Tax religion

[Modem Butterfly]

If the magic believers want to have a seat at the American political table, let them pay their entry fee just like anyone else.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=104

[Az]

1. Exactly the point and the problem

Church and State must be kept sperate for very real reasons. Taxes are the price we pay to have a voice in the government. The minute the churchs get over their greed and realise that by giving up the tax exempt status they gain enormous power we are in trouble. Fortunately they continue to be too greedy to let go of their tax exemption.

Tax them and they legally have a right to sway our process.

[Modem Butterfly]

2. But they already do

Heck, they even have lobbying groups and PACs. They're in our political process up to their eyeballs. I think beginning a discussion on revoking their tax exemptions will help bring this fact to light.

[Az]

3. Then we need to lobby for tighter controls on those

Calling for taxing the church sounds great and feels great. But that way leads to our own downfall. Taxes = Voice. They have too much voice already. They need to be limited. All taxing the church will do is strangle small groups that are forming that disipate the major churchs foundations. It will silence new ideas about belief, including nontheistic ones.

[Kolesar]

4. your link just takes me to the GD forum...eom

[beam me up scottie]

5. Here you go:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4794169&mesg_id=4794169

[trotsky]

6. An idea that's overdue.

Most churches gave up their right to be tax-free long ago. And thanks to the prime real estate they occupy in most major cities, they cause a property tax void that requires businesses and individuals to pay MORE taxes. Who doesn't want a tax cut? Make the churches pay their fair share!

[FM Arouet666]

7. 100% in agreement

Start with Pat "I want to kill all non-christians and anyone critical of America regardless of what jesus preached" Robertson. Strike that, too long a middle name, just call him Pat Asshole Robertson. But, you get what I mean.

And, what about Scientology. Tax exempt because they are a religion? They are not even a good science fiction story, let alone a good gawd fearing genuflecting religion.