The following exchange is from Dialogue Group 14, Thread 6.

1. If you were asked to run in the next election
Sun, Jan 17, 1999 - 1:08 AM/EST
BruceD

Hey folks,

This might be something to look at, trying to come up with our own ideas of what our next president ought to run his/her campaign on. Let's have a little fun with it and say we were asked to run for President in the next election. What would you be saying to the voters?

Don't forget, we just had an impeachment trial for the first time in well over a century, so that might have some bearing on your "campaign."

3. geeee...hmmm
Sun, Jan 17, 1999 - 4:05 PM/EST
incogNITA...

I am a single mother and according to some, personally responsible for the breakdown of the family and moral fiber of this nation.

I don't think they'll be asking me to run for office...=^..^=

7. IF if were a skiff...
Mon, Jan 18, 1999 - /EST
ojogrl

I'd have a yacht. But just for the sake of fantasy
I'll indulge a bit here. My platform would be
simple:
1. I'd end corporate welfare

2. Tax the churches

And Jb2, you are right on. The very process
involved in getting to national office requires
one to sell out or they won't make it. So after
all that when someone finally gets that kind of
power and then goes for the perks (sex, money, sex
and money) the public is aghast and
self-righteous. Hence the maxim "power corrupts
and absolute power corrupts abs

8. The other way around....
Mon, Jan 18, 1999 - 1:09 AM/EST
BruceD

ojogirl,

Actually, if you did some checking around, you'd probably find that churches et al are doing much more of the "real" welfare work than any government agency is doing. About all the government does is hand out money....

Point of fact - in the early 80's the mayor of El Paso created an ad hoc committee to study the homeless problem there, and found that 80% of the services provided to the homeless were provided by the churches and ministries. Interesting, no?

So I'd say don't tax the churches, but rather stop all the other stuff the government is wasting money on and give it to the churches to help out the people they're working with already. After all, that's what the churches are supposed to be doing, have been doing for years and years, and they're pretty expert at it by this time.

I've always had this idea that the government could cut a whole lot of taxes by simply doing this. Imagine, instead of paying a huge pile of taxes, just cut the government's part out of the whole welfare system and let the churches take care of it, just like they've been doing for years. Then, with the money people save on taxes, they could also get another break by donating it to the churches. I don't know how things are where you're at, but I can say this - out here, just about every ministry going is strapped for cash. I know; I work for one, and it's a constant struggle just to get enough money in to pay the bills every month. And you want to tax the little bit we have to work with now?!?

9. lissen...
Mon, Jan 18, 1999 - 2:43 AM/EST
incogNITA...

I don't much cotton to religion but, I will agree with Bruce that church-type groups do a lot of hard work to help the downtrodden. Actually, it was through a bleeding-heart-liberal Peace organization that I got to see first hand how much at least, the Catholic Church helps.

I also agree that the Welfare system is not working well in it's many incarnations.

I suppose what I want to ask is, WHY?

Why is it so wrong for the Goverment to help people that fall down, to get back up again? We expect our Goverment to pave our roads, light our homes, deliver our mail and defend us against enemies. Why can't it assist those who may never make it? Where do we cut off assistance? Do we let paraplegics forever stay at the bottom of the stairs and off the buses? Do we let the old, just eat cat food and die? Do we allow children go uneducated, hungry and uninsured because their parents aren't making enough money? I thought this was America?

This is still the bestest damned Country in the world. We have enough to go around and we blame a miniscule group of people known as the poor for sucking the blood out of our Treasury when we know damned well that if we look through the double-speak and straight for the BLOAT, it's all tied up in "Committee this" or "Table that" and "Let's do a study!"

13. Taxes to the Churches
Mon, Jan 18, 1999 - 1:11 PM/EST
Chipmunk

BruceD
Are you suggesting that the government should take the public's tax money, and give it to the churches? Personally, I find that idea very distasteful. While I understand the reasoning that churches do much in the way of public service, I don't think any citizen should be required to support a religion in which he or she does not believe.