HALF of America pays NO taxes. Zero. So they're happy for tax rates to be raised on the other half

[kpete]

http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2011/07/26/rick-warren-what-were-you-thinking/

[Armstead]

1. And Pastor Warren seemed like such a nice man

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. How much taxes do you pay, PASTOR Rick?

Jackass.

[dixiegrrrrl]

74. Warren was audited by IRS for claiming deductions more than the law allows.

"Pastor Warren's audit involved the scope of the parsonage exemption and his housing allowance. Shortly after founding Saddleback, Pastor Warren purchased a home. Over the next three years, Saddleback paid Pastor Warren a parsonage allowance that he used to pay his mortgage, utilities, furnishings, landscaping, repairs, maintenance, taxes, and insurance. Saddleback designated the payments as a parsonage allowance and excluded these payments from Pastor Warren's income.

At the conclusion of his audit, the IRS determined that a portion of these payments must be taxed. The IRS theorized that Pastor Warren's parsonage exemption could not exceed the home's fair market rental value. In other words, Pastor Warren must be taxed to the extent the housing allowance payments exceeded his home's fair market rental value."

Interestingly, Warren's protest resulted in a new law for Parsonage allowance, signed by Bush in 2002.

http://www.rothgerber.com/showarticle.aspx?Show=1059

Fuller, and in my opinion, better explanation of the case is in this DU archive by Ichingcarpenter:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4856176

edited to add: Warren got 2.4 million tax free "donations" last Dec.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/01/rick-warren-urgent-megachurch-million/1

[blogslut]

3. Fuck you, Rick

Here's another way to say it:

Half of America is poor. Yeehaw.

[trotsky]

7. Bingo.

Too poor to pay income taxes. But they still pay sales taxes, property taxes (directly or indirectly as renters), and payroll taxes.

I am so fucking sick of that right-wing meme.

[librechik]

41. Half of America too poor to pay taxes. The other half ought too be proud for the opportunity

to show their patriotism in real terms instead of lip service. By paying their fair share.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Chistians 'care about the poor'.

This is the sick gas bag bigot who Obama foisted on the nation at the Inaugural. What a piece of work he is too!

[Solly Mack]

5. Uh....something about churches and tax exemptions.

Fuckwad.

[JDPriestly]

54. Rick Warren's salary is not tax exempt.

I'd like to know how much his church pays him.

I don't think his church has to say since its exemption status may not require any return statement.

[polichick]

6. Rick Warren, elevated by the President in one of the early "outrages"...

Whatever the reason, Prez Obama continues to elevate and empower people he shouldn't waste his time with.

[Gormy Cuss]

10. +1

[sinkingfeeling]

8. So?

[Bluenorthwest]

9. In CA, where Rick lives, there is a sales tax and that is paid even

by children buying a stick of gum. Not one person in CA pays zero taxes. Income taxes are a sort of tax, but they are not the only tax. Zero means zero, and Rick is a liar or perhaps just deeply ignorant. Or both.

[RockaFowler]

64. In Florida, too

When I hear people say this dribble I just want to scream. Everyone (except major corporations somehow) pay taxes of some sort. I have a house - I pay taxes on that. I have to pay taxes on the car I drive. I pay taxes on the supplies I buy. How about the gas taxes?? My God some people are absolutely moronic when it comes to taxes

[A HERETIC I AM]

11. That's because half of Americans have no money, dumbass.

I think it is funny when I hear the argument from the right that liberals want to "redistribute the wealth".

No, assholes, the wealth has ALREADY been redistributed.

We just want the flow to go back the other way for a while, for fucks sake.

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. Says the man with the multi-million dollar TAX EXEMPT organization.

[Incitatus]

16. +1 billion nt

[Blue_Tires]

33. yeah, what a jerkoff...

[fishwax]

68. +1

[Atman]

13. That simply isn't true, though some on this thread seem to believe it.

If you have a job, you pay taxes. You might not pay INCOME taxes come April 15th, but you pay a shitload of taxes as a percentage of your income. Payroll taxes, sales taxes, even fees for using your local park (my town requires a "transfer station" fee to dump your trash, and if you want to use the town recreation area, you need to purchase a town sticker). These are HUGE percentages of a low-income worker's wages, but would be nothing more than a rounding error for the wealthy. Even if the 50% figure, the way Warren uses it, were actually true.

.

[PA Democrat]

14. Lucky ducks. Except they DO pay a disproportionate share of their income in other taxes.

Social Security & Medicare taxes
Gasoline taxes
Excise taxes
State sales taxes
State income taxes
Property taxes

I think Pastor Rick needs to pay taxes on his "church"

[HughBeaumont]

15. NObody pays "NO taxes", Warthog.

Let me see if this works: "I'm Captain Kangaroo"!

Hey, I said it, so it MUST be true.

