IRS Threatens Political Speech

US House ^ | 24 Jul | Congressman Ron Paul

[JamesP81]

ALL donations should be made with untaxed money ... and under the FairTax, they are.

And on this, we agree completely.

[dirtboy]

There is a saying - the more you run over a dead cat, the flatter it gets. You made your point about 25 posts ago.

[JamesP81]

Under the FairTax that's the case. All of the "exempt" and "deduct" nonsense is merely an artifact of having an income tax - nothing more.

Personally, I think the 16th Amendment was bad law and that's what started all this crap. In fact, I find it's badness to be second only to the 17th Amendment.

[pigdog]

There should be no ability to "qualify for tax-exempt activity". No ability at all. To allow that is to admit it's OK fopr the government to control/influence the populace through the tax system - and that's plainly wrong (and has been wrong now for almost 100 years).

It's time to change that.

It's time for the FairTax!!!

[dirtboy]

Dude, you're spamming now. These were not responses to you.

[pigdog]

Yes I did get that impression and I'm glad to know it's not so because your posts sounded very rational. My apologies!

You can't imagine the absurd statements encountered by FairTax supporters (or, perhaps, you can).

[pigdog]

Ah, then do you agree that the FairTax is preferable than the present tax system with respect to church/charitable giving?

I'd have to note, too, that the FairTax is far from being a "dead cat" as it now has more sponsors/cosponsors than any tax bill in history as well as powerful - and growing - grassroots support. It sounds to me as though you're not too current on the FairTax effort and are merely hoping to brush it off. Won't happen!

[pigdog]

You'd know that for sure if you ever read Cleon Skousens paper that describes the Republican miscalculation that let it come into being. But the SCOTUS has said that the 16th added no new taxing powers - but that's a different argument. Indeed one of the objectives of the FairTax effort is a repeal of the 16th (it's terrible law IMO - as is an income tax).

[E.G.C.]

AMEN, Pigdog. Sorry about that.

FairTax is an excellent idea.

[pigdog]

No kidding??? You mean I can only speak when spoken to??? Sort of like a 5 year old, eh?

I thought this was a public forum where people could offer up comments when they thought of the ... goes ta' show ya' ...

[dirtboy]

No kidding??? You mean I can only speak when spoken to???

There are forum rules about spamming. You're doing that now. You are making basically the same post over and over to me, even though the posts you are responding to were to another poster, not to you. It's impolite. I really don't want to get thirty posts from you to me when I did not post them to you. A couple are enough.

[newgeezer]

Isn't Ken Ham facing jail time for claiming that he didn't have to pay any taxes because he was a church and all he had belonged to God?

Could you be thinking of Kent Hovind?

[RFC_Gal]

Yes - that is correct. My apologizes to Mr. Ham.

[pigdog]

Well, no, it's not the same post though some of the subjects are similar, but that's not too surprising since you seem to be saying the same thing over and over (wait a minute; doesn't that meet your "spamming" definition???).

I see - it's OK if you do it, but you get to decide on who to shut off and who not to, eh?

Sort of like the government does using the tax laws??? Gottit!!

And when I see something in someone's post worth commenting on I plan to comment on it should the spirit move me (or do you get to grant/take away "exemptions" for that?).

Oh, and BTW, my posts are on topic about the IRS and tax system so they are hardly "spam". You may find them "impolite" and not care for them etc. but spam they ain't.

[xzins]

It is not a special privilege for religion to engage in political speech. It is part of religion to engage in political speech.

Honesty requires honesty about the culture and politics, too.

I think John Kerry is a lying, anti-God, pro-babykilling, anti-american, anti-family socialist. If it is the truth, then it should be said from some pulpit someplace.

[TheCrusader]

"This "massive expense" is no proper business of government."

True, but if government succeeds in stripping away the Church's tax exempt status it will affect the Church's ability to feed, house and care for the poor, and the government WILL take up the slack with more welfare benefits to more poor, that's a given.

[savedbygrace]

The 1st Amendment says Congress can't pass any law that prohibits the free exercise of religion. Since the legislation that established 501(c)(3) organizations acts to do exactly that, then that legislation violates the 1st Amendment and is therefore null and void.

You see, according to the Constitution, it's the Congress that doesn't have the right to do what it's done, not the churches.

[JamesP81]

You can't imagine the absurd statements encountered by FairTax supporters (or, perhaps, you can).

I like the ones that howl hysterically that it will collapse the economy.

[Principled]

Under our income tax, employers can save a lot using illegals and illegals can earn enough to live.

Under the income tax:
an illegal earning 34,100 today keeps 34,100.
the illegal has no federal tax withheld - he's paid cash.
The illegal costs the employer 34,100 - the employer does not remit the 2608.75 in employer fica either).

Under the nrst:
an illegal earning 34,800 would only keep 26,800.
the illegal would provide $8000 in federal taxes. Would he work for $8,000 less?

Maybe. Maybe he'd ask for more. Maybe the employer would be just as well hiring a legal resident?

Since he's illegal, he doesn't get the monthly tax rebate to offset tax on necessities, so he bears a greater tax burden than legal residents.

A legal resident OTOH would fare much better. The same 34,100 (assuming a family of 4) would keep 32,329 as this legal family's rebate offsets much of their tax.

[Principled]

sorry pinged wrong poster