NationStates Jolt Archive


Sacramental Tax Time?

Emperor Matthuis
15-02-2004, 11:23
Emperor Matthuis Decides:
Sacramental Tax Time?

The Issue
Secularists have been urging for the government to impose an income tax on religious organizations in Emperor Matthuis for some time now, and the issue has finally made it's way to the upper levels of the government.

The Debate
Self-appointed civil rights spokesman Falala Jefferson declares, "Churches are business organizations with a large income. It's unfair that they don't have to pay the same taxes that everyone else does. If they really do spend on any money on charity, let them write it off as a deduction just like corporations do. There's no reason that so-called clergy should be chauffeured around in limos tax-free, when we desperately need funds for public works."
[Accept]


"Freedom of conscience is foremost among liberties", says Reverend Billy du Pont. "Churches have been exempted from taxation because it is wrong for the government to infringe on the right of people to worship as they please, and that includes charging them for the right to worship. Besides, churches are non-profit organizations that put all their funds back into the community."
[Accept]


The Honorable Zeke Fellow, Minister of Minding Other People's Business, has an idea: "This religion thing is such a great racket, why don't we make it a government monopoly? We'll ban all religions except the Church of Emperor Matthuis, and make attendance and donations compulsory. I'll start writing the Holy Scriptures right away!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 3.

If you wish, you may simply dismiss this issue.

Issue by: The Meritocracy of Rational Self Interest
Editor: Reploid Productions



Anyone else get this?

I chose option 3
Moontian
15-02-2004, 11:29
lol, that's a funny issue. But I'd like to see an option where religion can be banned, just like China has.
Emperor Matthuis
15-02-2004, 13:59
lol, that's a funny issue. But I'd like to see an option where religion can be banned, just like China has.

It will probably happen in another issue but of course i will not ban it 8)
15-02-2004, 20:05
I need a "WTF? Ban religion!" choice! I had to vote 1st because I couldn't get religion banned. Religion banned should decrease rights and increase intelligence/science, IMO.
Emperor Matthuis
16-02-2004, 11:58
I need a "WTF? Ban religion!" choice! I had to vote 1st because I couldn't get religion banned. Religion banned should decrease rights and increase intelligence/science, IMO.


You can make your governent Atheist and tax religion so that is nearly banning it, it will probably happen...sadly
Western Navascuez
18-02-2004, 04:03
I went for option 2 on this one (I don't believe in taxing churches and state-sponsored religions lean towards corruption IMHO). Now in my nation, televangelists drive around in fancy cars at charity events :wink:
Emperor Matthuis
18-02-2004, 15:07
I went for option 2 on this one (I don't believe in taxing churches and state-sponsored religions lean towards corruption IMHO). Now in my nation, televangelists drive around in fancy cars at charity events :wink:

I'll have a puppet do that then :wink:
TimDauwalter
09-03-2004, 08:57
Did any of your stats visibly change as a result of choosing option 2? Just curious because it's sort of a difficult issue to predict the effects of.
10-03-2004, 11:24
Man, I wish people were atheists for legitimate reasons instead of just thinking they're some kind of "rebels" or something.

It's so annoying seeing people want to ban religion!

If THAT should be an option, then I want the option to ban atheism. >=D

Seriously though, if you're going to be atheist, be an atheist because you don't believe in a higher power, not because you want to brag about how "cool" and "smart" you are. Yeesh.