Bill Maher Says It. Tax the Fucking Churches!

[Goosebump]

You can't compare the poor (working or otherwise) to a church.

[Godscreated]

Of course, there's an option to taxing churches.  Allow them to keep their tax-exempt status, in return for which no churches or church members may access publicly-funded utilities or services.  This means that no one may drive to church on a road built with tax monies, may connect to an electrical grid built with tax money, or may send their children to publically-funded schools.  Further, no church or church member may call on the services of the police or the fire brigade, or utilize publically financed medical services.  They may not ride a train (surface or underground) or a bus operated or subsidized by any level of government.  They may not take part in government insurance or pension schemes, and may not seek help from government authorities in times of disaster.

I cannot enter my local cinema without buying a ticket, so I fail to see why accepting a delusional fairy tale should allow religionists to make me buy their ticket for them (this bit is a metaphor - it isn't really about cinema tickets).

Boru

 We going to apply this to all illegal aliens too, or do they get to keep a free ride. Christians do pay taxes from their jobs, the money the church receives has already been taxed. The church is not subsidized, we receive no money from the government to operate the church. Many farmers are subsidized to not grow crops, should they not be allowed to use utilities that are pay for by our taxes. As I said before, tax the church and you will regret it when the government raises your taxes to pay for all we do for this country, the amount of money the church puts into the communities around this country would cost the American public an amount they wouldn't be pleased with. Maher is nothing more than a public nuisance with a grudge against the church bordering on bigotry (in my opinion he is a bigot). 

GC

[Hoppingbunny]

It'll never happen but is should.

[Minimalist]

the money the church receives has already been taxed.

The church receives money that is taken as a deduction by religious phonies, you liar!

The government does subsidize these parasites by giving tax exemptions.

[Godscreated]

the money the church receives has already been taxed.

The church receives money that is taken as a deduction by religious phonies, you liar!

The government does subsidize these parasites by giving tax exemptions.

Hey stupid tax exemption is not subsidies. I never used mine as a tax deduction and many do not. When people people donate money to other oranizations are they phonies too. You really are a person who needs mental help, I've never met someone as angry as you.

GC

[Neo-Scholastic]

Would Bill Maher also remove tax exempt status from all not-for-profits such as the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, ACLU, NAACP, Goodwill, Rotary Clubs, VFA, Union of Concerned Scientists, Doctors Without Borders and many others? If not then he is merely motivated by anti-religious bigotry.

[Minimalist]

Hey stupid tax exemption is not subsidies. I never used mine as a tax deduction and many do not.

That makes you an idiot...which is not exactly news. 

If some protestant asshole build this in your town..



and the town grants a tax exemption that means that every one else....including lots of people who don't go to that fucking church....have to pay more.

That's my idea of a "subsidy," dummy.

[Faith No More]

Would Bill Maher also remove tax exempt status from all not-for-profits such as the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, ACLU, NAACP, Goodwill, Rotary Clubs, VFA, Union of Concerned Scientists, Doctors Without Borders and many others? If not then he is merely motivated by anti-religious bigotry.

Apples and oranges.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

We going to apply this to all illegal aliens too, or do they get to keep a free ride.

We don't have the trouble here with illegal immigration that you do in the US, but I think you may be off-point. I understand that illegal immigrants generally come to the US for either jobs (in which case they contribute) or to escape persecution (which means Christians should welcome them with open arms).

Christians do pay taxes from their jobs,

The laity, not the clergy. I should think you'd be furious that your priest/pastor pays no income tax while you (who pays his salary through donations) do.

the money the church receives has already been taxed.

No offense, but that's an idiotic argument. All money anyone receives has already been taxed. When I buy fruit with my money (which has been taxed) the fruiterer pays tax (as income) on the money I pay him. Why should a church be any different? You income is taxed. You donate part of what's left over to your church. This money then becomes the church's income. Why shouldn't it be taxed?

The church is not subsidized, we receive no money from the government to operate the church.

I know you've disagreed below, but a tax exemption IS a subsidy, by definition.

Many farmers are subsidized to not grow crops, should they not be allowed to use utilities that are pay for by our taxes.

But farmers still pay taxes. If Farmer Jim is given either a cash payment or a tax reduction to take 100 acres of wheat out of production, he is still taxed on his income, his real property, and so forth.

As I said before, tax the church and you will regret it when the government raises your taxes to pay for all we do for this country,

But if the churches were taxed, governments would have more money to provide these services and the churches could devote more of their time to peddling fairy stories and hoodwinking the gullible (you know - the stuff they're good at).

the amount of money the church puts into the communities around this country would cost the American public an amount they wouldn't be pleased with.

I don't think you've though this through. Churches do charitable work, granted. But they money that enables them to do this is provided by the American public (and tax exemption), so since when is the American public displeased with church work? They're the ones who fund it.

Maher is nothing more than a public nuisance with a grudge against the church bordering on bigotry

I'm not a huge fan of Bill Maher myself (stand up comic who chuckle at their own jokes make me cringe), I just happen to agree with him on this point.

(in my opinion he is a bigot).

You're entitled to your opinion, but be aware that everyone is a bigot - me, you, everyone.

Boru

[Neo-Scholastic]

So if its a not-for-profit, then according to you, its not allowed to have physical assets for members to meet, organize, participate in group activities and use for community outreach. You guys are just bigots, plain and simple.