End Tax Exemptions Now

by metatron 5 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  metatron

  Many states are suffering revenue shortfalls and eager to find new sources of funding. So, now may be the time to write or email your

  state officials to end tax exemptions as an unfair burden on taxpayers. All churches and colleges benefit from police and fire protection

  and should be compelled to pay at least a minimum tax for such services. In addition, the amount of such property should be limited locally

  so as to avoid placing an unfair burden on taxpayers. You never know who might respond to such proposals.

  metatron
• 

  Gopher

  I looked at the thread title and said "I like my personal exemptions".

  You mean where non-profit business are entirely tax exempt? How broad would you make this? Certain charitable organizations would have difficulty giving back to the community if they also had to pay property tax.
• 

  metatron

  I'm not a legal scholar on the case law involved - but if charities cannot be classified into neat categories without lengthy court battles,

  then a minimum tax for all should be imposed. In the case of hospitals and others, the state could return some economic benefits, from

  year to year.

  Some municipalities are suffering under a huge burden of untaxed property - such as the Hudson area of NY and other places.

  They need a firm limit on destruction of the tax base.

  metatron
• 

  WTWizard

  I, for one, am in favor of taxing the Watchtower Society to death. They make money, they are a for-profit organization fraudulently listed as non-profit, and they misuse most of the money they get. They manipulate people. They ruin children's lives. They do this in the name of the Bible, which they don't even follow (they merely use snippets of it to back up their activities). Taxing them will hasten their ultimate demise, and prevent them from killing or harming others. It will also stop them from defending pedophiles if the Worldwide Pedophile Defense Fund is seized by the IRS. Also, if New York State taxes them (they are, after all, located in New York City), it would put a major dent in the deficit in that state.

  Beyond that, we ought to get the government out of our businesses except to provide protection from those initiating force, coercion, or fraud against us (including the Watchtower Society). By eliminating "hot laws" and the regulatory departments that enforce them, this country would save huge bucks and eliminate the need for many of the taxes that we have now.
• 

  jaguarbass

  It would be good to tax the churches and religion.

  I think that will happen when pigs start flying or after Armegedon.

  I think the whole purpose of religion is to control things and maintain the status quo. I dont see them giving that up.

  Elections are pretty much rigged and senators and congress only respond to special interest. And there is no more special interest than organized religion.
• 

  DT

  I'm not sure what I think about ending tax exemptions for non profits in general. However, if a cult claims to be a legitimate religion, but persecutes people and damages society, than I think their tax exempt status should be removed. There is currently a petition for ending Scientology's tax exempt status. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stopscientology

  I hope it succeeds and I hope it will result in closer scrutiny of the Watchtower Society's finances.