Random Politics & Religion #00

Education is a tricky one when it comes to the first amendment. That said, there's nothing that says religious institutions are purely charitable, and many would argue all that gold in the Vatican is "profit".

I still don't see it, though. People voluntarily give money to churches and churches already pay taxes on things like capital gains.

Since they gave no "owners", it would be hard to prove they are for profit.

[T]he warrant application never mentions Monroe’s original stop, that Monroe called Fisher with information about Gorman and Gorman’s vehicle, or that Fisher was dispatched to investigate Gorman. This omission thereby represented to the magistrate that Fisher pulled Gorman over solely due to his traffic violations, as opposed to having been encouraged to investigate Gorman by NHP and Monroe. Second, Fisher represents in the warrant application that Gorman “indicated he had no job.” This is unambiguously contradicted by the video of Fisher’s questioning of Gorman, in which Gorman states clearly that he works for a Maui paddle board company.

...

The Court is disappointed that the United States would aggressively pursue this forfeiture action while all of its moving documents for summary judgment and supporting affidavits contained material omissions concerning the history leading to the traffic stop and canine sniff at issue. The government’s Motion for Summary Judgment, with supporting affidavits from Deputy Fisher and the Assistant United States’ Attorney, made no disclosure of anything which would have suggested that Fisher’s stop was a follow-up on Monroe’s stop and was based upon suspicion of a drug related offense.

The article you posted advocated taxing all churches no matter if they agree with gay marriage or not.

The article you posted advocated taxing all churches no matter if they agree with gay marriage or not.

Are you suggesting that the article I posted doesn't advocate that churches should pay taxes if they don't participate in gay marriage?

Are you suggesting that the article I posted doesn't advocate that churches should pay taxes if they don't participate in gay marriage?

Conservatives should not object. The libertarian position here is simple and clear: everybody has freedom of conscience, including religious organizations; the tax code should apply equally to all; and the government should not be in the business of “picking winners”, and deciding who does and who doesn’t qualify for tax exemptions. So, abolish tax exemption for all religious organizations, whether they support gay marriage or not. Religion is concerned with spiritual matters; when it comes to taxes, the general principle is “give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”. Which is to say, give to the country’s secular monetary authorities that which you owe in tax.

Many people would consider such a move — abolishing all religious tax exemptions — to be too drastic. But at the very least it is entirely right and proper for the state to say to a church that if you want to thumb your nose at a fundamental right which is held by all Americans, then we are not going to privilege you with tax-free status. We’ll let you practice your bigotry, at least within the confines of your own church. But we’re not about to reward you for doing so.

Are you suggesting that the article I posted doesn't advocate that churches should pay taxes if they don't participate in gay marriage?

Conservatives should not object. The libertarian position here is simple and clear: everybody has freedom of conscience, including religious organizations; the tax code should apply equally to all; and the government should not be in the business of “picking winners”, and deciding who does and who doesn’t qualify for tax exemptions. So, abolish tax exemption for all religious organizations, whether they support gay marriage or not. Religion is concerned with spiritual matters; when it comes to taxes, the general principle is “give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”. Which is to say, give to the country’s secular monetary authorities that which you owe in tax.

Many people would consider such a move — abolishing all religious tax exemptions — to be too drastic. But at the very least it is entirely right and proper for the state to say to a church that if you want to thumb your nose at a fundamental right which is held by all Americans, then we are not going to privilege you with tax-free status. We’ll let you practice your bigotry, at least within the confines of your own church. But we’re not about to reward you for doing so.

Could you twist the narrative a little harder? I think I see a bit of it not quite bent enough to fit your needs.

...now that the US government formally recognizes marriage equality as a fundamental right, it really shouldn’t skew the tax code so as to give millions of dollars in tax breaks to groups which remain steadfastly bigoted on the subject.

Could you twist the narrative a little harder? I think I see a bit of it not quite bent enough to fit your needs.

...now that the US government formally recognizes marriage equality as a fundamental right, it really shouldn’t skew the tax code so as to give millions of dollars in tax breaks to groups which remain steadfastly bigoted on the subject.

Article Headline: Does your church ban gay marriage? Then it should start paying taxes.

Then in the first paragraph:


Response from P&R Nausi's "twisting the narrative".

Brilliant Ramy, just brilliant.

They have to find some way to punish those who believe differently than they do while making it as PC friendly as possible. Saying "your specific belief is what we're punishing you for" is just a little too hard for some of them to say outright.

Article Headline: Does your church ban gay marriage? Then it should start paying taxes.

Then in the first paragraph:


Response from P&R Nausi's "twisting the narrative".

Brilliant Ramy, just brilliant.

...everybody has freedom of conscience, including religious organizations; the tax code should apply equally to all; and the government should not be in the business of “picking winners”, and deciding who does and who doesn’t qualify for tax exemptions. So, abolish tax exemption for all religious organizations, whether they support gay marriage or not. Religion is concerned with spiritual matters; when it comes to taxes, the general principle is “give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”. Which is to say, give to the country’s secular monetary authorities that which you owe in tax.
...

Being treated equally is punishment ...? Talk about entitlement

They have to find some way to punish those who believe differently than they do while making it as PC friendly as possible. Saying "your specific belief is what we're punishing you for" is just a little too hard for some of them to say outright.