All things political. Coronavirus Edition. (16 Viewers)

[Maxp]

I fear we are really going to be in a bad place due to the obvious cuts to the federal agencies that deal with infectious disease, but also the negative effect the Affordable Care act has had on non urban hospitals. Our front line defenses are ineffectual and our ability to treat the populous is probably at an all time low. Factor in the cost of healthcare and I can see our system crashing. What do you think about the politics of this virus?

 

[Eeyore]

Bidness

Europe to pay less than US for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

The EU has struck a deal to initially pay less for Pfizer’s vaccine candidate, an official source tells Reuters.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[J-DONK]

About $7.5 Billion to churches

I feel like the separation of church, and state gets murkier ever year. There are so many pastors that share their political opinion from the pulpit.

 

[DaveXA]

I feel like the separation of church, and state gets murkier ever year. There are so many pastors that share their political opinion from the pulpit.

I don't know. The churches I've gone to and are a part of generally avoid political topics. When I was a minister, the only time I mentioned politics was to encourage people to go vote and participate in the political process. Never once talked about either political party and never once told anyone how to vote.

There certainly are groups and religions who have pastors who get political from the pulpit, but it's never been something I approve of.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

I feel like the separation of church, and state gets murkier ever year. There are so many pastors that illegally share their political opinion from the pulpit.

Fixed it for you. This is something I would love to see enforced strongly.

 

[Xeno]

Fixed it for you. This is something I would love to see enforced strongly.

Nah, let them voice their political opinions. Let's just start taxing them like we always should have been.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

Nah, let them voice their political opinions. Let's just start taxing them like we always should have been.

That's exactly what I mean. Want to keep sharing your opinions? Bye-bye non-profit status.

 

[Xeno]

That's exactly what I mean. Want to keep sharing your opinions? Bye-bye non-profit status.

I mean across the board, whether they're sharing their opinions or not. Lower and middle income people are under too much economic strain for us to be giving religion a free ride. Tax 'em all, let God sort 'em out.

 

[DaveXA]

Nah, let them voice their political opinions. Let's just start taxing them like we always should have been.

Then tax them all, churches, synagogues, mosques, all of them. But...then that whole separation of church and state becomes a dicey issue. Good luck with all that. I mean, I'd prefer to keep them completely separate. But that's me.

 

[Xeno]

Then tax them all, churches, synagogues, mosques, all of them. But...then that whole separation of church and state becomes a dicey issue. Good luck with all that. I mean, I'd prefer to keep them completely separate. But that's me.

That's exactly what I'm saying. Nobody gets preferential treatment. The government doesn't play favorites. They're benefiting from our tax dollars already, they can pay their fair share. Most of this would be seen at the local level considering most localities tie school funding to property taxes. Lots of big churches on very valuable property out there and lots of rundown and decaying schools too.

edit: Let me clarify that when I say churches I mean places of worship. That said, Christianity is the biggest offender in that regard. Megachurches are disgusting pyramid schemes.

 

[DaveXA]

That's exactly what I'm saying. Nobody gets preferential treatment. The government doesn't play favorites. They're benefiting from our tax dollars already, they can pay their fair share. Most of this would be seen at the local level considering most localities tie school funding to property taxes. Lots of big churches on very valuable property out there and lots of rundown and decaying schools too.

edit: Let me clarify that when I say churches I mean places of worship. That said, Christianity is the biggest offender in that regard. Megachurches are disgusting pyramid schemes.

For every megachurch out there, there are hundreds, if not thousands of congregations that are smaller than 100 people, and their budgets are super small. Most pastors don't get full benefits like insurance and such and their salaries are well below minimum wage in many cases. I would say that churches below a certain size should be exempted, similar to how people making below a certain amount effectively don't pay taxes.

Being a former minister myself, I see a lot of churches struggling to make ends meet. 90% of the churches out there aren't close to the making enough money to make taxing them worthwhile. I'm sure the same concept applies to other religions organizations as well.

 

[Xeno]

For every megachurch out there, there are hundreds, if not thousands of congregations that are smaller than 100 people, and their budgets are super small. Most pastors don't get full benefits like insurance and such and their salaries are well below minimum wage in many cases. I would say that churches below a certain size should be exempted, similar to how people making below a certain amount effectively don't pay taxes.

Being a former minister myself, I see a lot of churches struggling to make ends meet. 90% of the churches out there aren't close to the making enough money to make taxing them worthwhile. I'm sure the same concept applies to other religions organizations as well.

I can agree with exemption based on income as long as it isn't legislated so that big churches can game the system. We can even offer homestead exemption to any priest (I can't think of a more general term right now, please excuse me singling out Christianity) living on the property where that's available. I can sympathize with the people but I won't sympathize with the institution. On the whole, religion rakes in a lot of money. Maybe the bigger churches should be practicing what they preach and helping their smaller brothers.

 

[MT15]

We are number one!

 

[GrandAdmiral]

Bidness

Europe to pay less than US for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

The EU has struck a deal to initially pay less for Pfizer’s vaccine candidate, an official source tells Reuters.

www.aljazeera.com

Capitalism rules!!!

 

[DaveXA]

I can agree with exemption based on income as long as it isn't legislated so that big churches can game the system. We can even offer homestead exemption to any priest (I can't think of a more general term right now, please excuse me singling out Christianity) living on the property where that's available. I can sympathize with the people but I won't sympathize with the institution. On the whole, religion rakes in a lot of money. Maybe the bigger churches should be practicing what they preach and helping their smaller brothers.

Some bigger churches do. I personally know a couple of large churches that gives a sizeable percentage to missionaries. But to those missionaries, it's still a relatively small percentage of their budgets. Churches rarely fully support a given missionary. Most give $50-$100/month. At least in my faith, missionaries are required to travel and raise support from friends, family and churches, typically in the district they reside.

Keep in mind they're self employed and pay taxes like everyone else. Gifts are tax deductible for the donors, but not for the missionaries. Gifts received are normally taxable income. Currently, ministers do receive a housing allowance, which only benefits a smaller subset of ministers. It does marginally reduce tax liability. But most don't make enough to take advantage of the benefit.

That, and parsonages for pastors, as well-intentioned as they are, doesn't really help the pastors all that much. Many retire with little or no nest egg because they don't build home equity and few save enough for retirement.

Most smaller churches typically pull in $5000--$10,000/month. Not nearly enough to pay the pastor a living wage, cover the monthly expenses for maintenance, insurance and keeping the lights on. And a small church will be lucky if they have enough for paid staff. There's absolutely nothing glamorous about it. This is based on my first hand experience as a pastor/missionary.

I'm not opposed to churches being taxed, but it's going to be enormously complex and it needs to be done in a thoughtful way that is equitable and fair to those who are part of the church. Easier said than done.

 

[superchuck500]

Who's the shirthole country now?

 

[wardorican]

About $7.5 Billion to churches

Well, the church's have payrolls and they actually used it to pay employees. I doubt you'll find any fraud there. I don't hate on that. I hate on many private owners and large corporations who took the money and used it on themselves, or shore up their stock and then lay people off anyway.

 

[Nebaghead]

Well, the church's have payrolls and they actually used it to pay employees. I doubt you'll find any fraud there. I don't hate on that. I hate on many private owners and large corporations who took the money and used it on themselves, or shore up their stock and then lay people off anyway.

My mom works at a church daycare and they did receive money and she received 2 months of pay when they closed it down.

 

[DaveXA]

My mom works at a church daycare and they did receive money and she received 2 months of pay when they closed it down.

I've heard several stories like this. At least from what I'm aware, churches are using the funds for the purposes it was intended. Works for me.