Religion

MineralMan

(147,591 posts)

52. How much evil is OK?

Mon Sep 10, 2018, 04:01 PM

Sep 2018

How much should be supported with yours and my tax dollars? Here's what I think: None.

I choose to support some religious organizations, like the Union Gospel Mission. I choose not to support the Salvation Army, due to its historic anti-LGBTQ bias. Both offer assistance to the homeless. Neither should receive a penny of tax-sourced funds. I can choose to support the ones I like, but nobody should be forced to do so.

When I was in the USAF, the commander of one base where I was stationed decided that he would have 100% participation from everyone in a United Way campaign. I refused, because some things funded by that organization did not meet my criteria. Now, I don't know if I was the only holdout, but I found myself, one day, standing at attention in a General's office.

I still refused, and when that General threatened me, I explained that the Senator from my state was an acquaintance of my family's and that my next step would be a telephone cal to him. I was summarily dismissed.

A month later, the USAF decided that I qualified for an early release from my enlistment, which pleased me a great deal at the time. So, I got my Honorable Discharge a few months early, and the asshole General got his 100% participation.

Screw tax dollars going to religious organizations! I choose the organizations to which I contribute, thank you very much. I don't allow others to choose for me.

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A Note on Tax Exemptions for Churches [View all] MineralMan Sep 2018 OP

you benefit because all that worshiping keeps angry god from erupting a volcano unblock Sep 2018 #1

There are no volcanos in Minnesota, nor any geological MineralMan Sep 2018 #2

see? prayer works! unblock Sep 2018 #4

But there are tornadoes and blizzards The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2018 #32

Well, given the number of Lutherans and Catholics in MN, MineralMan Sep 2018 #33

Not necessarily. Pope George Ringo II Sep 2018 #41

I know that there are some movements underway to look at this issue (in STLMO at least)... SWBTATTReg Sep 2018 #3

Here in St. Paul, MN, we also have churches everywhere in MineralMan Sep 2018 #8

I don't blame you Ohiogal Sep 2018 #5

So a non-profit charity moves in instead qazplm135 Sep 2018 #6

Churches have a special property tax exemption that is not available to MineralMan Sep 2018 #9

ok then extend it to all non-profits qazplm135 Sep 2018 #18

How does that work exactly? Does one wave a magic wand? Major Nikon Sep 2018 #35

probably the same wand qazplm135 Sep 2018 #38

All that takes is congressional action which falls under the realm of possibility Major Nikon Sep 2018 #39

a tax exemption is a tax exemption qazplm135 Sep 2018 #47

The 501(c)(3) status is not limited to churches. Jim Lane Sep 2018 #43

I didn't claim it was Major Nikon Sep 2018 #44

I feel the same about having to pay for sport stadiums. Doreen Sep 2018 #7

Here, one of our professional sports stadiums is funded via MineralMan Sep 2018 #10

That is ironic. Doreen Sep 2018 #11

Well, there was a lot of blowback about funding the NFL team stadium MineralMan Sep 2018 #12

It's not really the same thing Major Nikon Sep 2018 #36

By law, all 501c(3) organizations are exempt from property taxes. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #13

Not so in Minnesota. some 501c(3) organizations have such MineralMan Sep 2018 #14

And of those that do, guillaumeb Sep 2018 #15

Actually, I am opposed. Property taxes should be part of MineralMan Sep 2018 #16

Consistent, agreed, and understood. eom guillaumeb Sep 2018 #17

We use tax policy to encourage things qazplm135 Sep 2018 #20

Who are "We?" MineralMan Sep 2018 #22

Really? qazplm135 Sep 2018 #25

I don't mind paying property taxes for schools. MineralMan Sep 2018 #27

so we benefit from community centers if they are governmental qazplm135 Sep 2018 #37

A church is not a community center for the general public. Voltaire2 Sep 2018 #40

That's a pretty specious qazplm135 Sep 2018 #46

Non-religious community centers do not have MineralMan Sep 2018 #42

So all religious community centers focus on religious indoctrination as a goal qazplm135 Sep 2018 #45

I did not use the word "all" with regard to religious ones. MineralMan Sep 2018 #48

I have known several qazplm135 Sep 2018 #49

"Non-denominational prayers?" MineralMan Sep 2018 #50

yes nondemoninational there are two types qazplm135 Sep 2018 #51

How much evil is OK? MineralMan Sep 2018 #52

evil is relative first of all qazplm135 Sep 2018 #54

Religion is constitutionally off-limits for government. MineralMan Sep 2018 #56

If it's off limits qazplm135 Sep 2018 #58

Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. MineralMan Sep 2018 #60

Sooo qazplm135 Sep 2018 #62

Taxation is control either way marylandblue Sep 2018 #63

No you don't qazplm135 Sep 2018 #65

Your rent pays the owner's expenses, including taxes marylandblue Sep 2018 #66

As I said above qazplm135 Sep 2018 #69

My point is that "control" is not the issue marylandblue Sep 2018 #74

control is absolutely the issue qazplm135 Sep 2018 #76

So many red herrings, I'll be eating fish for a month marylandblue Sep 2018 #81

point 2 goes all the way back to McCullough qazplm135 Sep 2018 #83

If you think what I wrote is some kind of legal opinion marylandblue Sep 2018 #85

The property owner pays the taxes. You don't think that's figured into MineralMan Sep 2018 #67

lol qazplm135 Sep 2018 #68

So, you don't think landlords set their rental rates MineralMan Sep 2018 #71

I don't know what the landlord decides in setting the rental rates qazplm135 Sep 2018 #72

You seem to be confused about how accounting works marylandblue Sep 2018 #77

The landlord considers all costs, and sets rental rates based on MineralMan Sep 2018 #79

that's a good way to go out of business qazplm135 Sep 2018 #80

Wait, do you own any property, run a business, or have you ever worked in public finance? marylandblue Sep 2018 #82

I didn't remotely say anything you said in the first paragraph qazplm135 Sep 2018 #84

You said a lot of things. You also said a lot of things you didn't make up. marylandblue Sep 2018 #86

You just moved from churches to religious community centers. Voltaire2 Sep 2018 #53

My "introduction" was at the beginning and it wasn't intended to do anything qazplm135 Sep 2018 #55

Religious community centers are a church function. MineralMan Sep 2018 #57

Do you live in St. Paul, MN? If not, I'm not part of your "we." MineralMan Sep 2018 #29

Chiming in with my two cents. Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #19

Yup. The government should in no way fund religious organizations. MineralMan Sep 2018 #21

Oh my,reminds Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #23

Well, I'd have probably not had the man's car towed, MineralMan Sep 2018 #24

Understand that those permits are to displayed Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #26

See, they could have gotten a permit, put out the signs and raised money MineralMan Sep 2018 #28

Rules are for others. Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #30

Churches pay taxes on land that isn't for religious or educational purposes marylandblue Sep 2018 #59

True in your case, Wellstone ruled Sep 2018 #61

But that makes sense qazplm135 Sep 2018 #70

That's Maryland law, according to MM and Wellstone Ruled, it's different in other states. marylandblue Sep 2018 #73

that's fine qazplm135 Sep 2018 #75

Here, in Michigan MichMary Sep 2018 #78

Here's why Cartoonist Sep 2018 #31

Let the congregations take up collections or something. MineralMan Sep 2018 #34

If the believers' crutches are really all that important to them Mariana Sep 2018 #64