English communities secretary, Eric Pickles, has proposed that the government may want to withdraw tax breaks for the Church of Scientology — noting controversies over the Church’s activities and alluding to the general view in England that it is more of a cult than a religion.
Scientology is not treated as a religion in England but still receives financial benefits as a charity. In 1984, the organization was described as a cult by a high court judge.
Yet, the City of London Corporation has asked Scientology to pay only one-fifth of the tax rates for its London headquarters near St Paul’s cathedral.
Pickles questioned whether Scientology can be described as beneficial for society to justify the saving of millions in tax payments: “The Church of Scientology is not a registered charity, since the Charity Commission has ruled that it does not provide a public benefit. Nor are its premises a recognised place of worship.”
Indeed, in 1999, the Charity Commission ruled that the church did not pass the “public benefit” test required for advancing religion as a charitable purpose. He also cited the negative views of Scientology by a majority of English citizens.
I am not familiar with English law on the subject but such a basis for rescinding tax exemption would be rejected in the United States – particularly the unpopularity of the Church with the majority of citizens. Such a test would invite a dangerous level of subjectivity and majoritarian control in the denial of benefits.
Source: Guardian
Buddha: “Burnett’s been spotty to say the least.”
He’s been f’n awful.
Swarthmore mom: “Ranger’s fan here. Glad they are starting Burnett.”
I’m sure the schadenfreude must be delicious.
Swarthmore mom: “Thought it was over for the Rangers Friday night but I was wrong.”
Oh happy day!
Back to the Mortgage mess, this just in.
The New York Federal Reserve Bank is part of a consortium of eight large institutional investment firms that is demanding that Bank of America repurchase loans included in mortgage securities.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/39745128
We’ve already seen B of A get devalued this week. This should drive them to foreclosure, unless we bail them out again. How much did they get first go around?
@Buddha: Only an entirely different matter to you. You are precisely like Christine O’Donnell with the unfounded rumors about Castle being gay. It goes something like this:
“I think it is terrible to spread the rumor Mike Castle is gay. I don’t know that Mike Castle is gay. As far as I know, Mike Castle has never said he is gay. It is an inappropriate tactic to attack Mike Castle for being gay, I certainly would never call Mike Castle gay.”
You endorse that slander by constantly repeating the accusation.
But that’s okay. I understand it is your hypocritical nature to condemn me for being rude and then constantly do it yourself. I understand you find politeness more important than truth, and you only extend freedom of speech and the benefit of the doubt to the people you personally find acceptable.
I am not playing defense at all, you are a hack with an inflated sense of self-importance in this “community” and trying to act as a self-appointed gatekeeper to keep the impolite barbarian out. I am engaging in conversation; it is you pounding on the desk demanding I mind my manners. It is you trying to marginalize me.
Well, enjoy your little tantrum. I will respond to facts. The most recent actual, fact-based argument was provided by Swarthmore Mom. Not you, you petulant little crybaby.
(How’d I do? Was that insulting enough? I can recalibrate if you want more or less, feel free to provide feedback.)
Here’s the GOP attack Ad
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/124773-nrsc-targets-harry-reid-for-living-at-the-ritz
Ok SW MOM
Latest attack Ad by Angle.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1010/Angle_Supermodels.html?showall
Bob
Bdaman 1, October 19, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Gyges,
Considering Peter was a fisherman and probably illiterate, I’m guessing his Greek was pretty bad … maybe he was a savant …
Tony C.
1, October 19, 2010 at 4:11 pm
@bdaman, Blouise: It’s a free country, believe what you want. Just don’t try to force me to behave as you want.
==========================================================
As long as you give the benefit of the doubt to Kucinich I don’t care how you behave … even if you don’t give the benefit of the doubt to Kucinich I don’t care how you behave … unless of course you decide to become a teabagger then I’m going to throw you in the Boston Harbor to steep awhile.
Thought it was over for the Rangers Friday night but I was wrong.
Ranger’s fan here. Glad they are starting Burnett.
Bob,
Burnett’s been spotty to say the least.
And on a completely different note, it is my opinion that letting A.J. Burnett start in tonight’s game is as wrong as a turtle fu(king a rock.
And that’s all I have to say about that.
Bdaman’s post didn’t have video.
Tony,
For someone who puts premises into other’s statements, you’re running an awful lot of defense. Such a naughty habit. You managed to get called out as a troll all by your lonesome there, sport. Me pushing your buttons over it is an entirely separate phenomena. My involvement is after the fact.
Christine O’Donnell: “Where in the Constitution is the Separation of Church and State?”
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020015-503544.html
@bdaman, Blouise: It’s a free country, believe what you want. Just don’t try to force me to behave as you want.
@Buddha: Just to get this straight, the game we play now is you make unfounded accusations impugning my character and motives, I do the same for you, and thereby we entertain each other?
Oh I don’t care about her one bit. You should know me by now. I’m just linking to articles.
From Huffington Post
Joe Miller’s Alaskan Militia
By Shannyn Moore
Posted: October 18, 2010
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/joe-millers-militia_b_766092.html
Excerpt:
Fast forward to July 4, 2010 — US Senate candidate Joe Miller’s supporters marched with assault rifles and campaign signs.
The Alaska Dispatch has been doggedly pursuing a story on why Joe Miller lost his job several months after the attempted takeover encouraged by then-governor Sarah Palin. All indicators point toward Miller using the computer resources of his employer, the Fairbanks North Star Borough, to rig some sort of vote, and then clearing out the cache to conceal that fact.
On Sunday, Joe Miller, candidate for US Senate, held a town hall meeting at a middle school in Anchorage. When asked about illegal immigration, Miller offered up: Build a wall! “If the East Germans could do it, so can we!”
Really? The Stasi? I know Palin said we could see Russia from Alaska, but East Germany is pushing it.
Tony Hopfinger, editor at the Alaska Dispatch and host of a US Senate debate scheduled for Monday evening, followed Joe Miller into the hallway after the debate to ask additional questions. At a press conference last week, Miller announced he would no longer be taking questions about his past, but has continued advertising his past accomplishments; military combat service, Yale Law School, federal magistrate, etc.
According to Hopfinger:
1. Hopfinger had been trying to ask Miller questions when two or three guards told him to leave or risk being charged with trespassing.
2. When Hopfinger continued to try to ask questions, one of the guards put the reporter in an arm-bar and then handcuffed him.
3. Hopfinger was released after police arrived.
4. The reporter was on public property where a public event was being held at the time of the incident.
5. Miller has been adamant about his desire to avoid talking to the Alaska media, but no one in the working press in Alaska has ever before seen a candidate go to this length to avoid questions.
It is bizarre enough to have a reporter “arrested” by private security, but those of us who drive past The Drop Zone, the business behind Miller’s security, every day aren’t surprised by their over-reach or connection to Joe Miller.
The only thing more extreme than the weather and wildlife in Alaska is the politics. The Drop Zone was a sponsor of Palin apologist and former radio host, Eddie Burke. The DZ bragged to patrons about their security squad being littered with former Blackwater operatives. Not disclosing full names and a preference for cash transactions were commonplace. A poster of President Obama as the Joker hangs in their front window.
Forget it bdaman. O’Donnell is finished. Move on to Angle. She is still ahead. I think O’Donnell is helping Sestak get back in the race.
Blouise,
Eh, like I said, I’m a disinterested observer. I just remembered Peter (I believe) referring to Jesus as the Christ before the crucifixion. Of course, one might safely assume that he probably wouldn’t be speaking Greek, so… Of course, it’s also an edited translation of an edited translation of a combination of oral traditions, so you have to assume a few misquotes in there.