[dragonwriter]

> Can you explain to me why you believe the benefit to society from donating to charity is often negative?

For one thing, the fact that it is tax deductible itself results in it being the focus of self-serving tax dodges that aren't really charitable. If charities remained tax exempt but donations weren't tax deductible, the abuse incentive would be removed.

There's also, of course, well meaning but counterproductive charities, but the subsidy also probably increases the share of donations that goes to those, since it reduces the incentive for donor diligence.

[beojan]

In the UK, we have Gift Aid, where instead of reclaiming the tax on donations, the tax paid is also donated. That sounds like a better system to me.