I won’t give to the United Way, either.
I found i could get to the heart of whether a person tended to be conservative or liberal by just asking a simple question.
If you saw a person in need and felt you need to give them $5, which would be the preferred method:
1) Give them $5.00
2) Give the money to government to give, or
3) Give the money to a charity to give.
When they come back with either answer 2 or 3, then I ask how much do you in fact need to give to finally see they person get their $5.00
They don't know the answer and, if anything I cause them to start to think about the whole donation and liberal spending attitude.
If they stay adamant, I ask what is wrong with just giving the person the $5 on the spot, Don't they indeed get the entire $5?
They usually start into - They probably don't deserve it, Who am I to judge. it will go to the biggest need.
Then I go back to the initial issue - They feel that a person is in need of $5, or are they in need of giving $5.
It really roots them out quickly.