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So let churches say whatever they want, time to tax them again. Lets see them sue over that.
N
Thom, there are wolves shepparding the flock, that's what you're talking about. The biggest issue with religion, is the tendacy for it to be taken over by corrupt agents. Its been true from the inception of religion, from the tribal shamen to the leaders of mega churches, its always been, and always will be the case. Corruption and greed will seek out (as PT Barnum would put it) the daily born suckers.
Tis a pity, because religion offers a noble state for humanity, but only so long as it's leaders remain true to its tennants, which eventually is co-opted.
Just like government... but then again, both concepts seek to bend the will of the masses to the will of a select group of people.
N
If half of Roman Catholics don't know that the Eucharist is transmuted to the body and blood of Christ, then I'd say at least half of Roman Catholics didn't attend private Catholic school. Believe me, I went through 12 years of RC school, and by completing the first 8, that was understood. However, to be Catholic you only have to believe dogmatic law, and as far as I remember (I'm sure gerald will correct me if I'm wrong on this) there are only two, both relating to Mary. Mary was born without sin, and she was virgin when impregnated with Jesus.
But anyway, does it really matter, its like knowing trivia of your favorite movie genre. You don't have to know everything about it, to know you like it.
N
So perhaps the senate could censure DeMinted.
N
Creeping police state! More like, full-tilt-boogie police state. Even Obama can't seem to get enough of it.
Creeping Police State?
Let's take a look back, something that the present occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave is loath to do:
Civil Rights Photographer Unmasked as Informer
-------
Thurgood Marshall Had Secret Contact With FBI:
Files Show Relationship Dated to Civil Rights Days
By Roberto Suro
Washington Post Staff Writer
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Er, I could make a more exhaustive survey, certainly, but the point I wanted to make is that this is not creeping, This is a part and regular practice of the US Empire and National Security State. The Obama Administration, which Thom insists that we must support, if for no other reason than to swing the SCOTUS has been systematically and consistently using the DoJ to promote the agenda of permanent warfare. It is a continuation of past practice rather than a creeping police state. But it is CREEPY and I denounce it as fervently as I denounced the Bushco illegalities. But it is to be expected from an administration that refuses to look back, maintains the fiction of American Exceptionalism and continues the bloodletting unabated.
Out damn spot? Nay that stain remains...
Nelson, I agree. I didn't quite phrase my statement properly. I meant that liberals want rich people to use their money to help everybody else, because RICH people get their money from everybody else. In other words they get it off the work of others.
Stopgap: Off topic, but I'll answer.
Forbes reported that the top 400 income earners paid an effective rate ...of just under 17 percent. And those who made between $1 and $5 million paid 24 percent. Heck the business man who makes $100,000 also pays 15 percent self-employment tax (that goes away at around $110,000) per year plus that puts them in the 28 percent federal bracket and 10 percent state bracket (where I live). So this guy is taxed at 53 percent for each additional dollar earned. Its about fairness, not some kind of class-envy. We have a trillion dollar-plus deficit. For me, the bottom line is that if we don't find a way to level things out over time, we kill the middle class. Without a middle class, its hard to get rich -- unless you inherit the money. Supporting the middle class allows guys like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to get rich in the first place.
Gandhi: Seven Blunders of the World
· Wealth without work
· Pleasure without conscience
· Knowledge without character
· Commerce without morality
· Science without humanity
· Worship without sacrifice
· Politics without principle
**Reflection of the Week** "The obligation to provide justice for all means that the poor have the single most urgent economic claim on the conscience of the nation."- Economic Justice for All, #86
Our nation was founded on predatory capitalism. We must move away from predatory capitalism and embrace responsible and spiritual capitalism.
@Maxrot, no country will dissolve their military because every thing starts with basic trust. If a country cannot trust another nation, it will not phase out the military. The United States of Satan's Disciples has had a history of people not trusting our country. Let me ask you the question, "How would you go about dissolving the military in our country and in other countries?" Thank you for your input in this dialogue.
I realize this is off the topic, but the answer to why liberals want to use rich peoples money to help with everybody else's problems. Is that they get their money from everybody else. They don't just create it in an vacuum.
gerald, there's nice sentiment there, but you kind of completely avoided the question to your statement of dimantling the military.
I don't particularly like the police department either when I hear of them practicing brutal and oppresive methods. Based on the feeling, heck I might want them disolved, until I'm mugged, or violently attacked, or... well you get the point.
Having such organizations are not the problem, it is how they are allowed to act that is the issue. There are several functions both perform for a modern society, and just cutting them out is, well seems to me to be severly short-sighted and impractical.
