Americans will never allow Bernie & Liz to stomp on our freedoms

Albion said:

Have you paid much attention to the votes in Congress? No matter what issue it is, the number of Democrats who do not vote with the Democrats are nil.

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Are you referencing the House vote on Impeachment ?

Jonathan Walkerin said:

From IRS

Exemption Requirements - 501(c)(3) Organizations | Internal Revenue Service

"To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates."

So if gay marriage is legal and this seems to be the case.

Same-sex marriage in the United States - Wikipedia

Churches opposing gay marriage could be seen to be "an action organization" as meant in section 501(c)(3)

I do not really see this as "restricting religious freedom"

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Okay. Preaching on sin (clearly stated in the Bible) is different than political activism (i.e. "don't vote for")

And of course, this is only applicable to the Pastor of a church during Sermons or Sunday school service, or to anything church funds might be paying for.

Any member of a church (pastor included outside of the church setting) can engage in political activism (in their free time as citizens) whether for or against any political matter so long as the tax exempt church isn't funding it (i.e. paying for advertising) however, many pastors have income that is not tax exempt - such as books they wrote which have been published and are generating income, and they can use their taxable income to pay for anything they might like (making a political advertisement).

So yes, when you get into telling a church they can't preach what the Bible teaches, it to have the state interfere with people's religious freedoms.

All a tax exempt status covers is whether a church can engage in political activism, and preaching about sin is not being politically active. Gossip is a sin, and in church people tell you it's a sin. It's perfectly legal to gossip, there's no jail time for gossiping, it's a moral issue and the church speaks about upholding a certain morality as Christians.

If it's not political activism to speak ill of gossip, then it's not political activism to speak ill of any other stated sin in the Bible, regardless of whether or not it's anyone's "pet" sin.

When the government decides what moral issues can be preached on from the pulpit, it has removed religious freedom from its citizenry.

Norbert L said:

I do know that at one time he stated to CNN host Don Lemon that churches who oppose gay marriage will lose their tax exempt status.

Beto O'Rourke: Churches That Oppose Same-Sex Marriage Should Lose Tax-Exempt Status

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...I didn't know having a tax exemption was a religious right.
tulc(isn't sure that's true)

Charlie24 said:

(snip) But I believe the far left will have something to do with it.

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True, they'll probably be the scapegoat the far right uses as an excuse to restrict peoples rights, you know just to "protect our people from their evil ways, we have to strip your rights from you, temporarily of course, just till we get them under control." It's why the Republican Party preach's fear so much, frightened people are easier to control and manipulate.
tulc(might point out that's how President Trump got elected)

Mountainmanbob said:

..... In 2019, even as Democrat presidential hopefuls Sanders and Warren rallied millions to their cause, wagging their fingers over income inequality and railing about the downtrodden middle class, Americans walked away from their message by becoming – shockingly – more conservative. 

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Only in America would the runner up in the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election be rewarded with the keys to the White House!

Whatever the merits of the Electoral College, what can one say about a system that tells 3 million American voters that they should have saved their time and effort and remained home rather than casting their ballots?

jgarden said:

Only in America would the runner up in the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election be rewarded with the keys to the White House!

Whatever the merits of the Electoral College, what can one say about a system that tells 3 million American voters that they should have saved their time and effort and remained home rather than casting their ballots?

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You could tell them the fathers of our Constitution foresaw that a handful of states could control the presidency. So both the republicans and democrats agreed to this.

They lost fair and square, what else can you tell them?

Charlie24 said:

You could tell them the fathers of our Constitution foresaw that a handful of states could control the presidency. So both the republicans and democrats agreed to this.

They lost fair and square, what else can you tell them?

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The Fathers of our Constitution also allowed for the preservation of slavery - if it was considered "fair and square" then, does that mean we are now bound to live with their decision!

jgarden said:

Only in America would the runner up in the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election be rewarded with the keys to the White House!

Whatever the merits of the Electoral College, what can one say about a system that tells 3 million American voters that they should have saved their time and effort and remained home rather than casting their ballots?

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And that runner up (and draft dodger) has spent the last four and a half years politically pandering to the Christian Right. He has become fluent in Christianese and he knows exactly how to keep his voting base happily appeased. He reminds me of the Pied Piper in a way because he knows what melody to play to persuade people into following him. Unfortunately, he plays other people like a fiddle. He is a shrewd man and he'll manipulate people to his own personal, professional, and political advantage.

jgarden said:

The Fathers of our Constitution also allowed for the preservation of slavery - if it was considered "fair and square" then, does that mean we are now bound to live with their decision!

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You can always call your Rep and suggest he make a motion to change the Constitution because you don't like it!

Charlie24 said:

You can always call your Rep and suggest he make a motion to change the Constitution because you don't like it!

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The Republicans will never allow the Electoral College to be repealed, because in the last 20 years it overrode the popular vote twice and placed the GOP candidate in the White House!

