Pro or Con - Charitable tax status

[Gato_Solo]

What about Mr. Joel Osteen..the smiling televangelist?

Who???

Gato, there is a HUGE difference between the local church and the gargantuan organizations such as televangelists, and the rest of the organized $100M+ /year born-again clubs like Scientology.

Which is why I handed off to you to explain the workings.

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

I hate exemptions, I hate graduated tax scales, I hate special interests. Everyone and everything should pay a flat percentage. That would be true equal protection under the law.

Precisely why it'll never happen. To some, special treatment and handouts are a way of life. It ain't fair unless they get more than anybody else. Any proposed legislation that would eat into it will be shot down, most likely in a movement led by The Reverend and labelled liberally with the R word. (You know, the R word that ends with acist...) Not to say there aren't plenty of folks from all walks burning the system mind you. I just have a hunch about the who and the how of it being shot down.

 

[Gonz]

I love when the poor & middle class yell & scream that the rich aren't paying their fair share & there should be a flat tax. It hurts us far more than it does them. I would be for it though (just not at some ridiculous amount like 17%, which I've heard)

 

[unclehobart]

Precisely why it'll never happen. To some, special treatment and handouts are a way of life. It ain't fair unless they get more than anybody else. Any proposed legislation that would eat into it will be shot down, most likely in a movement led by The Reverend and labelled liberally with the R word. (You know, the R word that ends with acist...) Not to say there aren't plenty of folks from all walks burning the system mind you. I just have a hunch about the who and the how of it being shot down.

Simpler times, my friend... simpler times.

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

I love when the poor & middle class yell & scream that the rich aren't paying their fair share & there should be a flat tax. It hurts us far more than it does them. I would be for it though (just not at some ridiculous amount like 17%, which I've heard)

I dunno dude. Add up all the taxes you pay...income, sales, property, wheel, all of it...and I bet it's higher than 17%. If it'd get rid of all the taxes, I'd jump at 17% in a heartbeat. As it is, we get taxed coming and going.

 

[unclehobart]

I believe the average tax rate per person after all of the imbedded stuff is factored in is well into the mid40s% if not over 50%.

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

Time to throw some more tea in the ocean, huh?

 

[unclehobart]

Or something a little more drastic... but to spell it out would probably have the men in black knocking on my door within the hour.

 

[MrBishop]

Who???



Which is why I handed off to you to explain the workings.

Lakewood Church - the properity ministry. He's making huge waves with several million viewers/week. Telling people that God wants them to be prosperous (rich)..and God wants them to send a CQ or money order to....
He was on the top-10 most talked-about people with Barbara Walters.

In either case...there's a HUGE difference between groups like his who buy stadiums, TV equipment, hire thousands, live in mansions and keep a chunk of their moneys and small churches who can barely pay their bills because they donate/use most of their money and time towards charitable endeavors. Unfortunatly, it's not just scale. If Televangelist groups used 70-80% of incoming funds to fund homeless shelters, women's shelters, food programs, suicide prevention hotlines etc... I'd have no issue with it.

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

Or something a little more drastic... but to spell it out would probably have the men in black knocking on my door within the hour.

I'll PM you my login. They got to be watchin me already...

 

[Gonz]

I dunno dude. Add up all the taxes you pay...income, sales, property, wheel, all of it...and I bet it's higher than 17%. If it'd get rid of all the taxes, I'd jump at 17% in a heartbeat. As it is, we get taxed coming and going.

I'm under the impression that the 17% figure tossed around is exclusively INCOME tax. If it included all the other crap, then hell yea.