when you give someone a rod, that person will survive a life." Charitable organizations are fish. They simply help out the immediate needs of the unfortunates. They do not improve the legal and social situation so that these people can succeed. Only the government can do

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