The new evangelicals, the holy power brokers, have entrenched themselves in "ministries" of radio, television, print media, Internet media, and the political arena. So much so that I doubt seriously a few voices in opposition will be heard as anything more than a whisper against the cacophony of the radical fundamentalists holding the reins, money, and power today. The ones organizing boycotts of companies that don't reflect their particular agendas.
The only possible solution I see to this is to take away the political subsidies in the form of tax exemptions that have allowed them to amass huge war chests of money and property. Odd in a country where there is supposed to be a separation between church and state, that the state has been the enabler in something that could easily bring an end to this grand political experiment.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.trump did not revamp the tax code as he professed - all he and the gop did was give more to the already rich.
A true revamp means NO MORE big secret super pacs. That 1 dollar donation box you can check on your 1040 is all they get. Split among who is running. Every person in America can make a ONE time donation of $5 per election to the candidate(s) of their choice. Every corportation/business can make a ONE time $5 donation per election to the candidate(s) of their choice.
A true revamp means no more loopholes for special interests. Get rid of ALL subsidies and I'll think about supporting a flat rate. The problem is when ALL living expenses are taken into account only the rich have deposible income to really play with. Until the poor, low income and middle class have a much fairer share of their income left after ALL living expenses, taxes and eccentials are covered the wage/income/money desparity will be an issue to be used politically by lying politicians like Paul Ryan, etc.
Both Parties need to be held accountable.
silverotter11
Level 9
Apr 25, 2018
1
How or who draws the line on tax exemptions... FFRF is a tax exempt group, can you tax one and not the other.....I am no expert, just saying.
fearlas
Level 6
Apr 25, 2018
1
I agree. Remove all exemptions from anything that cannot demonstrate/prove their charitable function, and set limits on how much can be drawn from the funds for those who operate those functions. A lot of people have been making private fortunes off of "charitable" functions for a long time.
@evidentialist yes they have.
Support the FFRF. They are actively working to confront the entanglement of state and church on many fronts.
IAMGROOT
Level 7
Apr 25, 2018
4
Am FFRF. Stuff is stalled in system, but it is in process.
Churches have crossed the line that is supposed to separate the church and the state. Since the churches feel they have the right to involve themselves with the business of the state then it is only right that they pay their fair share of taxes like all the other stakeholders in state business. Tax the churches and there will be far less of this chicanery.
While we're at it we should start taxing the corporate entities that masquerade as citizens and fund political groups, if they want to call the tune then they should pay the piper.
Surfpirate
Level 9
Apr 25, 2018
2
I really got a kick out of those churches that kept thier doors closed during the houston floods. It shows you how they really feel about giving money food and shelter to those in need. Its all business to them. They will take love offerings and replace what they spent. Lol... ass holes.
BucketlistBob
Level 8
Apr 25, 2018
3
We already have the Johnson Amendment which is supposed to revoke tax exempt status for any church that intervenes in a political election for or against a candidate. Trump made a campaign promise to "get rid" of this, and it's telling that it's one of the few campaign promises he seems to care about keeping. He has misleadingly claimed in fact that he fulfilled it:
It hardly matters whether this is officially removed or not, though, because even before Trump it was not enforced. If I recall correctly, the IRS tried to once, over a particularly egregious violation, and was defeated in court.
mordant
Level 8
Apr 25, 2018
3
The Johnson Amendment is not enough. We atheists indirectly support the church/synagogue/mosque/reading hall/etc. in this country through our tax dollars. End the tax exempt status for religion altogether.
@evidentialist Completely agree. It's my view no organization should be tax exempt except for public good (no-strings, no-proselytization, no-preaching soup kitchens or homeless shelters for example, although it's debatable what motivation churches have to run them that way). I think the larger issue is to get rid of tax exemptions for "member benefit" organizations, in order to be consistent about that. This means lodges and similar would also lose their tax exemptions.
Worse, Trump has removed the long standing restrictions against Churches being openly political and preaching politics from the pulpits.
Davesnothere
Level 7
Apr 25, 2018
3
See my link above from Politifact. He has done no such thing, only claimed to so that he can claim to have fulfilled a campaign promise to his main supporters. What he has done is issued an executive order to the Treasury Department to be lenient in enforcing it -- which they always have been anyway. Now he's attempting to get Congress to actually remove it but that's not a slam-dunk.
@mordant The latter is what I am referring to
and tell me
Why would they NOT?
The Congress is currently dominated by the evangelical religious right.
The order is a band aid to what he sees as the "fix"
Free Speech Fairness Act
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a tax-exempt organization to make certain statements related to a political campaign without losing its tax-exempt status. An organization may not lose its tax-exempt status under section 501
(3) or be deemed to have participated in, or intervened in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, solely because of the content of any statement that: (1) is made in the ordinary course of the organization's regular and customary activities in carrying out its exempt purpose, and (2) results in the organization incurring not more than de minimis incremental expenses.
Since corporations are now citizens
Since Money now equals Speech
You see a trend here or what?
@Davesnothere Yeah I oppose that bill too. Given that Congress seems largely unable to get ANYTHING done I don't know how likely it is to pass but am not taking any chances. Also hoping that the dems will at least flip the house come November.
@mordant They passed tac cuts for the donor class fast enough. If they thought this was a new cash cow for them . . .?
I didnt know that about the taxes of the church. Hmm...i have seen donations of house hold goods given to a friend i had. I didnt realize she was going from church to church hitting them up for help.
BucketlistBob
Level 8
Apr 25, 2018
1
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