Holy War, Part II

On July 17, 2016 I posted an essay on this blog entitled “Holy War?” (see:  http://pennyfound.blogspot.com/2016/07/holy-war.html).  It referenced then candidate Donald Trump’s rather ineptly stated desire to eliminate the tax law otherwise known as the Johnson Amendment. This rule within our Tax Code has been accepted law by both Democrats and Republicans alike for 63 years, and for good reason.

The idea of ending this law was presented to Trump by one of his earliest supporters, Jerry Falwell, Jr. a big potential beneficiary of the change.  I question to this day whether Trump understands the law, but he did understand the positive result of gaining the support of the Christian Right, especially with all his unethical baggage. Everyone was eager to participate in this Faustian deal.

Now a Republican Congress has decided to include in their proposed Tax Bill the removal of this provision from the US Tax Code. Did they do this to appease Trump? If so…why would they? There is nothing about this change in the law that does any good. Its primary effect will be to allow the wealthy to extend their influence over Government at the expense of ordinary taxpayers. Oh yeah…maybe that’s it.

I’d be surprised if one out of fifty people have any idea of what this obscure change, (which comprises only a few lines of a 400+ page Tax Bill) will make to their everyday lives or what their tax dollars are being spent on. I am disappointed and mystified why the Media has been unable to explain this to the general population. 

I am also disgusted that Republicans have so arbitrarily decided to embrace it when they should know better. The Republican Party has become a cancer on this Nation’s well being.

The change will allow 501(c)(3) organizations to openly and proactively support political candidates and political issues. Currently if a such an organization (which includes churches) did such they would lose their 501(c)(3) status. That would mean individuals making contributions to that organization would not be able to deduct those contributions from their individual (or corporate) income taxes.

The result of this change will have the potential of turning every such charitable organization or church into a political lobby. Churches, which are not hard to create in the first place, will come into existence specifically to support a political agenda or candidate. Money will pour into televangelist Churches because of their ability to reach large and vulnerable audiences.

“Jesus forgives his sinners and wants you to vote for Roy Moore. Send us your tax deductable prayer gift of $20 and help us get Roy to the promise land…hallelujah!!”

The salt in the wound is that every such deduction is a reduction of Government revenue. Therefore, a portion of your taxes will essentially be rerouted to support a candidate or issue you may despise or disagree with. For example: Donald Trump, Jr. gives $1000 to the Roy Moore Ministry of Blessed Virgins, but it only costs him $600, since his taxes will be reduced by $400. That’s lost revenue that would have been yours, the American Citizen.

Jerry Falwell, Jr. will be having a multi-week, extended orgasm this Christmas as he contemplates the New Year with his new ability to attract (in essence) political donations for both his televangelist ministry and his Liberty University.  As if this Nation wasn’t divided enough, we might as well start painting our churches red or blue so as not to cause confusion during the “offering”.

Republicans need to be held accountable.

FOLLOW UP - Dec 15

It should be happily noted that in the final reconciliation the Senate removed the provision to repeal the "Johnson Amendment" from the 2017 Tax Bill. Are we seeing some admission by Republicans that the Emperor is bare-assed naked?