theocrats, alive and well…in America
An interesting report in this morning’s NY Times: “Challenging the IRS” which describes an emerging aggressive strategy by the “Alliance Defense Fund” (described as “a conservative legal group”) that is recruiting 50 pastors across the country to engage in simultaneous electoral advocacy on September 28th. The purpose, it is suggested, is to raise the visibility of the issue of the IRS prohibition on tax exempt organizations, including churches, from express advocacy for or against candidates running for public office.
As we all know, over the past 28 years or more, we have seen a rising, often very conservative, element in the faith community engaging closer and closer to the line separating church and state. This time honored principle in American democracy seems to matter less to the likes of Bill Keller, the evangelist whose “Liveprayer.com” is under investigation because he admonished his followers that “a vote for Romney was a vote for Satan.”
This all is going to be an interesting thing to watch, especially because the current administration depended so heavily on conservative evangelical groups to take and hold office. Now, they will oversee what is to be done with activities that clearly cross the line.
The principle is clear. If you live outside the tax system (non-profits and chruches) you are receiving all the benefits of “paying customers” (tax payers), while contributing nothing to the kitty. It’s kind of like being the member of a club, but being exempted from having to pay dues and assessments. You get access to the club and all its amenities….for free! Kind of a cool deal.
The trade-off, at least as I understand it, is that non-profits and churches are NOT government, nor are they profit minded businesses. No, they are contributors to the social good, so they are let off the hook financially. The only thing the CAN’T do, is try to argued from their privileged position that this candidate is better or worse than that one. Fair trade, I’d say. Of course, they COULD choose to live inside the tax system – pay their fair share – and then advocate to their heart’s content about what politicians should and shouldn’t do.
Personally, I find this all a logical, acceptable system, theocracy not being particularly attractive to me. You? There’s that thing I recall about the Iranian system where the unelected “Supreme Leader” must approve of candidates for President before they are allowed to run, and the “Council of Guardians” that has similar functions in other electoral processes. It is, itself, appointed in the main by the Supreme Leader. I wonder if Mr. Keller would approve?
Anyway, in the din of an election year, this is one issue worth keeping track of. If it goes in favor of the evangelicals, the implications could be frightening.