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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Damien Broderick" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:thespike@satx.rr.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>thespike@satx.rr.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> Unfortunately I failed to read the full
covering text in time and hastily <BR>> used the SACRED PAPER ITEM for an
entirely different purpose, which I fear <BR>> might preclude returning it to
the church through the UNITED STATES MAILS <BR>> for CLEANSING and spiritual
RE-CHARGING.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Well, at least you applied our tax
dollars towards something useful!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Marie Alena Castle (from the Atheist Alliance, an
organization the government has *not deemed fit to call a religion* and,
therefore, which organization isn't qualified to get all the free
goodies enjoyed by other religious organizations ... why, I don't
believe it ever occurred to those dumb infidels to call themselves a
religion!) has written (excerpted):</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><EM>COST #1.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>RELIGION PROSPERS
FROM YOUR MONEY.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The wall
separating state and church is full of pass-throughs.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Who do you think makes up the revenue
shortfall caused by religious tax exemptions?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You do!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you own or rent any property,
residential or com<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:PersonName>me</st1:PersonName>rcial, the property taxes are several
hundred dollars higher than if religious property, worth billions of dollars,
was also taxed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You pay more,
because they pay nothing.<BR></EM></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><EM>IRS
estimates of money that accrues to religion in exemptions, subsidies and
donations is over $170 billion a year – just to promote religious
fantasies!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s over $2 billion a
year per state on average.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Think
what a truly secular society could do with that!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lower our taxes substantially, fix our
roads and bridges, improve our schools, rebuild deteriorating
neighborhoods.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And if you think
religious charitable works are paid for by religious institutions, think
again.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Anything significant they do
is funded by the govern<st1:PersonName>me</st1:PersonName>nt.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><EM>It is
always extre<st1:PersonName>me</st1:PersonName>ly difficult politically for
govern<st1:PersonName>me</st1:PersonName>nts to find a compelling reason to deny
religion whatever it wants.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you
own a business and want to expand, you must abide by zoning laws designed to
preserve neighborhood values.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Not
so for religious institutions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They
can expand as it pleases them, adding to traffic congestion and noise,
restricting views, destroying historic preservation areas and generally
enhancing their interests at the expense of everyone else’s.</EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><EM>Now,
here’s a low blow.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you lend
money to religionists who then declare bankruptcy, the money they tithe to their
church cannot be touched to help repay you.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The church gets its tithes while you get
the shaft.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s the law. [end
excerpt]</EM></P></DIV></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You know, if I were a
free-stater/out-and-out-libertarian, why ... I would holler to the rafters
about how religions (all except for the atheist religions) are diverting so much
in the way of resources and sucking off so much in the way of taxes from us
poor working stiffs. And the discrimination doesn't stop there,
as atheist serfs have to pay double duty - (1) for not being
recognized as a "religion"; and (2) for being taxed to benefit the
"legitimate" religions. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I tell ya' ... it's unmitigated bigotry
</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>;-((</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Olga</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
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