Reminder - Giving Blue Day! Tomorrow! 12/01/15

Submitted by MLaw06 on

As a reminder for my fellow wolverines, tomorrow, December 1, 2015 is Giving Blue Day!  Please take a moment out of your busy day to make a donation, whether it be big or small, to Michigan. 

Even a small donation is valued and it really is about getting the most number of people to participate and show their appreciation to Michigan.

Go Blue!

#GivingBlueDay

http://givingblueday.org/

LSAClassOf2000

December 1st, 2015 at 6:44 AM ^

I was having similar problems, and I think a lot of people did, come to think of it. I personally blame that same gold thread in the boxers for creating undue interference, but even if I am wrong, it is definitely something simple and correctable, or indeed something that involves a slight wardrobe change (at least near transmitting equipment). 

MLaw06

December 1st, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^

Some people like to do charitable donations before the year-end if they are itemizing their taxes and want to claim it this year instead of waiting until next year. 

I sort of like to just pay things right away to get it over with.  Like I have to respond to every email right away or else it'll get buried in my inbox. 

MLaw06

December 1st, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^

True, tuition is a lot, but that's another reason to donate - many other students can't afford the tuition to attend Michigan without scholarships that are funded primarily from donor support. 

I received a partial financial aid scholarship to Michigan (in addition to having to take out a lot of student loans) and I definitely want to give back so that another student also has the opportunity to attend as well!

MLG2908

December 1st, 2015 at 9:05 AM ^

My Michigan degree has improved the quality of life for my family and me.  I am pleased to have the opportunity to give back.  I gave $2500 in appreciated stock to U of M this year, which reduces my income tax by about half the amount.  I am confident Michigan will spend this more wisely than the federal government would.

Don

December 1st, 2015 at 10:36 AM ^

Yep, it's really a crime how stupid the federal government is when it comes to allocation of financial resources. Just think how much better off the University of Michigan would be if the feds hadn't contributed over 64% of the university's R&D budget in 2013. That $820,000,000 they gave Michigan was a complete waste, amirite?

MLG2908

December 1st, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^

Don,

The federal budget is about $3.6 trillion.  Giving $820 million to Michigan for research may be a worthwhile expenditure, but it is about 0.02% of the federal budget.  So what about the other 99.98% of federal spending?

Consider Medicare fraud waste and abuse as just one example.

"Medicare has no official estimate of the amount of money lost to fraud each year, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation refers to estimates of 3-10 percent of all health care billings. In 2011, Medicare expenditures totaled approximately $565 billion. If the FBI percentages are applied to this amount, the cost of Medicare fraud for the 2011 fiscal year was anywhere from $17-57 billion." 

A direct donation to Michigan is more attractive to me than paying more taxes, even if perhaps 0.02% of my taxes will go to research at U of M.  To put it another way, if I pay $100,000 in taxes then $20 may go to U of M.