Except Bob Keeshan's been dead for 7 years.

And Rick Warren's a complete dumbshit.

[CountAllVotes]

17. thta is absolutley true

We ALL pay taxes be them sales tax, property taxes, taxes on your car (aka car license fees), taxes on the local water and sewers, taxes on garbage collection, blah blah !

[n2doc]

37. +1

Asshole Warren would have his ass kicked out of his temple if JC ever came back.

And Obama had this guy at his Inaugural :eyes:

[Maru Kitteh]

18. Hey Ricky, up yours! That's because half of us are living in poverty, Ricky.

I for one would like to see you in particular taxed into OBLIVION.

[piratefish08]

19. yeah. great. half the country doesn't make enough to live, much less pay taxes.

fucking awesome to be in the top 2% isn't it Rick?


you hypocritical, fucking snake oil salesman.


you shit stinking, lying, douchebag thief.


your Jesus said give your shit to the poor. not SOME of it. fucking ALL OF IT. ALL. OF. IT.


he also said 'when you shit upon the least among you, you are shitting directly on on my head'.


so fuck you, fuck you, fuck you.


I hope gawd drives a lightening bolt through the top of your soft skull.

[anAustralianobserver]

89. lol awesome

[Incitatus]

20. The bottom 50% have 2% of the money, dickhead. nt

[dissidentboomer]

23. THIS. THIS IS THE PROPER RESPONSE TO PASTOR STUPID.

[bemildred]

21. That's what happens when you have no income, dipshit. nt

[bullwinkle428]

22. So he's proud to be totally selfish bastard.

[blogslut]

24. He deleted the tweet

But he's still getting slammed on Twitter. I love the web. :)

[HughBeaumont]

45. Rulin.

Just goes to show you can BS some of the people some of the time . . .

[kick-ass-bob]

25. Apparently he deleted it.

I'm shocked.

[piratefish08]

26. deleted the tweet?!?

so you're a fucking coward, too, Ricky?


just like a republican - say stupid shit, then retract it.

[HughBeaumont]

46. Or they'll say something remotely sensible . . . then retract it.

It makes me wonder if any of these jokers even know how the internet works.

"Run, can't hide" kind of thing?

[Maru Kitteh]

27. Looking at his Twitterfeed - the chickenshit erased it.

True colors Ricky. Too late, we already saw them.

[Skidmore]

28. Send that to KO as a candidate for Worst Person In the World.

[Maru Kitteh]

31. Rachel and AC360 would be good places to send it too.

The bigger the audiences, the better.

[LoZoccolo]

29. Which would mean that half of them don't make enough money to get into the lowest tax bracket.

Wow, lucky guys.

[Coyote_Bandit]

30. Preachers

need to stay the fuck out of politics.

[Blue Meany]

32. Pastor, have you read Mark 12:41-43?

The metric you find there for measure one's "share" of the burden is that it is what you left over after you pay that counts. By this biblical Christian standard, the poor pay much more than the rich.

[Johonny]

62. +1

[Maru Kitteh]

71. Thank you for posting that! I'm using it!

Mark 12:41-43

Good News Translation (GNT)

The Widow's Offering()
41 As Jesus sat near the Temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money;42 then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny.43 He called his disciples together and said to them,
I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others.

[anneboleyn]

81. And they ignore James: "Is it not the rich who oppress you?" and "care for widows and orphans"

The Epistle of James actually devastates the fundie prosperity gospel message to the mega-church masses. It's a form of heresy (imho, and the opinion of some theologians). The fundies also try to argue that references to "wealth" or to "the rich" doesn't refer to people who are actually rich. Of course this is nonsense in the context of when these texts were written.

[bighughdiehl]

34. Damn

I am contemplating joining twitter just to reply to that loathsome
fucking fuckbag of an anal botched abortion.

[reformist2]

35. It is amazing how many lies the Repugs need to pump out to keep their followers from bolting.

[LiberalFighter]

36. Remember. Those that pay federal income taxes have more income that is not taxed

then those that don't pay federal income taxes.

For every household with 2 parents and 2 children both low and high income filers have the exact same number of exemptions. 4

For every household with single persons and no dependents both low and high income filers have the exact same number of exemptions. 1

The average deductions for households with taxable income of $200k is over $64k.

Here is a good report on tax deductions. Tax deductions with some of the biggest payouts

How many with wages of $50k or less are taking $50,000 deduction in state and local taxes? $37,000 for medical expenses? $28,000 deduction for mortgage interest? $21,000 for charitable contributions?

From the linked article.

And that includes high-income people, he said. For instance, recent IRS statistics showed that about 2,000 people with income of $1 million or more don’t pay income tax, Williams said. “A part of it is that money is earned overseas and is subject to foreign taxes; a part of it is they have a lot of money in tax-exempt bonds so they don’t pay tax on that income,” he said.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

38. Yes. The "half of America" that pays no taxes are those "people" we call corporations. n/t

[HughBeaumont]

47. That's not too far off.

After all, the top (what is it) 7% control HALF the wealth and income, right?

