Threats to corporate profits? I was talking about the military. Threats as in Al Qaeda, Timothy McVeigh-type crazies, stopping genocide abroad, etc. No use in having an economy if we all wind up dead.

Where does charity get the money? From people who *voluntarily* give it. In my mind, the government taxing me for social programs is the same as the Red Cross taking my money whether I offered it or not. IMO the government should cut the social programs and let us give those tax dollars to the charity of our choice. They could also give perks to corporations who spend a lot on charity. Oops, that's giving tax breaks to the rich. Can't have that happen.

I don't agree with corporate welfare and I never have. But by the same token, we can't bog companies down with all sorts of laws and taxes and then tell them to put up or shut up.