Representation without Taxation?
A naybob of simian nature sent me an email regarding the big business of NCAA sports. The NCAA generates $4.2B annually and some feel that the not-for-profit status it enjoys, along with contributional tax advantages should be rescinded.
My response was, TAX THE CHURCHES TOO!!!
His response: "churches still provide a valuable context for society-they still feed the homeless,give shelter to the needy,tend to the sick and dying,and basically try to give hope to the hopeless.
I've actually started going back to Church the last few months. Sports on the other hand, is just about gambling...never has sports been so B.S. as it is nowadays".
My rant follows... I agree on sports, it should be taxed in all of its forms and there should not be any "anti-trust" exemptions.
Regarding organized religion... "feed the homeless, give shelter to the needy, tend to the sick and dying." Albeit most churchs do this and its commendable, but social medical & welfare systems also do this and on a much grander scale.
Furthermore, the social programs could do a much better job if given the necessary monetary support by a hypocritical public, and its elected respresentatives that to the member claim some form of religious faith or affiliation.
As for "trying to give hope to the hopeless" that is a worldwide multi trillion dollar business, just ask Tony Robbins, any motivational writer or your local teleavangelist...
For all the good it has done, organized religion has been responsible for more unnecessary wars, suffering, persecution, displacement, obfuscation of scientific truths and death than any other natural or man made cause on this planet.
Anyone claiming that an invisible, omnipotent deity that lives somewhere in the sky has control over all things, including their life and the choices they make is logically on a par with one who practices wicca, voodoo or santoria.
Not being particular to any branch of the religious tree, so called "scripture" is nothing more than primitive campfire stories, retold and embellished for thousands of years before actually being written down and then edited.
Organized religion is a man made institution, which in an effort to control the masses, promotes a socially accepted neurosis. Bottom line, man created god in his own image, not the other way around.
I think Christ, Mohammed & Buddha probably did exist, and these "prophets" had some pretty good ideas and principles that we all could take a page from, and if going to church helps you, thats all fine and dandy.
But, unlike the fanatics, zealots and disturbingly rising tide of moderate "practitioners", who do or would persecute the "infidels" and "heretics" that differ with their beliefs, (and who in the past and present have imposed their will by edict or force); taking the best and leaving the rest is where it ends for me.
I'm sick and tired of having organized religion, its political influence in critical legislation, and the consequences thereof, foisted upon me by its rabid "voodoo" practitioners through a "non-profit" institution which avoids taxation through legislation.
If organized religion wants to leverage its "flock" (which is an apropo analogy to the behaviour of sheep) to play the game of politics, let them pay admission to the game like everyone else through TAXATION.
This country was founded by the descendants of those fleeing religious persecution under the hue and cry of "no taxation without representation". Perhaps this cry should be modernized to "no representation without taxation".
Following are some quotes that contain pearls of wisdom and truth:
"Religion is sort of like a lift in your shoes. If it makes you feel better, fine. Just don't ask me to wear your shoes." - George Carlin
"FAITH, n. Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel."
"RELIGION, n. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable." - Ambrose Bierce
"I think flying planes into a building was a faith-based initiative. I think religion is a neurological disorder." "I believed there was a virgin birth, I believed a man lived inside of a whale, and I believed that the Earth was 5,000 years old. But then something very important happened to me -- I graduated sixth grade." - Bill Maher
"In the Bullshit Department, a businessman can't hold a candle to a clergyman. 'Cause I gotta tell you the truth, folks. When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims: religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told.
Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man -- living in the sky -- who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!
But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullshit story. Holy Shit!" -- George Carlin Politically Incorrect, May 29, 1997
My response was, TAX THE CHURCHES TOO!!!
His response: "churches still provide a valuable context for society-they still feed the homeless,give shelter to the needy,tend to the sick and dying,and basically try to give hope to the hopeless.
I've actually started going back to Church the last few months. Sports on the other hand, is just about gambling...never has sports been so B.S. as it is nowadays".
My rant follows... I agree on sports, it should be taxed in all of its forms and there should not be any "anti-trust" exemptions.
Regarding organized religion... "feed the homeless, give shelter to the needy, tend to the sick and dying." Albeit most churchs do this and its commendable, but social medical & welfare systems also do this and on a much grander scale.
Furthermore, the social programs could do a much better job if given the necessary monetary support by a hypocritical public, and its elected respresentatives that to the member claim some form of religious faith or affiliation.
As for "trying to give hope to the hopeless" that is a worldwide multi trillion dollar business, just ask Tony Robbins, any motivational writer or your local teleavangelist...
For all the good it has done, organized religion has been responsible for more unnecessary wars, suffering, persecution, displacement, obfuscation of scientific truths and death than any other natural or man made cause on this planet.
Anyone claiming that an invisible, omnipotent deity that lives somewhere in the sky has control over all things, including their life and the choices they make is logically on a par with one who practices wicca, voodoo or santoria.
Not being particular to any branch of the religious tree, so called "scripture" is nothing more than primitive campfire stories, retold and embellished for thousands of years before actually being written down and then edited.
Organized religion is a man made institution, which in an effort to control the masses, promotes a socially accepted neurosis. Bottom line, man created god in his own image, not the other way around.
I think Christ, Mohammed & Buddha probably did exist, and these "prophets" had some pretty good ideas and principles that we all could take a page from, and if going to church helps you, thats all fine and dandy.
But, unlike the fanatics, zealots and disturbingly rising tide of moderate "practitioners", who do or would persecute the "infidels" and "heretics" that differ with their beliefs, (and who in the past and present have imposed their will by edict or force); taking the best and leaving the rest is where it ends for me.
I'm sick and tired of having organized religion, its political influence in critical legislation, and the consequences thereof, foisted upon me by its rabid "voodoo" practitioners through a "non-profit" institution which avoids taxation through legislation.
If organized religion wants to leverage its "flock" (which is an apropo analogy to the behaviour of sheep) to play the game of politics, let them pay admission to the game like everyone else through TAXATION.
This country was founded by the descendants of those fleeing religious persecution under the hue and cry of "no taxation without representation". Perhaps this cry should be modernized to "no representation without taxation".
Following are some quotes that contain pearls of wisdom and truth:
"Religion is sort of like a lift in your shoes. If it makes you feel better, fine. Just don't ask me to wear your shoes." - George Carlin
"FAITH, n. Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel."
"RELIGION, n. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable." - Ambrose Bierce
"I think flying planes into a building was a faith-based initiative. I think religion is a neurological disorder." "I believed there was a virgin birth, I believed a man lived inside of a whale, and I believed that the Earth was 5,000 years old. But then something very important happened to me -- I graduated sixth grade." - Bill Maher
"In the Bullshit Department, a businessman can't hold a candle to a clergyman. 'Cause I gotta tell you the truth, folks. When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims: religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told.
Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man -- living in the sky -- who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!
But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullshit story. Holy Shit!" -- George Carlin Politically Incorrect, May 29, 1997
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