[AnnaLee]

39. People accept the craziest things.

I won't repeat what has been said already. I want to add this:

The Bush tax cuts themselves raised exemptions and standard deductions to a level that many people, especially couples with children, ended up with no taxable income. Now, we must add all those people who are currently unemployed, underemployed or making much less than before the downturn.

Rabid self-centered people sing this song while they sing the song about low taxes. I suspect many of the people who repeat this time and time again don't pay federal income taxes themselves. But, of course, they educate themselves so poorly as to not realize much of this piece of data came from the people they voted for.

I am fortunate to be able to pay a little tax. So I don't see how anyone in my situation could complain about those who are less fortunate, especially right now.

I had someone tell me in response to the obvious arguments that they would like to see everyone pay at least a dollar. OK, how much does it cost taxpayers to process a return for one dollar?

[TwilightGardener]

40. Ah, one of the right's favorite talking points.

POOR/WORKING CLASS PEOPLE HAVE NO MONEY. If the government needs money, they have to get it from...PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT. Why does this upset them so?

[JHB]

42. There's one of those "commandment" thingies about...

..."bearing false witness", Rick.

But you're obviously unfamiliar with that book.

[Kennah]

50. Yep, that's the Ninth Commandment

I'd say he's also got issues with the Second (idolatry in his worship of corporations) and the apparently looking the other way on the Eight (stealing by corporations).

[Lex]

43. Reasonable minds can disagree about Rick Warren's message.

:shrug:

[Dawson Leery]

44. Typical Born-Again.

:puke:

[Obamanaut]

48. Every person who buys stuff retail, or gas, or pays for a license to hunt, or

drive, or fish pays taxes.

There are many who pay no federal income tax, who have no federal income tax burden or liability - usually because of low income (or none).

But that is a totally different argument that many, if not most, refuse to embrace.

Plus, all the clergymen I've ever known file, and pay, with the IRS on their income. The church may be tax exempt, but salaries paid by that church are not. And then there is the retail sales tax thing that they all pay.

[Davis_X_Machina]

52. Two per cent of Americans...

...were liable for Federal income tax when it was first introduced.

Warren was born 95 years too late.

[jberryhill]

49. C'mon People, He's Following Jesus' Teaching To Stand Up For The Wealthy

[Agony]

51. Cherrypicked BULLSHIT number! the real number is somewhat closer to 10%

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/who-doesnt-pay-taxes/

If you listen to talk radio, you may have heard the number 47 percent. That is the share of households that pay no net federal income taxes, once tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit are taken into account. This 47 percent number comes from the Tax Policy Center.

But once all federal taxes are considered — investment taxes, payroll taxes and others — the share drops sharply. Several tax experts I interviewed thought the number was around 10 percent and probably lower than that.

[JDPriestly]

53. Everybody (except maybet the homeless) pays taxes.

Property taxes (yes, it's included in your rent), sales taxes, taxes on your phone bill, etc.

All working people including those who are self-employed pay FICA taxes (Social Security) and most pay Medicare taxes.

But some do not pay federal income taxes. If you are very, very rich, you may be able to avoid paying federal income taxes through accounting schemes (loopholes) and offshoring a lot of your income or because you live off capital gains and pay a different or no tax.

Otherwise, if you don't pay taxes, it is because you don't have enough income to need to pay taxes.

Does Rick Warren really want to make a woman living on her $800 per month Social Security check pay taxes so that he can avoid paying a small amount of his fair share of taxes?

Either he hasn't thought this through or he is really, deeply stupid.

[guitar man]

55. Rick Warren should follow the Bible

He's obviously already received his 30 pieces of silver, I'm sure he's read the passage enough times to know what he should do next.

[Taverner]

56. Which half is he talking about? Looks to me like he hedged his bets...

[Yavin4]

57. Let Me Translate That Dog Whistle

HALF of America (translation: lazy, ignorant Blacks and illegal Mexican immigrants) pays NO taxes. Zero. So they're (translation: welfare queens, food stamp recipients, and those that choose not to work as hard you do Mr. White male) happy for tax rates to be raised on the other half (translation: which is you hard working White guy who should keep voting for policies that enrich the very wealthy because you too will among them. Someday real soon. Just keep working hard and voting Republican)

[Enrique]

58. has this guy ever heard of Jesus?

:puke:

[1776Forever]

59. Really - What a crock from a so called Christian - He hasn't read his Bible lately:

I love this quote from Jesus:

“Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” (“Ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι καὶ τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῷ Θεῷ”) (Matthew 22:21
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Render_unto_Caesar...

