Taxes

The IRS is at it again. They are investigating a parish in California where a priest's sermon, directly before the last general election was seen as an endorsement of Al. Gore. There is precedent for this, the "black church" was threatened over tax status during the civil rights era and conservative communities in liberal States can talk about the same thing.

I think we need to consider a new tax code.

• Define, "charitable" activity, feeding the poor, runing shelters, clinics, etc.
• Permit churches to determine the percentage of their budgets going to such activity.
• Make that percentage the deductable for contributors.
• Require that property taxes and other levies be similarly adjusted.
• Let the preaching fall where it may.

The advantages are obvious to me. The churches are free to practice religion, the government creates an incentive for specific charitable activity that benefits society. The IRS looses some power, which I consider a benefit.