I've been promising to post a few things from people that I haven't gotten to. So here is where I clean it all up.

From Wes:

"In response to Dawn's link about the red states being more charitable:
A.) WorldNetDaily is NOT a credible source. But...
B.) ...even if it is true -- and assuming the Catalogue for
Philanthropy rankings accurately convey the reality of the situation
-- it's not so surprising. After all, the vast majority of the Bush
supporters in those states are not the cold-blooded, money-grubbing,
policy-making Republicans with whom you're familiar. They're our good
and pious "values voters" -- and, as such, we'd expect them to donate
to (Christian) charities on a larger scale. After all, faith without
works is dead.
C.) Republicans and Bush supporters are not the ONLY people living in
those states, and it's not as if Bush won 100% of the vote in all of
the red states. In order for those states to rank as highly as they
did in the overall listing, I imagine that a significant portion of
those red state contributions would had to have come from blue voters
as well. And...
D.) ...that works both ways -- so it may be the case that, in the blue
states, the greedy, corporate Republicans are dragging the overall
numbers down.
*takes a bow*"

C.G. writes:

"Dear Caren:
It's logical that Red States would have higher per capita charitable giving (or, more accurately, reported giving as per their income tax returns - the data for the survey) because of what they give to their churches. And no one questions the devotion of many Red State people to religion-based causes. If the Government ever gets honest, it will cap or eliminate deductions to churches."
 
Another reader, J.D., has an idea. He wants there to be a way that you can donate candy to poor kids on Halloween...

"yes, there's a thousand obstacles -- Internet access, how would we get the candy to them, etc...  Maybe they could go to oversea companies or universities, or churches or the red cross...  Maybe to the home of anyone who has a computer.  Maybe candy companies could give out vouchers.   (Yes, it does take a leap of faith, but close your eyes and picture thousands and thousands of kids who have nothing all lining up with their homemade costumes to Trick or Treat on Halloween -- all around the world.)  Perhaps your readers could shoot it down or make it a do-able idea..." 
 
Finally, M.S. sends a sad and well-written reflection from his own blog.

OK, all done.