The Johnson Amendment

[Harry Bosch]

The just passed Senate tax cut must be one of the worst pieces of crap ever passed in US history. Another hidden gem: the Johnson amendment. This will allow churches to directly engage in politics without losing their tax exempt strategy.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...cost-taxpayers-more-than-1-billion/852554001/

 

[RVonse]

If churches are going to be monetarily involved in politics, then it should be move than fair for local counties to tax churches on property like the rest of us as well. Just my opinion.

 

[Harry Bosch]

If churches are going to be monetarily involved in politics, then it should be move than fair for local counties to tax churches on property like the rest of us as well. Just my opinion.

Well, unfortunately your opinion doesn't count anymore since we have a government with zero checks and balances and incredible power.

 

[untermensche]

Bill Clinton traded personal gain for any future power of the Democratic Party.

He abandoned the ideals that held the party together.

Before Clinton the Democratic Party was the party of working people and the oppressed.

He turned it into another party supporting the rich. Another corporate party.

Working people see no party as supporting their economic interests. That is one reason so many do not vote at all.

And those who vote do it for reasons other than economic reasons. For a wall between us and Mexico and things like that. No gays in the military or no gay birthday cakes and things like that.

We have the government we deserve.

We are a country filled with Trump supporters. Millions of them.

We deserve whatever falls upon us.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I'm not certain how this affects the balance. While the right-wing thinks the left-wing are heathens, a lot of them are religious. The Hispanics and African Americans in the US have a high percentage of devoted Christians. Do the Republicans really want to mobilize portions of the population that vote Democrat at least 60 to 40 and 90 to 10, respectively? And isn't this already happening, just with some winks and nods?

I do find it a bit odd how the New Testament says that you should follow the Government, yet the right-wing will try to use this to get people to the polls to put them in as the Government.

 

[laughing dog]

I'm sorry, but every time I see the "Johnson amendment" I think of penis enlargement.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I'm sorry, but every time I see the "Johnson amendment" I think of penis enlargement.

Good thing you didn't serve in the Senate with Lyndon Johnson.

 

[untermensche]

What is amazing is how US capitalism has transformed US Christians into hard core capitalists.

While Jesus talked over and over about how unimportant personal gain and accumulation of wealth should be.

He is the guy who said if you have two coats and your neighbor has none, give him one.

Not sell him one at a profit.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

What is amazing is how US capitalism has transformed US Christians into hard core capitalists.

There was a long report on NPR about this very thing and it started in the 30s as a reaction to the Democratic Socialist leanings of FDR. Corporations looked to organized religion to act as a foil to organized labor.

People mistake the In God We Trust being a foil against the Soviets, but rather, god was entered into the political sphere in the US by corporations to protect themselves.

 

[untermensche]

What is amazing is how US capitalism has transformed US Christians into hard core capitalists.

There was a long report on NPR about this very thing and it started in the 30s as a reaction to the Democratic Socialist leanings of FDR. Corporations looked to organized religion to act as a foil to organized labor.

People mistake the In God We Trust being a foil against the Soviets, but rather, god was entered into the political sphere in the US by corporations to protect themselves.

The fact is, the Christians are the most easily influenced and most easily led.

They will literally believe anything.

And it does not have to make any sense.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

What is amazing is how US capitalism has transformed US Christians into hard core capitalists.

There was a long report on NPR about this very thing and it started in the 30s as a reaction to the Democratic Socialist leanings of FDR. Corporations looked to organized religion to act as a foil to organized labor.

People mistake the In God We Trust being a foil against the Soviets, but rather, god was entered into the political sphere in the US by corporations to protect themselves.

The fact is, the Christians are the most easily influenced and most easily led.

That is a crap broad brush statement.

They will literally believe anything.

And it does not have to make any sense.

This is true of many people.

 

[untermensche]

The fact is, the Christians are the most easily influenced and most easily led.

That is a crap broad brush statement.

Based on clear evidence.

They are generally the people unable to break through the indoctrination they received as children.

Very few people convert to Christianity without indoctrination as children.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The fact is, the Christians are the most easily influenced and most easily led.

That is a crap broad brush statement.

Based on clear evidence.

Muslims and Christians are killing each other in Africa over the dumbest shit. Buddhists are ethnically cleansing Muslims in Burma. So stop it with the broad brush.

 

[untermensche]

Based on clear evidence.

Muslims and Christians are killing each other in Africa over the dumbest shit. Buddhists are ethnically cleansing Muslims in Burma. So stop it with the broad brush.

I am talking exclusively about the US.

Stop changing the subject to suit your desire to exhibit rude behavior.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Based on clear evidence.

Muslims and Christians are killing each other in Africa over the dumbest shit. Buddhists are ethnically cleansing Muslims in Burma. So stop it with the broad brush.

I am talking exclusively about the US.

Stop changing the subject to suit your desire to exhibit rude behavior.

 

[untermensche]

I guess I should have said, childish and rude behavior.

US Christians are the most susceptible to indoctrination, in the US.

They still believe absolute nonsense into adulthood.

Easy prey for capitalists wanting to tell them a story.

 

[funinspace]

If churches are going to be monetarily involved in politics, then it should be move than fair for local counties to tax churches on property like the rest of us as well. Just my opinion.

Well, unfortunately your opinion doesn't count anymore since we have a government with zero checks and balances and incredible power.

It should also be pointed out that this change is being driven by the Repugs and FFvC. These same people would never engage the notion of allowing taxation of church property, and in fact would try to demonize those that tried for such changes. The neocon/TeaParty Repugs particularly, have been shifting more an more towards embracing theocratic notions.

 

[Elixir]

If churches are going to be monetarily involved in politics, then it should be move than fair for local counties to tax churches on property like the rest of us as well. Just my opinion.

Well, unfortunately your opinion doesn't count anymore since we have a government with zero checks and balances and incredible power.

It should also be pointed out that this change is being driven by the Repugs and FFvC. These same people would never engage the notion of allowing taxation of church property, and in fact would try to demonize those that tried for such changes. The neocon/TeaParty Repugs particularly, have been shifting more an more towards embracing theocratic notions.

Can't blame 'em - religion is a time-honored and well proven device for keeping the rabble in line.

 

[Worldtraveller]

If churches are going to be monetarily involved in politics, then it should be move than fair for local counties to tax churches on property like the rest of us as well. Just my opinion.

Well, unfortunately your opinion doesn't count anymore since we have a government with zero checks and balances and incredible power.

It should also be pointed out that this change is being driven by the Repugs and FFvC. These same people would never engage the notion of allowing taxation of church property, and in fact would try to demonize those that tried for such changes. The neocon/TeaParty Repugs particularly, have been shifting more an more towards embracing theocratic notions.

My understanding is that the church version of being a 501(3)(c) is only a federal designation. Many counties/states apply property taxes to churches. They're pretty nominal, and typically not based on 'market' value, but at least they try to recoup the cost of things like police and fire protection.

 

[Elixir]

Virtually EVERY devoted religious person was raised (ie brainwashed) into the religion that they regard as the "only true religion".
Yes, it's an even broader brush, but I don't think I'm coloring outside the lines. Religions SUCK.