Faith Based Initiative (redo)


Chaining religion to government
Easter Sunday.

And there is only one topic that this Pagan libertarian wants to talk about.

George W. Bush's repeated attempt to bring American religion under the dominion of the Federal government.

Oddly enough, this story starts with a book, The Tragedy of American Compassion by Marvin Olasky. In it, Olasky makes the argument that government funded charity tends to displace private charity, and since relief becomes a right instead of a gift, the beneficiary loses most of the social initiative to stay off of relief.

Pay attention to that.

The whole premise of the book is based on the fact that local, private charity is much more effective than government charity ever could be. In fact, the Olasky spends a great deal of time specifying how local charity was so effective.

It should surprise no one that Olasky is an advisor to President Bush.

Fast forward to the Faith Based Initiative.

The easiest way to channel more money into private charities would be to expand the tax deductions for money, time, and things donated to charity. Better still to cut the tax rates, but that is another entry.

But look at President Bush's plans.

First, you have a government agency deciding if a religion is a "real" religion.

Second, you have a government agency deciding if a charity is "worthwhile."

Third, you have a government agency dictating how money is to spent.

Effectively, the charity now answers to the Federal government in order to get the cash.

Not to mention all the money that is consumed just by the government overhead.

The same routine was pulled on public schools decades ago. "We'll pay the bills but you have to do what we say."

It's about as far from the ideas in The Tragedy of American Compassion as you can get. Olasky spends chapters explaining why the New Deal was a bad idea, and Bush's approach puts government even more into charity.

And into matters of faith.

There is your tragedy.

Should tax dollars support a Baptist church that has a soup kitchen and an evangelism ministry? Can one be supported and the other not? Won't the freed up monies from one go to the other?

Should tax dollars go to support a Catholic school?

If a homeless shelter is run by Satanists, does it qualify?

What about a abused women's center run by atheists?

All these questions arise because of government involvement in the funding.

And then there is always the threat "If you don't do what we want, you will lose your funding."

How many churches, temples, or groups will stand up to that?


— NeoWayland

Posted: Sun - April 16, 2006 at 09:01 PM  Tag


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