A response - sorry about the link (537 hits)
Category: PoliticsRating: 0.87 on 16 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Skeptic (View user info) at 2006-06-26 13:11:43 EDT
MickGinny wrote a post http://www.ubersite.com/m/68028 that hit one of my nerves. This is my response.
This is a serious disease in our country. I'm not a person of "faith" and won't criticize anyone who lives their life according to a religious doctrine. Most religions of the world advocate peace, respect for fellow humans, moral responsibility, etc.
People like this are hypocrites!! Morality is based on helping others, and if you can't help, at the very least, do no harm. They are encouraging people to not only give up on medical treatments which may not cure them but will at least make them comfortable and prolong life for a little while, they are also bleeding them dry financially with empty and unproven promises that their woes will go away with a "contribution".
What infuriates me is that our government encourages this kind of crap with our tax laws. I am a firm believer in the ideal of "separation of church and state". The original intent of this was that the church can't impose laws on government and vice versa. I can't believe the drafters of our constitution intended that a cheap shyster should be allowed to take hard earned dollars from ignorant uneducated people and claim tax exempt status. The IRS is pretty lenient with this and it isn't hard to set up your own church and take advantage of the tax laws.
Hmmmmm. I guess I should start the First Church of Nondenominational Skeptics. Maybe I can avoid paying 16,000 in personal income tax and whatever the Skeptical Supreme Being knows I paid in property, vehicle, sales and whatever other taxes the Government took from me last year because I couldn't claim tax exempt status because I don't have a church.
This guy is a scumbag!
User Reviews
Submitted by Skeptic (user info) at 2006-06-27 12:37:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-06-27 06:10:47 (#)
Ranking: 0
I hate taxes as much as you, and I hate christians as well.
However, I was wondering if you could point out exactly where the words "separation of church and state" are found in our founding documents.
mind you, making no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof doesn't exactly scream out no contact between operational government and the business of running a church.
I have to admit the phrase "separation of church and state" isn't in our founding documents. It is implied.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Having tax laws (that are initiated and approved by Congress) that allow for places of worship to be exempt from taxes, and even worse allows the (insert reverend, pastor, rabbi, etc.) to file personal tax exempt status, in my thinking is a violation of the "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" portion of the amendment.
I'm, sadly, not as educated as I should be on the Constitution and the laws pertaining to it and it's entirely possible that there are other amendments to the Constitution that allow for this (I need to do a refresh of my old HS days).
You did make a good point though!
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-06-27 06:24:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Religion is like a mans penis. It can be used to bring pleasure to it's owner and to others. It can also be used to bring great pain. In spite of that though I reckon we shouldn't ban peni especially as I am somewhat attatched to mine.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-06-27 06:10:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I hate taxes as much as you, and I hate christians as well.
However, I was wondering if you could point out exactly where the words "separation of church and state" are found in our founding documents.
mind you, making no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof doesn't exactly scream out no contact between operational government and the business of running a church.
Submitted by Skeptic (user info) at 2006-06-26 16:35:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2006-06-26 16:09:41 (#)
Ranking: 2
You could, of course donate money to non-religious charities and it would still be deductible.
I do as generously as I can. It just isn't the same as having an income tax free income.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2006-06-26 16:09:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You could, of course donate money to non-religious charities and it would still be deductible.
Submitted by cuberat (user info) at 2006-06-26 15:59:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
All religious people are scumbags in this country.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-06-26 15:48:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
so, it took you an ENTIRE YEAR to respond to his post?
I'm all for careful opinions, but that's a bit much, son.
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-06-26 14:43:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Ah fuck it heres another.
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-06-26 14:41:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Here's another for me being stupid.
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-06-26 14:41:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh shit sorry, I thought you were saying that you agreed with Pat Robertson.
My bad.
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-06-26 14:40:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
You're a dumbass.
Insulin shots that do no good? Hmmm... Well tell that to the people who are being kept alive on such treatments.
Jesus H. Christ you are stupid. People like that convince morons to shy away from proven cures to ailments. If they are too stupid to save themselves, then fine. But when parents are doing it to their kids, fuck them all.
Submitted by Skeptic (user info) at 2006-06-26 13:40:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by WildcatMcGee (user info) at 2006-06-26 13:17:59 (#)
Ranking: -2
I've got a solution to your little 'problem':
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douche
Clean your vag, bitch, and stop whining.
Personally, no problem of mine. I just think it's disgusting when people take advantage of the misfortunes of others under the guise of religion. But then again, tough guy that you are I'm sure you haven't ever been taken advantage of and because of your toughness you've never known or associated with anyone who has ever been taken advantage of. How old are you anyway, 14?
Submitted by WildcatMcGee (user info) at 2006-06-26 13:34:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
On the subject of Pat Robertson, he lives in the same area I live in. He's got his own university, Regent University. It's got it's own law school as well, which is interesting considering his religious position in the community, i.e. the seperation between church and state.
As much as he seems legit to some people, there's plenty of crazy BS he's tied up with. For instance, a big joke around here is how he claims to have leg pressed 2,000 lbs. Like anyone really cares if he can press 2,000 lbs. One of the worst parts is that he got some politician in Texas or somewhere out west to actually put a rider on abill unrelated to transportation ensuring that the Fed would fund building an offramp from 64 to his university, which is a private school. He's pretty much the local joke.
Submitted by Skeptic (user info) at 2006-06-26 13:22:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2006-06-26 13:17:21 (#)
Ranking: 2
Add Pat Robertson and
Rev. Falwell to your list.
They're on my long list of intellingent opportunitists who have no goal in life other than to suck the life out of people instead of actually trying to do some good.
Submitted by WildcatMcGee (user info) at 2006-06-26 13:17:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I've got a solution to your little 'problem':
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douche
Clean your vag, bitch, and stop whining.
Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2006-06-26 13:17:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Add Pat Robertson and
Rev. Falwell to your list.