It seems like the more that Christians in the U.S. become a minority, the more they pretend that they're a majority. The only two things that stop bills like these from passing are the possibility of other minority religious groups wanting to benefit from the same law, or the objections of minority secular groups. Christians' selfish jealousy seems to be the more potent inhibitor of the two. If they can't have the advantage exclusively for themselves, they don't want anyone to have it.
From the statistical trends, it looks like all religious groups will continue to shrink as secularism becomes an increasing majority, but with majority will come complacency. The challenge will be to get past the APATHY of the non-believers to be vigilant and diligent in keeping theocratic creep out of government.
Hi, The Satanic Temple? Yes, we need you to go to Idaho and speak on behalf of this resolution, please. Remind them just why they really don’t want this. Grab a Jewish friend or two, maybe even a First Nations pal, even a Muslim. Tell them you want to build a school. All the folks you bring want to build schools, or get funding for the schools they already have.
I’ve been told, Washington produces more potatoes than Idaho, the reputation was just a marketing campaign. But also, Idaho has a large Mormon population. I wonder if their schools count for these legislators?
I've long had issues with Christian grabs for public funds. All too often, various religious institutions get massive tax breaks because lawmakers believe they benefit the community - usually in some ill-defined way that never seems to be actually delineated or examined. To be clear, I'm not arguing here that churches and religious institutions never do good things, I'm arguing that too often those institutions are already benefiting from various government-run social programs that everyone else has to pay into to get the same benefits.
Sure, there are plenty of churches around that do 'good works' in that they might run a soup kitchen, or a thrift store (like a Goodwill), or some other form of social safety net type arraignment. However, all those 'good works' come with a price tag: the beneficiary is required to listen to a sermon intended to take advantage of said beneficiary. If the individuals in need don't stay for whatever sermon/service/conversion attempt is made, they don't get whatever they might be in need of. What we have here, then, is convert-or-die lite, since the lack of whatever assistance can quickly become a survival issue.
This sort of transactional arraignment is not by any means in the best interest of society at large, it is intended to ensure that the church holds the power over people's lives. By coming after additional government funds, it can appear that the government is not able to help its own people due to the lack of financial resources. The church then steps in and pretends it can handle the crisis better; but remember that when people are frightened, desperate, and hurting it's easy to look like a savior.
Christians want money and power. We've seen in the past numerous times that when they get either one, they abuse it until forcibly stopped. I'm not seeing anything here that convinces me that's changed.
Once again, a segment of American capitalism that does not participate in our system of tax to give and take to pay for what our country needs now wants to participate only in the taking part. When the churches PAY taxes, maybe we can talk about them receiving tax funds.
Yet again, we must look to the wisdom of Key Founding Father Benjamin Franklin on this matter:
"When a Religion is good, I conceive that it will support itself; and when it cannot support itself, and God does not take care to support, so that its Professors are oblig'd to call for the help of the Civil Power, 'tis a Sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one."
-- Franklin, in a letter to Richard Price dated 9 October 1780
"it’s that a nearly identical resolution was proposed last year… but failed to make it out of the Senate State Affairs Committee. That’s largely because lawmakers didn’t want to open the door to certain religious groups demanding taxpayer dollars:"
Back in the days so many fondly remember as being so much better than things are today, the courts would have struck this law down in a heartbeat. Who knows today when our courts are populated with judges with religious axes to grind. Conservative Christians simply cannot stop demanding their sense of privilege be written into law. No religious school or institution should get one cent of public money for any reason. Money given to religious schools, is money taken away from the public schools that are the backbone of education in this country.
I get Social Security because I paid taxes into the system. I get Medicare because I paid taxes into the system. It’s taken years. Religious organizations pay diddly/squat. You get what you pay for.
Really tired of the GOP picking & choosing what parts of the Constitution they want to respect & follow & disregarding the rest
Different day, same old shit.
They view the Constitution just like the Bible.
