Why are Mormons overwhelmingly conservative when it comes to

[MikeWaters]

economics? Is there a group of Americans less likely to support healthcare for the poor, disabled, children, elderly? Is there a group more likely to be against any progressive tax system?

I think hard times are coming for many members, when they are actually asked to give up all their material possessions, as many of them have promised (at least superficially) to do.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

economics? Is there a group of Americans less likely to support healthcare for the poor, disabled, children, elderly? Is there a group more likely to be against any progressive tax system?

I think hard times are coming for many members, when they are actually asked to give up all their material possessions, as many of them have promised (at least superficially) to do.

Could the tithing structure be, in part, a reason why Mormons disfavor progressive taxes? I have had tithing cited to me numerous times as a reason for a flat tax.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

economics? Is there a group of Americans less likely to support healthcare for the poor, disabled, children, elderly? Is there a group more likely to be against any progressive tax system?

I think hard times are coming for many members, when they are actually asked to give up all their material possessions, as many of them have promised (at least superficially) to do.

Is the fast offering fund insolvent?

[BYU71]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

economics? Is there a group of Americans less likely to support healthcare for the poor, disabled, children, elderly? Is there a group more likely to be against any progressive tax system?

I think hard times are coming for many members, when they are actually asked to give up all their material possessions, as many of them have promised (at least superficially) to do.

I think it is pretty simple. They think if you do what you are supposed to be dong, you will be blessed. If you do what you are supposed to be doing, you won't be poor.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

Could the tithing structure be, in part, a reason why Mormons disfavor progressive taxes? I have had tithing cited to me numerous times as a reason for a flat tax.

There's probably some truth there.

I think a lot of has to do with being descendants of hard-scrabble pioneers who weren't given nuthin from no one. No one deserves any hand-outs.

For Mormons, it is right to help Mormons. But helping anyone besides your own is not letting God do his work of weeding and thinning.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

economics? Is there a group of Americans less likely to support healthcare for the poor, disabled, children, elderly? Is there a group more likely to be against any progressive tax system?

I think hard times are coming for many members, when they are actually asked to give up all their material possessions, as many of them have promised (at least superficially) to do.

When your cultural heritage is moving yourselves to a desert and scratching an existence out of the dirt, self reliance is in the bones of your culture. I think this is pretty straight forward.

[TripletDaddy]

I think LDS are that way by default. They dont actively oppose helping others, but they prefer to keep as much of their own cash as possible. Tithing sucks a lot of life out of your pocketbook, so the idea of paying any additional taxes is very distasteful.

Social programs are funded by taxes. So, since LDS dont want to pay more taxes, then by definition they appear to be against social programs.

If there was some magical way to fund social programs without raising taxes, who would be against that? Nowhere near as many people (although there are valid arguments about teaching self-sufficiency).

Also, it isnt an LDS phenomenon. Most people want less taxes on their income. As a Texan, you probably are aware of that. if not, states like Florida, Texas, etc would institute a personal income tax and start helping out the poor.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

There's probably some truth there.

I think a lot of has to do with being descendants of hard-scrabble pioneers who weren't given nuthin from no one. No one deserves any hand-outs.

For Mormons, it is right to help Mormons. But helping anyone besides your own is not letting God do his work of weeding and thinning.

Yes, we did it, so let other folks do it.

As for not helping the less fortunate, I think Mormons are as giving, if not more so, as anybody else. They are very willing to give where they have confidence in the organization. Many, due to their western roots, don't care much for government, accounting for their opposition to government redistribution of wealth.

Edit: You find a whole different approach outside the U.S. It's very strange, but Mormons tend to follow the cultural norms of the places where they live.

[MikeWaters]

This reminds me of something from my childhood. We had a professor from A&M over for dinner. He was and is not a member.

This was back in the time that famine and starvation in Africa was in the news. I remember him saying "I know it's not popular to say it, but I don't think we should be helping those people in Africa." He went on to make some sort of argument about survival of the fittest.

I was young. It made sense in a way. I nodded along.

After he left, my dad talked to me and told me that in his opinion, our guest was wrong, and that we have a moral duty to help others, who are destitute and starving, no matter the cause.

What my dad said, in some respects, wasn't Mormon. But it certainly was Christian.

P.S. This professor is the head of a company that may end up being fairly important.

[ute4ever]

As CaliCoug and Noah said, paying tithing and fast offerings doesn't leave much for additional contributions.

The other side of the coin is the large contributions that go from the Bishop's Storehouse to victims of natural disasters and the like.