Comments on: a new bunch of taxpayers… http://1boringoldman.com/index.php/2008/09/29/a-new-bunch-of-taxpayers/ All Mickey, All the Time Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:21:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Blue Gal http://1boringoldman.com/index.php/2008/09/29/a-new-bunch-of-taxpayers/#comment-84723 Blue Gal Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:53:44 +0000 http://1boringoldman.com/?p=2461#comment-84723 Yeah my initial thought was, wow, we can use the revenue from these new 527's. Betcha that's what the IRS is thinking, too. Yeah my initial thought was, wow, we can use the revenue from these new 527′s. Betcha that’s what the IRS is thinking, too.

]]> By: Ralph Roughton http://1boringoldman.com/index.php/2008/09/29/a-new-bunch-of-taxpayers/#comment-84722 Ralph Roughton Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:38:56 +0000 http://1boringoldman.com/?p=2461#comment-84722 They are trying to frame the debate as "protected freedom of speech." And, since they have such a low estimate of their flocks' ability to connect the dots, they build a groundswell of support, even to claiming victomhood of prejudice against religion. We who champion separation of church and state need to clearly reframe the debate as one of the tax exempt status for religion. I also question whether in modern times that general policy should be sustained. Maybe we could fund the bailout by doing away with it. The Catholic Church alone would probably owe billions for its real estate holdings. On the other hand, I think some of the African-American pastors have also skated on very thin ice with regard to political preaching. And when I think about the advantage to Democrats from their (mostly) support, I have second thoughts -- not in principle but in selfish electoral pragmatics. They are trying to frame the debate as “protected freedom of speech.” And, since they have such a low estimate of their flocks’ ability to connect the dots, they build a groundswell of support, even to claiming victomhood of prejudice against religion.

We who champion separation of church and state need to clearly reframe the debate as one of the tax exempt status for religion. I also question whether in modern times that general policy should be sustained. Maybe we could fund the bailout by doing away with it. The Catholic Church alone would probably owe billions for its real estate holdings.

On the other hand, I think some of the African-American pastors have also skated on very thin ice with regard to political preaching. And when I think about the advantage to Democrats from their (mostly) support, I have second thoughts — not in principle but in selfish electoral pragmatics.

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