This is one particularly annoying thing, why should religious bastards be given special consideration and not have to pay taxes when everything they spout is garbage fantasy, lies and hatred especially when the U.S. Constitution specifies the separation of church and state ?? Why should sycophant bastards like pat robberson, jerry failwell and other televangelist pieces of crap continue to get richer on this backwards-assed crap which doesn’t have a shred of substantial evidence to back it up ? Heck the fact that there are conflicting religions is clear proof that the can’t all be right and thus have no valid claims to anything. All religious organizations should be made to pay back 50 years of tax money, if this breaks them all then so be it.

Either they should be forced to pay taxes like every other business or atheists should be allowed to form organizations based on science-fiction and get tax breaks as well.

Or, use this information to your benefit. I was ordained a couple years ago as a minister over the Internet, and even received a certificate stating that I was empowered to perform marriages and such. It was free - all I had to do was ask and click on OK. I can’t remember the URL for it - and I misplaced my certificate.

Yeah, it’s annoying and outgrageous that religious “personel” get tax breaks - but you know - the US is primarily about “the bottom line.” If we all become ministers, we can all benefit. Maybe if 200 million of the 300 million or so folks in the US were “ordained ministers” and were able to reduce their taxes, the tax shortfall might cause some real problems.

It may not be practical, but it’s a fun thought anyway.

The really galling thing about this IRS-honored scam is that so many of these Christians are always complaining about “being persected” in America. Right; not only are there the tax breaks, but there’s a born-again, incurious overprivileged hilljack in the Oval Office, a Jesus-freak Senate Majority Leader with clear presidential ambitions, and government-funded abstinence “education” programs run by shamelessly lying sacks of shit. U.S. Christians have it almost as awful as Sunni Muslims in Iraq and Catholics in Northern Ireland.

BV: Well put. Yup… He is one incurious silver spooned motherfucker, and the hillbillies keep making excuses for him anyway. Voting against their own interests, again and again. Hail to the thief.

Wonder what would happen if every secular humanist in the nation simply stopped paying taxes for one year? Not to sound elitist, but we could probably shut down the economy, since all the stats point to us being the principle bread-winners — feeding and clothing the rest of dumb-ass ‘Merica.

Of course, then Dick Cheney would have us declared terrorists and sent to Gitmo for the rest of our natural lives.

Maybe that would be good. See how Baby Jeebusland survives without actual intellectuals and free-thinkers to generate ideas and prosperity.

Ah, yes. I dream. Of an America that bitch-slaps the monkey-brained, taxes the rich, helps the poor, stops killing needlessly, uses its vast resources to help the world face its greatest challenges such as destruction of the environment, sustainable energy, etc.

I must be on lithium to keep hoping like this.

who gets to decide what constitutes a valid religous body?

Catherine wrote:

Which makes them fit right in with the new “health care” plan by Bush that I keep hearing about - something about getting tax breaks for NOT seeking medical care, which will keep the costs of health care lower. !!!!!!!!! We are so f–ked. Catherine

Holy fuckin’ hell in a hand basket. You’re right. Can these “compassionate” conservatives do nothing that is actually compassionate? With nearly 45 million ‘Mericans without health insurance, Dubya Dumbass stands poised to give a State of the Onion address on Tuesday that outlines his new insane domestic policy… Namely:

While Clinton was driven by a desire to guarantee health insurance for every American, Bush is focusing primarily on health costs, which he says are swamping employers and threatening economic growth. While Clinton favored a larger role for government, Bush’s approach is built on the idea that placing more responsibility in the hands of individuals will create market pressure to hold down costs.

The White House has indicated Bush will propose tax deductions for out-of-pocket medical expenses, rules to encourage the use of health savings accounts and incentives for small businesses to band together and buy health insurance, exempt from state regulation.

Another smokescreen, like the Social Security scam. Another bunch of lies aimed at helping the rich, denying the poor, while pretending to be compassionate. How many fake town hall meetings will they set up for this fucking sham?

“I don’t get any trickle-down money. I don’t get anything from that side of the family for that matter. It must have something to do with being the atheist black sheep of the family.”

Pixi, not to worry. Jesus loves you, and will cure you of whatever ails you, except, perhaps for the intense loathing that accompanies you everywhere these days - loathing for the neocons, wherever they live, pillage, cheat, murder, etc.

I will pray for you. (Darwin, I really think if anyone dares say that to me, really in front of my face, I won’t be able to control myself.)