Taxpayer support of Christianity? Oh, HELL no!
I'd fully support taxpayer funding of The Satanic Temple, on the other hand. Hell yes (literally!) to that./s
Ya gotta fund ALL religions or none. Otherwise, you run into that pesky no establishment of religion thing.
But, that "establishment" thing only means they can't make the SBC the CoUS. /s
It seems like the more that Christians in the U.S. become a minority, the more they pretend that they're a majority. The only two things that stop bills like these from passing are the possibility of other minority religious groups wanting to benefit from the same law, or the objections of minority secular groups. Christians' selfish jealousy seems to be the more potent inhibitor of the two. If they can't have the advantage exclusively for themselves, they don't want anyone to have it.
From the statistical trends, it looks like all religious groups will continue to shrink as secularism becomes an increasing majority, but with majority will come complacency. The challenge will be to get past the APATHY of the non-believers to be vigilant and diligent in keeping theocratic creep out of government.
Hi, The Satanic Temple? Yes, we need you to go to Idaho and speak on behalf of this resolution, please. Remind them just why they really don’t want this. Grab a Jewish friend or two, maybe even a First Nations pal, even a Muslim. Tell them you want to build a school. All the folks you bring want to build schools, or get funding for the schools they already have.
That’ll larn them.
Lern. ; )
Lurn. 🤪
"No, gol blame em dang blummum!"
Gabby Johnson is right!!
I'm especially proud that the children present today got to hear it.
Val Johnson is right about Gabby Johnson being right!
Idaho, land of potatoes. I understand they grow produce, too.
They're known for producing neo-Nazis. That's a bumper crop.
They were the birthplace of Aryan Nations.
Nazi potatoes?
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRj58OoO_gWSPe3qZSBf4FF6bpARVPasQG1Q_VDyQZLCOVXsA_4B3_SiSQNHTUHZEIIkEM&usqp=CAU
Russian commies. Haven't you heard of Spudnik?
They're Dick Taters. Emphasis on Dick.
It's what they replace their brains with.
Coeur d’Alene if memory serves
Yup.
I’ve been told, Washington produces more potatoes than Idaho, the reputation was just a marketing campaign. But also, Idaho has a large Mormon population. I wonder if their schools count for these legislators?
This says Idaho is #1. https://www.statista.com/statistics/382166/us-potato-production-by-state/#SnippetTab
Btw, Wisconsin is #3. I didn't know you were part of the Potato Belt.
Well, he told me this around 30 years ago, and his numbers might have been older.
Wisconsin is also the cranberry leader and where Philadelphia cream cheese is made. We’re good at agriculture.
"We’re good at agriculture."
I know. I've visited and seen all the cheese trees. : )
You should visit Ticino, Switzerland in the spring for this harvest.
https://youtu.be/8scpGwbvxvI
We're the top producers of apples in the country (to the tune of 70% of US production). We're not rotten to the core. :)
My fondest memories of Washington is stopping at fruit stands to get fresh peaches, cherries and apricots. Also, ever have Chukar Cherries? Mmmmmmm.
Oh and my daughter was born there.
Oh, those Chukar Cherries...
I miss going to Pike Place. ❤️
Here in Washington, we sing this...
https://youtu.be/ad0w59lBfXU
Washington, #2..... again. : )
I know. Was just saying...or singing.
Education motto is "do you want fries with that".
https://mediachomp.com/all-50-states-of-the-usa-according-to-a-british-person/
That list is hilarious but I thought Indiana was the best one.
I've long had issues with Christian grabs for public funds. All too often, various religious institutions get massive tax breaks because lawmakers believe they benefit the community - usually in some ill-defined way that never seems to be actually delineated or examined. To be clear, I'm not arguing here that churches and religious institutions never do good things, I'm arguing that too often those institutions are already benefiting from various government-run social programs that everyone else has to pay into to get the same benefits.
