Comments on: Americans as Altruistic as Chimpanzees http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/ LiveScience Blogs | Science, Technology, Health & Environmental News Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:11:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Narrow Your Results http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-40870 Narrow Your Results Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:58:54 +0000 http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-40870 <strong>BMW Mini Gearbox...</strong> BLOW OUT PRICES MASSIVE SUMMER SALE ... BMW Mini Gearbox…

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]]> By: mjgarcia7 http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-29111 mjgarcia7 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:19:37 +0000 http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-29111 To politics: You're feeling a bit cynical today, eh? If THE MOST LOGICAL reason Americans act selflessly is Greed (tax write-offs), as you say, then they're pretty dumb as well. How exactly is a tax write-off of 15-35%, depending on your tax bracket, demonstrating greed? More precisely, if you donate $100, your tax bill is reduced by considerably less than that $100. You're not getting anywhere near your $100 contribution back in any manner. No, I think THE most logical reason Americans act selflessly, is because they're generally selfless. And yes, you can write off individual contributions. There's an entire section in Schedule A for itemized deductions specifically for charitable contributions. Also, look at IRS Publication 526. To politics: You’re feeling a bit cynical today, eh? If THE MOST LOGICAL reason Americans act selflessly is Greed (tax write-offs), as you say, then they’re pretty dumb as well. How exactly is a tax write-off of 15-35%, depending on your tax bracket, demonstrating greed? More precisely, if you donate $100, your tax bill is reduced by considerably less than that $100. You’re not getting anywhere near your $100 contribution back in any manner.

No, I think THE most logical reason Americans act selflessly, is because they’re generally selfless.

And yes, you can write off individual contributions. There’s an entire section in Schedule A for itemized deductions specifically for charitable contributions. Also, look at IRS Publication 526.

]]> By: geribeetus http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-28710 geribeetus Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:20:55 +0000 http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-28710 to Dan: That's the problem with intellectuals, they overanalyze. It's only selfish at the most obscure level, maybe. Think about it, ever since childhood have you interacted with others for selfish OR selfless reasons? Simply put, we make friends because it's instinctual. to politics: No, you can't write-off individual contributions. to Dan: That’s the problem with intellectuals, they overanalyze. It’s only selfish at the most obscure level, maybe. Think about it, ever since childhood have you interacted with others for selfish OR selfless reasons? Simply put, we make friends because it’s instinctual.

to politics: No, you can’t write-off individual contributions.

]]> By: politics http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-28054 politics Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:07:31 +0000 http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-28054 You're dismissing the most logical reason Americans act selflessly... GREED ( tax write-offs ) You’re dismissing the most logical reason Americans act selflessly…

GREED ( tax write-offs )

]]> By: Dan Stone http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-24026 Dan Stone Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:30:21 +0000 http://www.livescience.com/blogs/2007/06/25/americans-as-altruistic-as-chimpanzees/#comment-24026 I once had a teacher in high school who said that the act of being a friend is inherently selfish because the reason a friend is a friend is because it gives you personal satisfaction. In other words, by definition, friends "use" each other to gain personal satisfaction. This is probably true but is a depressing way to look at it. Similarly with charity, people give for different (even "selfish") reasons-- but who cares. Charity helps people in need. Enough said! I once had a teacher in high school who said that the act of being a friend is inherently selfish because the reason a friend is a friend is because it gives you personal satisfaction. In other words, by definition, friends “use” each other to gain personal satisfaction.

This is probably true but is a depressing way to look at it.

Similarly with charity, people give for different (even “selfish”) reasons– but who cares. Charity helps people in need. Enough said!

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