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<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Visionaries,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I am thinking that we could have a much
larger problem here. If we have a padre here who is preaching to his flock that
they don't need to pay their taxes then I'm sure the IRS would probably be
very interested. If fact whoever turns in tax cheaters shares in whatever taxes
are collected. Now if someone had a list of members names and addresses of
Christ's Church and sent it off to the IRS they may be able to add quite
handsomely to their 401 (k).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Dick Schmidt</FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=DonaldH675@aol.com
href="mailto:DonaldH675@aol.com">DonaldH675@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, October 09, 2004 2:31
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Taxes and the
Intoleristas</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Visionaries:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>One of the funny things about
honest citizens, and I include my Intolerista colleagues in that group, is
that we do expect people who receive government services to help pay for the
associated costs in so far as they are able. I wouldn't characterize
this expectation as "salivating" but, rather, as an awareness that there is no
free lunch. To make our community a better place for all residents we share a
moral and legal obligation to pay taxes, including property taxes.
I like knowing that by paying my fair share the police, fire, and sheriff
departments protect us and our property. I am glad that the roads
and streets are plowed and maintained, that children in need are fed, and the
poor can see a health care provider (at least in a few medical clinics in
Moscow). I like knowing that when people who live in town turn on their
kitchen faucets clean water will come out.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I am familiar with "World
Magazine" and actually spoke with Mark Bergin last summer regarding the tax
issue. Mr. Bergin persisted in believing that there is "a desire for
among many residents to see his [Doug Wilson's] church brought low"....an
unsubstantiated sentiment apparently primed and stoked by Doug
himself. It is, after all, much nicer for Doug to paint
himself (and his defenders) as Christian martyrs rather than Calvinistic
deadbeats. And while that "courageous role" might play well to
those folks who rely on Doug to describe local issues, it is not accurate
reporting. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Saundra and I have
repeatedly, both in public and privately, maintained that we are not arguing
over Christ Church members understanding of dogma or theological
constructions. We are interested and will remain interested and
committed to hold Doug Wilson, and the Elders (in so far as they have the
capability to act as individuals) accountable in observing applicable state
and federal laws. The same laws that the rest of us, including
Intoleristas, obey.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><FONT
size=3>According to Dale's posting: "Rev. Wilson says he is battling for a
principle: "if you start paying tax, you acknowledge state sovereignty, " he
said. "You're saying they have authority over your church." Well,
no. Actually, in my opinion it means that you follow the directions
Jesus gave:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><FONT
size=3>"Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God
truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of
men. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to
Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to
the test, you hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax. And they
brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and
inscription is this</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><FONT size=3>?
They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them. "Render therefore to Caesar
the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
Matthew 22: 16 -21.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><FONT
size=3>I understand this text to mean, at least in part, don't try to hide
personal profit under the cloak of religious entitlement to avoid
taxation, it brings disgrace to the church and the justly earned title of
hypocrite to the those using the tactic.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><FONT
size=3>It does make me wonder what other taxes Doug Wilson et al. might be
avoiding. It is to be hoped that wiser minds than my own are mulling over that
very issue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Rose
Huskey</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Verdana size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">"One
cannot level one's moral lance at every evil in the universe. There are just
too many of them. But you can do something, and the difference between doing
something and doing nothing is everything." Daniel Berrigan<BR></FONT><FONT
lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR></FONT></DIV>
<P>
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