With the increase in the visible minorities in America, the Republicans `are always in the market for ways of undermining the popular vote!

jgarden said:

The Republicans will never allow the Electoral College to be repealed, because in the last 20 years it overrode the popular vote twice and placed the GOP candidate in the White House!

With the increase in the visible minorities in America, the Republicans `are always in the market for ways of undermining the popular vote!

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The Republicans just want all of the states to have a say on a level platform.

Just as as our forefathers wanted!

Mountainmanbob said:

In 2019, even as Democrat presidential hopefuls Sanders and Warren rallied millions to their cause, wagging their fingers over income inequality and railing about the downtrodden middle class, Americans walked away from their message by becoming – shockingly – more conservative. 

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Well, let's take a look...

Since 2010, the percentage of Americans saying government should do more to solve the country's problems has increased 11 percentage points, to 47%, and the percentage wanting government to take active steps to improve people's lives is up eight points, to 42%. Gallup also finds a nine-point increase -- to 25% -- in the percentage who would prefer to have more government services and higher taxes rather than the alternatives of less government services and less taxes, or no change to the current balance.


These trends offer a mixed picture on perceptions of government regulation of business, one of the core tenets of socialism. On the one hand, a scant 28% say there is too little government regulation, unchanged from 2010. On the other, 53% now agree with the statement that business will harm society if it is not regulated, up from 45% saying this in 2010.
U.S. Support for More Government Inches Up, but Not for Socialism

Doesn't seem very conservative, does it?

Hazelelponi said:

All a tax exempt status covers is whether a church can engage in political activism, and preaching about sin is not being politically active.

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That is bit naive. Say you hear latest news from Trump getting caught cheating his pregnant wife again and next day`s sermon will be from sin of infidelity.

"uh no sir , no political talk here, just talking about sin"

Also how does the church getting away from paying taxes restrict your freedom of religion? They can do pay taxes like everyone else and teach "sin"

If that is what the people supporting the church really want surely they will pay for the priviledge.

tulc said:

...I didn't know having a tax exemption was a religious right.
tulc(isn't sure that's true)

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You know the the expression, the more things change the more they remain the same.

Targeting specific beliefs by the use of tax has already happened in history. In the ancient Muslim world they had a policy called Jizya. Taxes can be used as a punitive measure towards how people are worshipping God. It doesn't matter if it's an exemption or a flat tax, it's hatred against a people who believe that God only condones sexual relations between a man and a women once they're married.

Mountainmanbob said:

Does this guy claim to be a man of faith?
M

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I don't know, one thing is for certain, he's a politician and I believe this kind of election promise shows that it is possible to frame this kind of governmental policy as something that is good when in actuality it's evil and against human rights. 2 Corinthians 11:14

Charlie24 said:

The Republicans just want all of the states to have a say on a level platform.

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Man, if only there was some US governing body where each State had the exact same number of, say Senators as every other State. Wouldn't that be nice? Then maybe another one where each State has representation for how ever many people were in them? But I guess instead we have to have a minority of people who decide for the vast majority of people what's best.

Just as as our forefathers wanted!

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I'm not sure I'm all that interested in what a group of people who were okay with slavery, didn't want women to vote and didn't seem to have a problem exterminating whole tribes of people so they could steal their land wanted here in the 21st century.
tulc(is just sayn')

tulc said:

Man, if only there was some US governing body where each State had the exact same number of, say Senators as every other State. Wouldn't that be nice? Then maybe another one where each State has representation for how ever many people were in them? But I guess instead we have to have a minority of people who decide for the vast majority of people what's best.


I'm not sure I'm all that interested in what a group of people who were okay with slavery, didn't want women to vote and didn't seem to have a problem exterminating whole tribes of people so they could steal their land wanted here in the 21st century.
tulc(is just sayn')

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We all know the DNC wants to change the Constitution. There is a battle happening right now in Va. for the second amendment.

The DNC has many reasons, some you have mentioned, for doing so.

Why is it that it's always the DNC and not the GOP that wants change in the Constitution?

Charlie24 said:

(snip)
Why is it that it's always the DNC and not the GOP that wants change in the Constitution?

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...my guess would be because the Republicans just ignore it when they don't agree with it while the Democrats want to try and keep things legal instead?
tulc(just a guess of course)

tulc said:

...my guess would be because the Republicans just ignore it when they don't agree with it while the Democrats want to try and keep things legal instead?
tulc(just a guess of course)

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tulc said:

...my guess would be because the Republicans just ignore it when they don't agree with it while the Democrats want to try and keep things legal instead?
tulc(just a guess of course)

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It's about power, they will not rest until they have total and complete power over the people.

If they can take our guns it's just a matter of time for them to take that power over the people.

We will not stand for it!!!! Give me liberty or give me death!!!!!