Want free health care for America?

[MichaelHarris]

remove the tax-exempt status from the churches. Turn their tax contributions into health-care dollars for those in need. If they truly claim to be Christian they will be O.K. with this notion; after all charity should begin with the church right? My guess is with this proposal you will see a lot less political preaching.

[StarfarerBill]

1. Works for me.

At least tax the bigger, for-profit churches.

[MichaelHarris]

3. You would be

hard pressed to find a "not for profit" church. We will never know because a number of them were recently investigated and refused to open their books. can you imagine the income from property taxes alone in Salt Lake City?

[StarfarerBill]

10. I've not been to a church as a believer since I was a child;

but I do know many smaller ones struggle. As an atheist I have no problem in getting as much as possible in taxes out of big churches, but I'd still leave the smaller ones alone.

[still_one]

2. I don't disagree, but it won't happen /nt

[MichaelHarris]

4. I agree with you but

wouldn't it be entertaining to watch "Christians" defend not helping the needy though tax contributions?

[still_one]

5. Yes it would, since much of these "Christians" in my view are pseduo-Christians /nt

[dysfunctional press]

6. no, i don't. and i'd NEVER expect it.

i want universal single-payer coverage for all.

and brother- that AIN'T 'free'.

[LastNaturalist]

7. I love it. However humans will grow wings before that happens.

[PeaceNikki]

8. The notion that Democrats want or expect "free health care"

is a Republican talking point.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Yep. Just want to pay what it actually costs.

Easy.

[Loudmxr]

11. NIce Platitude but that is not the issue. They abuse the 501c3 tax status.

They cry "separation of church and state" when it has nothing to do with it. It is tax status of a non profit charitable corporation plain and simple. If they abuse it they lose it and no old god young god or pigeon god is going to save them.

Its a business. Investigate them. They can pray in a taxi cab for all I care.

Mind you if they abide by the law more power to them. "And may God blessss"-Red Skelton

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. Uh, we're not all giant megachurches

The church I attended in Portland had 150 members and yet managed to provide three meals a week for the poor: Tuesday lunch and Saturday and Sunday breakfast.

The economy is really hurting most liberal churches: The members have less money to give, but there is more demand for their charitable work.

[MichaelHarris]

13. the size of the

church wasn't my point. If the church preaches politics from the pulpit then they are all taxable. Even if they take in only 1 dollar a week.

[Hannah Bell]

14. could easily be used against "peace & justice" churches, though.

i.e. one of the backbones of what's left of "the left".

[MichaelHarris]

16. if we don't

allow it for the right then we just as equally condemn it when left leaning churches do it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

15. And most do NOT preach politics

Most mainline clergy are quite scrupulous about that.