Sure, there are plenty of churches around that do 'good works' in that they might run a soup kitchen, or a thrift store (like a Goodwill), or some other form of social safety net type arraignment. However, all those 'good works' come with a price tag: the beneficiary is required to listen to a sermon intended to take advantage of said beneficiary. If the individuals in need don't stay for whatever sermon/service/conversion attempt is made, they don't get whatever they might be in need of. What we have here, then, is convert-or-die lite, since the lack of whatever assistance can quickly become a survival issue.
This sort of transactional arraignment is not by any means in the best interest of society at large, it is intended to ensure that the church holds the power over people's lives. By coming after additional government funds, it can appear that the government is not able to help its own people due to the lack of financial resources. The church then steps in and pretends it can handle the crisis better; but remember that when people are frightened, desperate, and hurting it's easy to look like a savior.
Christians want money and power. We've seen in the past numerous times that when they get either one, they abuse it until forcibly stopped. I'm not seeing anything here that convinces me that's changed.
Both the LDS and the RCC hoard obscene wealth that should go to helping their needy congregants. yet they plead poverty. It's wholly despicable.
Then say taxing their businesses would bankrupt them.
Whereupon I would remind them of the following:
𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑, 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑖𝑡𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓; 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑖𝑡𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐺𝑜𝑑 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑖𝑡, 𝑠𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟, '𝑡𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛, 𝐼 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑒ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑑, 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑒.
-- Benjamin Franklin
Beat ya to it by 9 hours. :)
😝😝😝
What was the name of that state again? Iduno?
I(idiot)aho
Whoops, meant "I(diot)aho." I am not an "iidiot." *smiles*
Once again, a segment of American capitalism that does not participate in our system of tax to give and take to pay for what our country needs now wants to participate only in the taking part. When the churches PAY taxes, maybe we can talk about them receiving tax funds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E9uIKg-yzo
Hehe
Moms for Devil’s Threesomes and Moms for Five-Finger Discounts.
(stolen from YouTube comments)
Apparently she only follows the 8 Commandments. Numbers 8 and 10 are conspicuously missing from her set.
https://www.momsforliberties.com/
A parody account
If this group want to be à la page it should change its name for "Moms for libertines" 😁
Yet again, we must look to the wisdom of Key Founding Father Benjamin Franklin on this matter:
"When a Religion is good, I conceive that it will support itself; and when it cannot support itself, and God does not take care to support, so that its Professors are oblig'd to call for the help of the Civil Power, 'tis a Sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one."
-- Franklin, in a letter to Richard Price dated 9 October 1780
Franklin knew a bad religion when he saw one.
I said, what does God need with funding anyway?
Jim!
Look, his son had a thriving winery, you would think Daddy er himself er themselves could do it out of pocket.
Winery? I thought it was a carpentry shop! 😁
That's the side hustle. Wine is where the Lucre is. Do you know how much the Romans drowned themselves in that stuff?
"it’s that a nearly identical resolution was proposed last year… but failed to make it out of the Senate State Affairs Committee. That’s largely because lawmakers didn’t want to open the door to certain religious groups demanding taxpayer dollars:"
Or the wrong christian sects https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/religious-beliefs-in-idaho.html
Back in the days so many fondly remember as being so much better than things are today, the courts would have struck this law down in a heartbeat. Who knows today when our courts are populated with judges with religious axes to grind. Conservative Christians simply cannot stop demanding their sense of privilege be written into law. No religious school or institution should get one cent of public money for any reason. Money given to religious schools, is money taken away from the public schools that are the backbone of education in this country.
I get Social Security because I paid taxes into the system. I get Medicare because I paid taxes into the system. It’s taken years. Religious organizations pay diddly/squat. You get what you pay for.
What. You. Said!
This is so wrong and unconstitutional; it must be stopped at the federal level.
I'm pessimistic. They packed the courts with their stooges, for just such an occassion.
Screw it! It's Idaho, Jack. We've got our own problems.