N
@Maxrot, there are no simplistic ways to dismantle all the military in the world. America talks about nuclear arms reduction and yet our nuclear arsenal expands. Thom has his ideas that he has shared with us. I have shared some articles with you. Here is my plan for a BETTER WORLD. I believe this plan is our only hope for survival as a people and as a planet.
A Brief and Yet Powerful Formula
I want to give you a brief and yet powerful formula for justice and peace in our world.
Live each day practicing the Golden Rule! “Do unto to others as you would want them to do unto you!”
Obey the Eleventh Commandment that Jesus gave us at the Last Supper! “Love one another as I have loved you!”
Seek Sacramental Moments (good deeds) each day in helping people!
“Love the poor and your life will be filled with sunlight and you will not fear the hour of death.” - St. Vincent DePaul, the first social worker
“I shall pass this way but once, any good that I can do let me do it now, because I shall not pass this way again.” – St. Ambrose
First the fans of Islam are asked to step up to the plate in opposition to militant Islamic ideology but when they do step up and advertise Islam as a discipline of peace they are accused of grand standing for Osama because Osama proclaims to be a Muslim regardless of any devisions of interpretation of the Koran. Not much to celebrate here.
gerald?
Dismantle our military or all military organizations around the world?
'Cause dimantling just ours, does nothing but allow our country to be overran by whichever country wishes to.
Dismantling all around the world, well that was the concept of the League of Nations, never happend though.
Do you have a plan, or just a desire?
N
We must dismantle the military or we face doom and gloom for the next one hundred years.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/Dismantle-the-empire--or-by-Jim-Miles-100926-435.html
flowtron9, I simply believe that the tax rate, minimum wage, capital gains, and corporate taxes should all be figured based on the Median Income as it changes year to year. Its keeps everything fair, and up to date. I know that Median Income changes its average from state to state, so that should be taken into account, and I know loop holes will crop up with corporations, but its a start, its simple and straightforward.
N
I love this, Maxrot! It flies as far as i can see.
Yay, Thom! You are needed in DC. You are the true intellectual heavyweight for progressives. You are a sane, intelligent, classy, advocate for liberals (Kind of like the counterpart to Michael Medved, but you are even nicer than he is)
Louise is one lucky lady....I only can hope to find a man as handsome and enlightened as you....though I am sure she is pretty special since you married her.
Best of luck, have a safe move, and cannot wait to hear you from DC!
ILLUSTRIOUS DUNDERHEADS quotes:
"I know that our people hate everything that Hitler stands for, we despise dictatorship in any form, but I challenge anyone to tell us the difference between the Executive Orders issued by Roosevelt and those issued by Hitler..." George Bender, (R) Ohio 9/26/40
"When are we going to get rid of Churchill and stop fighting England's wars?...If our President's leadership is failing us in this war, what can we do about it?" Fred Bradley (R) Mich 2/18/42 - 2 months after Pearl Harbor!
"...We often hear it said that we should get into this war to preserve our civilization. That is not what these people mean at all. We should get into this war to save the money system of England and the U.S." Usher Burdick (R) ND
"I don't know what you think of Lindbergh or his judgement; but personally, I believe he is the one man who told the world the truth from the very beginning of the trouble in Europe...For his loyalty he is called a traitor." Frank Carlson (R) TX
Protectionism China Imposes a Steep Tariff on U.S. PoultryBy KEITH BRADSHER
Published: September 26, 2010
HONG KONG — Days after it flexed its economic muscle in a diplomatic dispute with Japan, Chinacontinued to display a more assertive international economic policy on Sunday as it imposed steep tariffs on poultry imports from the United States.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/business/global/27yuan.html
Capital gains tax rate 1916-1997.
http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/TaxTimeline.htm#income
Maybe for now, it's better for Obama to do nothing about protectionism. So long as state governors are practicing America first purchasing, its win win for Obama and America. China can bitch up and down that America is being protective, but Obama can reply, "no America isn't formally doing any such thing, State Governments have the right to do business with whomever they want." China can't singularily target individual states for retaliation, because materials can be brought into "China Friendly" states, then shipped to "non-China Friendly" states.
It sounds like a good start. Maybe, America will remember that we are States United in a common cause, and if the individual States start to move in one direction, then once the tipping point is reached, the whole country will move that direction too. Sounds democratic to me (and natural too... geeky science alert).
N
now -- today -- let's give it up for all our leaders --
social, political, religious, military, etc --
where there is Loving-Kindness + Non-Injury --
let there be Leadership --
where there are Leaders --
let them know Loving-Kindness + Non-Injury --
when Leaders speak --
let them speak of Loving-Kindness + Non-Injury --
thank-you for your consideration --
GRATEFULLY EVERYTHING CHANGES --
with so many options