Looks like Americans are more generous than Canadians

[Brooklyns_Finest]

Canadians don’t really give a lot to charity, compared to their U.S. counterparts.

In 2008, 27.3 per cent of Americans donated to good causes, compared to 23.6 per cent of Canadians, and they gave almost twice as much, according to an annual study on giving by the Fraser Institute.

Canadians don’t give as much because we expect government to enact programs that bring help to those who need help, while Americans rely more heavily on private philanthropy. That’s why we agree to pay higher taxes.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/giving/giving-commentary/in-harpers-canada-will-we-give-more-of-ourselves-to-get-lower-taxes/article2218237/

[FLAprogressive]

1. They don't "expect" government to do that, their government DOES do that.

[Luminous Animal]

5. From my point of view, as a society, Canadians are more generous with no strings attached.

Charity, on the other hand, usually involves moral constrictions.

Also, I find it interesting that the title of the OP is the OPs editorializing. It is not the title of the linked article. Apparently, the OP does not consider an adequate social safety net as generosity (nor do most conservatives).

[Kaleko]

11. Exactly.

Canadians pay for their admirable social safety net with far higher taxes on everything, including tariffs for cheap stuff from China and the US. The argument in the OP is based on a false comparison and sounds more like dummy polemics rather than an actual study.

[stevedeshazer]

20. +1 n/t

[flamingdem]

2. In other countries I've heard that Americans are the best tippers, Canadians are cheap

and the Europeans and Asians are worse

[Luminous Animal]

3. That is because, in most other countries, tipping is not the norm.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. Yep. And they are flabbergasted we don't pay our servers an actual wage.

It just amazes me when Americans get on their high-horse about how well we tip. Pay a fucking living wage to servers and they won't have to rely on tight-assed tippers.

[polly7]

14. I've always tipped, everyone I know tips ... and tips well!

I fill in a few shifts a week at our bar and make $10.00/hr plus tips - anywhere from 60.00 - 100.00 a night, or more. This is a small town though, so maybe people aren't as generous in the city ... dunno about that.

[laundry_queen]

17. Everyone I know tips at least 15% and usually

20%. I live next to a big city. I don't think I've had anyone tip less when I've been out with them. All that and the waitresses get a $10 minimum wage AND health care. Imagine that. If Americans didn't tip they wouldn't have waitresses because no one could afford to be one.

Also, not sure if this has been touched on - Canadians are far less religious than Americans are. If tithing is counted in those donation totals, there will be a huge discrepancy right there since FAR fewer Canadians go to church and tithe.

[flamingdem]

22. However they are still cheap when visiting the US

even though they know the customs here..

[polly7]

23. Well, certainly not all Canadians. I've been to the U.S. quite a lot with

friends and we've always tipped the same as we do here. Is 20% considered being cheap there? I honestly don't know.

[flamingdem]

24. Sorry! No 20% is a good tip

It's getting to be expected for good service but 15% is the usual number.

[Luminous Animal]

26. In San Francisco, 20% is considered the usual number. 25%-30% for outstanding to excellent service.

So, in San Francisco, if you received professional and adequate service and only tipped 15%, you would be considered cheap. And keep in mind that San Francisco wait staff receive the San Francisco minimum wage which is $10 an hour.

[flamingdem]

33. Yes I heard that, same with personal services like haircuts

but when it gets over 20% to me something is wrong in the equation or these are restaurants I can't afford anyway

[Luminous Animal]

25. Oh lord. They don't know. I had friends in London wrestle a tip out of my hand.

I didn't know.

There are, simply, things that tourists do not know. I found out while in Sidney, Australia that is classist to leave the passenger seat empty in a cab. That doing so relegates the driver to a subservient role.

[polly7]

27. Nearly 3/4 of Canada's population lives within a hundred miles of

the U.S. border. I find it hard to believe the majority of us don't know that tipping is as much expected there as it is here.

[Donnachaidh]

34. wow -- broadbrush much?

And all Americans are loud, rude and stupid, right? :sarcasm:

[Swede]

10. Minimum wage where I live in Canada is $10 per hour.

nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. "donated to good causes"

I don't consider mega-churches and their fat mega-preachers "good causes."

It's the same bullshit repiglickers claim when they claim to give more to charity than Democrats.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

6. I wouldn't be surprised

If Americans were the most charitable people in the world.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. Yeah, well they're not. Not when you look at foreign aide against GDP.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

12. The people

I'm talking about the individual citizen, not the government. I'm sure there are stats on this on the interwebs.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

13. Yeah, never mind a government of, for, and by the people, eh?

[caledesi]

21. Wrong Brook...! (check Wiki) n/t

edit: spelling

[Starry Messenger]

7. "Canada has sensible social safety net, does not rely on private giving. "

I fixed the subject line.

[LeftyMom]

15. Americans mistake making their preacher's Mercedes payment for charity.

Canadians pay their taxes so everybody gets health care. Advantage: Canada.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Roselma]

18. Are churches considered "good causes"? Americans give

large sums of money to churches and consider that to be "charity" as they can deduct it from their income taxes. I don't know whether or not Canadians can do the same thing.

[laundry_queen]

29. Excellent question

I'm taking an accounting diploma and in my tax class last year I remember learning about deductible charitable donations but I don't remember churches even being mentioned. I'm not sure if church donations are considered charitable donations. Hmmmm. Off to look in my textbook....

[laundry_queen]

31. Okay...the answer is yes

Canadians can deduct donations to churches on their income tax as charitable donations. An interesting thing in the text book is that it stated that the government decided to have 2 rates of determining your tax credit 15% up to $200 and 29% over that. It also says the reason there are 2 rates is to hopefully encourage larger donors to donate to beneficiaries such as educational institutions, whereas a flat rate in the middle would have encouraged small donors to donate more to their churches but discouraged larger donors. So, hence the 2 rates.

More than you ever wanted to know about Canadian tax :)

[Swede]

19. The Fraser Institute is a rightwing think tank.

Just a heads up.

[Puzzler]

28. Since "giving" to charity often means a sizable tax deduction...

... I think it would probably be better to compare the tax codes in both countries before assuming that Americans are by nature more generous than Canadians.

[Puzzler]

30. Also, any "study" done by the Fraser Institute is almost always very biased.

They are a right wing think tank that often gets their views/studies published by the Canadian media. The sole purpose of their so-called "studies" is to push their right wing agenda.

[Kaleko]

32. Thanks for the heads-up about this Fraser Institute.

Never heard of them before.