At the same time, we're one of the most volunteering and charitable countries. But, I think civility is decreasing --be that due to economic conditions, mass pop culture or demographics.
Perhaps you misunderstand the point of the charitable tax deduction then. Expenditures/investments made in society can easily sidestep the public good if we don’t find a way to tax them. But charitable money has the public good built in (enforced by the specific types of activities that can be registered as 501c3) so the tax is not necessary
