G. Will

-- (Paracelsus@Pb.Au), February 06, 2001

Answers

I've seen no guidelines from the president on this proposal. Anyone have a link?

From the above linked article:

Catholic Charities USA, to take just one example, already receives 65 percent of its $2.3 billion budget from government.

If this is the case, then what's all the hubbub about?

Personally, I don't like the idea of my money being taken by the IRS and then distributed by congress. I'd rather control the dispersal.

This is where I don't understand so-called conservative political philosophy. Or is this not a conservative program at all? How does this program contribute to smaller government? Will the budget for this program receive its money by shifting it out of other programs? Same pie, different distribution?

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), February 06, 2001.

That line I wrote about the IRS, an incomplete thought. Please place it into context relative to the article only.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), February 06, 2001.

I think the idea is to job-out some social service work to more highly motivated, locally knowledgeble, efficiently managed social service providers rather than fund all such services thru remotely located bureaucracies that take their cut right off the top.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 06, 2001.

So you've not seen actual guidelines, Lars? Even an outline would be helpful. I know folks blowing fuses from this issue already without knowing what's involved. I'd like to know what Bush 7 Co. have planned.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), February 06, 2001.

The problem comes with the question, "What's a religion?" Do you allow the $cientologists to get money for a job training program knowing that many aspects of their belief system are cultish (including the harassment of people who wish to leave their church)? What about giving money for a rape crisis center to a religious group like the Unitarians who counsel women to use the morning after pill or get a medical abortion, while at the same time giving money for crisis pregnancy centers to a church such as the Southern Baptists who believe abortion is murder? What happens when the Church of Satan wants to open a day care center?

One person's fable is another person's deeply held religious belief. The founders were right to want to stay out of the whole mess. I predict this will become Bush's Universal Health Plan.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), February 06, 2001.

Rich--

No, I have not seen guidelines. I rely on this forum for all my knowledge of the world.

I do think it's ironic that some people worry about religion inteferring with government whereas others worry about government interferring with religion.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.net), February 06, 2001.