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Christianity Today, May, 2009 |

WHERE WE STAND

More Giving, Less Taxing

President Obama's tax plan will hurt the very people he's trying to help.

A Christianity Today editorial | posted 5/14/2009 08:54AM

In recent weeks, Congress has been putting the brakes on President Obama's plan to raise an additional $318 billion in taxes to pay for the 2010 federal budget. Aside from the federal budget's mind-blowing ...

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Mark	Posted: May 21, 2009 10:55 AM

Are you people ever going to realize(admit) we have, and apparently still are, in bed with the wealthy corporate interest in this country. We've been duped and you seem not to even notice, care or even understand. If you don't have the courage to read what the OT Prophets or Jesus had to say about money, the poor or society in general then at least read a book. I suggest "What's the matter with Kansas" for a start.....shame on us!

cjohn

Posted: May 16, 2009 4:29 PM

I agree with you here. I voted for the president, but I think this would be bad move on so many counts and I am glad to see that the NAE and other groups are notifying the president. We definitely do not want to discourage charitable giving. Not only that, but this seems to be another indication that the president needs to be more forthcoming about how difficult it is going to be to fund universal health care.

Mark Brander

Posted: May 16, 2009 3:44 PM

Prophecy Alert! The Judgment Of America! This Bulletin Contains Very Recent Prophecies Regarding God’s Pending Judgments Upon America And The Revelation Of The Antichrist! Contrary to what some would have us believe, God has not changed His ways. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is still speaking through His prophets. The messages and warnings from God’s true prophets are usually stern and no-nonsense, they warn of His judgments and call us to repent of sin. They can be very sobering and overwhelming at times. Linda Newkirk is not the only prophet who has been issuing judgment and tribulation warnings for America. A few of David Terrell’s powerful end-time prophecies have been recently posted at prophetdavidterrell.blogspot.com. and also on youtube. David terrell’s work in India has converted millions to Christianity. Also see the ‘prophecy’ link at the Steve Quayle website. Steve has posted some very serious warnings for America that have been given to

JTG	Posted: May 15, 2009 8:28 PM


Nice piece. And John, the editorial is in-sync with CT's usual point-of-view, so I'm not sure what you mean. Also, I didn't vote for Obama, but what exactly do you think is Marxist about his agenda? (I did have a Marxist tell me that Obama is just another corporate lackey)

RandyT

Posted: May 14, 2009 9:48 PM

So John, Obama is not in "agreement with God's law?" Which law is that? The ones you obey 100% so you don't need Christ? Have you ever professed in front of millions "Jesus died for my sins?" Obama did during the interview at Saddleback Church - view the interviews on youtube and you will find that profession of faith. It is not up to us to decide if Obama, Bush or you or me are in agreement with God's law. For many of the years this article covers the very rich could have a "friend" start a charitable organization. The rich could then give say a few 100 million to that organization. A year later the organization could dissolve, and any money left over returned to the orginal donor who would not be requred to pay taxes on that money. It was a scam. Loop holes in the tax system are built for the very rich, including charitable giving rules.

JustSomeKingdomDude

Posted: May 14, 2009 5:52 PM


What law of God are you talking about, John?

Dale Fincher

Posted: May 14, 2009 4:46 PM

Thanks for keeping this issue in the public eye. It might actually be considered unjust to target the so-called 'wealthy' with paying more taxes. It is always hard for the majority to see their prejudices of the minority. I posted a three-part series on the topic on government soul. If we can't trust our govt to wage war well, how can we trust them to spend our tax money well. (I'm obviously for smaller govt and empowering humans, not institutions). http://dalefincher.blogspot.com/2009/03/government-soul-t axing-generosity.html

John	Posted: May 14, 2009 3:05 PM

Congratulations on getting a clue. A few more and you at CT and other Obama followers might recognize reality. Obama is not in agreement with God's law, in what has been understood for centuries as natural law or what is revealed in His Word and in Jesus Christ. What wasn't clear from the beginning about Obama's consistent record of Chicago style dirty politics and his neoMarxist agenda? Is it becoming more evident that this is his belief, that he is deceived and a deceiver? It is just as much banal in nature as a conspiracy.

proof reader

Posted: May 14, 2009 2:14 PM


"In recent weeks, Congress has been putting the breaks on President Obama's plan to raise an additional $318 billion in taxes to pay for the 2010 federal budget." Breaks? Or brakes?

Adam S

Posted: May 14, 2009 1:11 PM

Couple problems with your suggestions. One, there was already a significant change to the 990s (non-profit organization tax returns). These new returns will require a significant additional disclosures and probably will give the info that you are requesting, but they will do it by significantly increase the amount of time required to administrate an organization. Much of the benefit that non-profits have over government (if there really is any) comes because of lower administrative costs. And the way you keep lower administrative costs is by limiting their governmental requirements. Second problem, in your own article you say that 60% of household do not itemize. So that means that 60% of household receive no tax benefit from their giving. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that 62% of all non-profit giving comes from non-itemized giving. Those that would be affected are 1.2% of household, that give 20% of non-profit giving but they make 27% of all income.

profschiler

Posted: May 14, 2009 12:22 PM

The "rich get more benefit" argument is hypocritical. They get "more benefit" because their tax rate is higher. The deduction should be a deduction: it is money that does not go to the taxpayer. How then can we tax it for some and not for others? Have we lost all sense of honesty? If you want to close a loophole, quite letting people deduct the "value" of artwork donated to a museum. It cost them a few dollars, it appreciates in value absurdly, it gets deducted at the high value, and it provides nothing to the needs of the poor or any other real charitable function.

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