Libertarians don’t like welfare because they think the free market can solve all our problems even though that has never been the case anywhere in the world at any time.  I guess it gives them the ability to say no to things like unemployment benefits, food stamps, and social security disability without feeling guilty or selfish when they say “But private charity can solve all those problems” even though that has never been the case anywhere in the world at any time.

No, what really bugs me is when they say, all superior-like, that conservatives give more to charity than liberals.  While that is true, the key question is who the charity benefits.

Conservatives give more to religious-based charities.  If you only count non-religious-based charities, then liberals give much more.  New York state jumps from #18th most generous to #2, and Pennsylvania goes from #40 to #4.

While some religious-based charities certainly help the poor (soup kitchens and homeless shelters are a great use of charity funds), churches also spend a lot of money on churches.  Take the Mormons.  

 Have you seen their religious monuments and churches?  All from “charity” and all tax-free.  Those things don’t help the poor at all, but are included when people talk about “charity.”

And then the Mormons (and the Knights of Columbus and other religious groups) spent millions over the last few years in politics — filing lawsuits, buying ads, and campaigning against gay marriage.  All of that was considered tax-free “charity” (while those of us on the other side had to consider our contributions as “political” which the IRS does not consider “charity”).

Not all charity is equal, and no one should say, “I give to charity so therefore I don’t have to worry about homeless children.”   Your contributions may protect the kids against the horrors of two people in love getting married, but it won’t protect them against starvation.