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Remember when Reagan asked...
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05-12-2011, 02:07 AM
The power to tax means the power to raise the tax rate to destructive levels when the institution being taxed begins to bother those setting the tax rate. And it does not have to be much. Many nonprofits operate on a razor-thin margin that's very sensitive to economic cycles. I'm willing to forgo the revenue from taxing a megachurch or two for the protection from tyranny tax exemption provides all nonprofit institutions.
05-12-2011, 02:14 AM
rjmacs wrote: Precise understanding of the law is not one of my strong points, I appreciate your clear explanation. Thanks !
05-12-2011, 02:24 AM
Spock wrote: Wrong. I have never denied any church the right to exist. I do want them to pay their taxes just like the rest of us. What free services are you providing to the public on which you're being taxed?
05-12-2011, 03:33 AM
Grace62 wrote: That makes no sense. I pay taxes on my property and my income, I presume you do too but what about your your church. They should pay taxes on their property and their net income.
05-12-2011, 03:35 AM
What a church does on its property and what you do in your residence are completely different.
Tell us why you think they are identical.
05-12-2011, 03:58 AM
Grace62 wrote: What I do in my residence and what is done in an office, store or even a movie theatre are quite different but are all subject to property taxes. Churches, synagogues, temples and mosques should pay just the same. You'll just need to put more in the collection plate.
05-12-2011, 04:04 AM
Spock wrote: What I do in my residence and what is done in an office, store or even a movie theatre are quite different but are all subject to property taxes. Churches, synagogues, temples and mosques should pay just the same. You'll just need to put more in the collection plate. how will your town make up for all the free social services performed by churches? You won't be able to cover them with taxes. Gonna pay more in taxes?
05-12-2011, 05:03 AM
Well the taxes not collected from the Crystal Cathedral alone could support any number of underfunded social programs. I'd gladly have not seen the Catholic Church acquire the necessary prime land then build a edifice that cost the faithful almost $200 million in Los Angeles.
All tax free and all while allowing individual LA parishes to declare bankruptcy to avoid paying court judgments. What applies to small community churches eventually gets abused by larger religious organizations. Better they all pay their way and let those edit: to emulate Gutty but mostly to avoid grammar nazis.
05-12-2011, 05:16 AM
Could you concede that this could be a "both and" and not an "either or?"
Churches that violate laws can be held accountable and face consequences, including loss of tax exempt status. How ridiculous to say that because some break laws, all must be punished? Where else in our society does that apply? It defies basic fairness.
05-12-2011, 05:43 AM
Many religious organizations routinely cross the line and engage in politics, the Bishop of Saint Louis virtually guaranteed that any parishioner of his who voted Kerry for President would be subject to either ecclesiastical or spiritual punishment.
As a practical matter churches (unless they are from the ultra fringe of society) are immune to prosecution and are well aware of their position. A position of power they would probably not hold were it not for the tax concessions they receive. Every tax break for one segment of the population gets picked up for and paid by another. Why should my taxes go to support any religious institution under any circumstance? I suppose when it comes to religion and taxes, I'm a hide-bound libertarian. |
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