Mr. Warren shouldn't be concerned about taxes! Where is his statement on poverty and those dying from not having health insurance? Would Jesus be talking about those that don't pay taxes? I think not! He sounds more like Rush Limbaugh then a Minister of Christianity! Of course if you read this it will give you all the info you will ever need about Mr. Warren:

The Global Ambition of Rick Warren
By DAVID VAN BIEMA Thursday, Aug. 07, 2008


Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1830390,00.html#ixzz1TEXEEY43

......

A pure Carnival Showman!

[Divine Discontent]

75. unholy trifectas, batman! Dick is slimy looking, sounding, & acting!

Dick Warren is the antithesis of what a Godly pastor is to live like!

This man fails in the Christlike category, imo, and seems more snake-oily than about any "religious" entity I can think of.

Great shame is on him for spewing lies, caring all about money, and for his deep connections to the efforts in Africa that harm GLBT people.

[cbdo2007]

60. Now ask him if he'd rather be one of the ones that does....or one that doesn't.

I'd rather be one of the ones paying taxes because that means I'm making some good money.

[Zenlitened]

61. Relax, everyone. It's just one tweet!

:banghead:

[Lex]

66. Ha!

Touche'.

[Johonny]

63. TAX CHURCHES NOW! RICK WARREN WANTS US TO

thanks Rich for standing up to help share the burden :)

[Ganja Ninja]

65. Maybe if we taxed fake religious organizations that are more about politics than prayer

we could lower tax rates on the people that are less disingenuous.

[JAnthony]

67. THAT "no taxes" half of America includes, children, elderly, the disabled,

the poor, the working poor, and people with little income or living on their savings between jobs after unemployment benefits ran out. Oh, and those getting unemployment benefits DO pay taxes.

Oh, and ALL of those Americans have to pay...

sales taxes, phone taxes, gasoline taxes, etc. etc. etc.

This religious P O S needs to be kicked in his all too holy balls!

[1776Forever]

76. Can I have an AMEN? Oh yesssssssss! You got it so right! What a hypocrite he is! n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

69. I remember this guy didn't he speak for the nation

as Obama's designated preacher for his

Inauguration?

I guess Obama was just trying to mend
fences with ...............?

[SidDithers]

70. Fuck Rick Warren...nt

Sid

[JCMach1]

72. POS and I suppose SSec, Medicare, Local Income and Sales Taxes don't count

All of which have massively gone up over the years due Republican cutbacks of essential programs.

[WCGreen]

73. But the other half pay into Social Security which your really, really

rich people have used to mask their pillaging of this country's treasurer...

Bu then again, Jesus would surely have loved how callow you are...

[spanone]

77. doesn't this asshole have a pass on taxes? let us alert the IRS on this phony phuck

the greatest scam in the world

[OnionPatch]

78. Apparently, Rick Warren doesn't know the teachings of Jesus.

Luke <21:1> As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. <2> He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. <3> "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. <4> All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

According to Jesus, poor people who give even the smallest amount are giving MORE. What frauds conservative Christians are.

[upi402]

79. I think too many Christians deleted his message from the bible

and revel in an orgy of 'an eye for an eye'.

[Skip Intro]

80. Is it or is it not accurate? I've heard this before and have never seen data supporting or debunking

the claim.

Is it true?

[handmade34]

82. no!

not in the real world

[hughee99]

84. As I understand the argument,

it's supposed to be specifically about income taxes, though rarely phrased that way. 50% of the people either don't pay income taxes (no "income") or get a return equal to the amount they've paid in. That's the argument, anyway. Depending on how one wants to play with the numbers, I'm sure it can be made to be true, although that doesn't make it an accurate representation of who pays what.

[BlueCheese]

88. In particular...

Federal income taxes.

[Fearless]

83. It's the big ole club and we ain't in it.

I can't wait to see this guy and so many others get booted to the curb. We need politicians and even just people who really care about others and not just about lining their own pockets.

[quaker bill]

85. He normally seems a bit brighter than this

16% percent actually pay +/- no taxes to the federal government, unless they bought gasoline or tires, then oops, they likely did pay some taxes.

Roughly 34 percent pay medicare and SS taxes, and of course federal excise taxes on gasoline and tires (given they own a vehicle). At the lower end of this scale the EIC refunds much of these taxes, but they still pay something.

Roughly 50 percent pay all federal taxes at some level.

Yes, the richest 5 percent pay a large share of the income taxes. But, they make a slightly larger share of the total income subject to taxes. Dollar for dollar, they actually pay at a lower rate, they just have alot more dollars to be taxed.

Ask anyone if they would rather be rich and pay all those taxes or be poor and avoid them. Sales of lottery tickets should give you your answer.

[Creideiki]

86. How amazingly...Christian...of him.

Or something.

[JHB]

87. I may be an atheist, but I'd put my money on...

... the "Or something" option.