1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Individuals endangering others by exercising their faith

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Georgina Rudkus, Apr 4, 2020.

  1. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Keep in mind that the NRA and others of similar styles all around the political spectrum, have at least three different legal-financial entities with very different tax statuses. Two of them are explicitly political and not tax exempt.

    Back when I was active on the gun issue, both main sides had this 3-armed structure. The NRA, Handgun Control Inc. (now Brady), and the group formerly known as the National Coalition to Ban Handguns (now CSGV) all had similar structures. The later two have since severely shriveled and been displaced by the Michael Bloomberg-owned family of gun control groups, and I haven't kept track of their structures.

    But most people don't seem to know or care about these legally distinct operational and financial entities. Heck, much of the 'fake news media' uses "NRA" as a generic label for any group or people on the gun rights side, regardless of actual affiliation or lack thereof.
     
    jerrymildred and Trollbait like this.
  2. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Well said. I would have left, too unless it happened in my church right now. Our elders would fire that pastor in a heartbeat. Come to think of it, any church I've been in would have done the same, but since I'm the chairman of the board, I know these guys really well. :D

    Sadly, there are many, many groups like that. They call themselves a church, but they are just a club. And they give the rest of us a bad reputation.
     
    Dxta and Trollbait like this.
  3. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2018
    607
    278
    0
    Location:
    W. Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    What is *not* political in some sense, and an issue on which particular parties or leaders may have differing views? Four or five years ago now, our Archbishop sent a letter, which all pastors were required to read to their congregations, urging us to welcome refugees, including Muslims. Would that not now be seen as an attack on President Trump's policies?
    If I were to preach that all of life is sacred and that therefore both abortion and the death penalty should be outlawed, would that be OK because it is an attack on the prevailing views in *both* the major US political parties and therefore not "partisan"?
     
  4. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2018
    607
    278
    0
    Location:
    W. Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Tax what? Their income? Businesses are not taxed on their income: they are taxed on their profits. Income that is spent on salaries or buildings or office supplies is not taxable profit.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it's kind of funny how a thread about pastors not cancelling church sevices has turned into an economic political debate
     
    jerrymildred and Mendel Leisk like this.
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I was under the distinct impression that pastors not cancelling church services started as a political statement.
     
    Trollbait likes this.
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Businesses are taxed on property too, and not just the real estate.
     
    bwilson4web and jerrymildred like this.
  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yup! When I was supervising electricians and millwrights, the most onerous part of my job was to try to reduce the electrical parts inventory by $300,000 every year. That was to reduce the company's inventory tax burden. I hated that! They kept buying new equipment that didn't use the same electrical parts as what we already were using. Grrrr.

    But that inventory and the property are things that companies use to generate profits. So, businesses get taxed on the things they need to have in order to make a profit and then they get the profit taxed on top of that. Non-profits, by their very nature, do not generate profits. But then again, businesses use money that's built into their price and wage formulas to make the tax payments -- money that comes from customers and employees.

    But I think we really are digressing. However, if we keep up these digressions, we might just solve the problem of world peace. Or not. It's entertaining anyway. :LOL:
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    sorry, i misunderstood the o/p to mean a danger from lack of social distancing, not a lack of tax revenue.
    i guess o/p should have started this thread in fhopol
     
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Yes, I think lack of social distancing is the danger.

    Less of a danger if the pastors in question would be on board with remoting services somehow.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  11. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    OK, now to really stir the pot.

    ANY so called Minister of the Gospel who holds a mass gathering inside any building with total disregard for the
    current recommendations and requirements is:
    A wolf in sheep's clothing.
    A disciple of Satan, not a messenger of God.
    :eek:
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i suppose with enough faith, you might not have anything to worry about. but what about the rest of the people in the building?
     
  13. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    850
    538
    23
    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    lol

    I'm on the side that says the Gov is not your friend. They will - use any excuse available to advance their situation - not yours. Give up a little bit of liberty now and rest assured you'll end up giving up more the next time. So what's their next excuse going to be to prevent you from doing something?

    btw - I'm not religious. I'm a firm believer that when I die, I'm worm food. Nothing more, nothing less. But if religious folks want to gather to worship, then it's their right to do so and I don't feel anyone has the right to tell them otherwise.
     
  14. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2018
    607
    278
    0
    Location:
    W. Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Many people in most countries think their respective governments may not be doing things in the best or most efficient way, but I know of no country besides the USA where so many people view their government as "the enemy." The War of Independence is over; you won; these people you view as "the enemy" are the people you elected.
     
    Trollbait and dubit like this.
  15. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    850
    538
    23
    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Valid point. Doesn't change my point of view however. But never be a sheep and blindly follow. Always be vigilant - cherish your freedoms and never be willing to give up any of them.
     
  16. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't believe you have looked very far.
     
  17. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,600
    8,034
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Wonder how those working in the world's oldest profession are holding up. I'd have asked if they're holding their own, but I don't want to take a visual
    ;)
    .
     
  18. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    I don't understand statements like that.

    Forget the "big bad Government" for a minute. Do you really NOT believe the health care experts who tell us
    what the virus IS and how it spreads ??

    In other countries, there have been documented cases where a large gathering like that has resulted in a localized "hot spot" of infection that affected THOUSANDS of people.

    Too bad that those who insist on being irresponsible and stupid end up being carriers that spreads it to others who are trying to do the responsible thing.
     
  19. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Cherish your freedoms no matter how it affects anyone else is what you mean.

    So damn tired of all the jackass trumpers. No science just the most ridiculous talking points ever seen and now there talking points are killing people.

    Kenneth Copeland ....... I rest my case.
     
  20. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    1,945
    1,785
    0
    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II
    Hmm....so this has not been moved to the "Fred's House of Politics" board yet? :whistle:
     
    #100 farmecologist, Apr 10, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2020
    Mendel Leisk and jerrymildred like this.