Archbishop Tells Trade Unions "Tax Is Good"
Archbishop Tells Trade Unions "Tax Is Good"
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otolith

Original Poster:

68,962 posts

234 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/art...

Times said:
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that higher taxation could be used as a means of improving the human “habitat”.

Addressing a TUC meeting on economics, Dr Rowan Williams also said that tax breaks could be used to promote environmentalist technology.

“We should be thinking about taxation neither as an unreasonable burden on enterprise nor as a simple mechanism of redistribution but as a potentially sophisticated tool for long-term economy — housekeeping. Taxation builds a habitat — already, quite properly, through state welfare provision, but potentially in other less familiar ways.”
I know his book of mythology says that Jesus was nice to the tax collector and that it's blessed to be poor, but perhaps he should be encouraging his followers to give more to charity if he wants them to have less money.

Alex

9,978 posts

314 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
Low taxes create a "habitat" too. The only difference is we choose how to spend the money.

grumbledoak

32,571 posts

263 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
Times said:
Addressing a TUC meeting on economics...
rofl Trade Unions, God Botherer in Chief, and economics!
Thank fk it wasn't a case of the blind leading the blind.

Eric Mc

125,677 posts

295 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
If the Church had their way, they'd be taxing us too (they used to, once upon a time).

Hugo a Gogo

23,437 posts

263 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
If the Church had their way, they'd be taxing us too (they used to, once upon a time).
we have 'church tax' here

luckily, it's 'opt out-able'

BruceV8

3,325 posts

277 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
Hugo a Gogo said:
Eric Mc said:
If the Church had their way, they'd be taxing us too (they used to, once upon a time).
we have 'church tax' here

luckily, it's 'opt out-able'
Do many people choose not to opt out?

Hugo a Gogo

23,437 posts

263 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
BruceV8 said:
Hugo a Gogo said:
Eric Mc said:
If the Church had their way, they'd be taxing us too (they used to, once upon a time).
we have 'church tax' here

luckily, it's 'opt out-able'
Do many people choose not to opt out?
surprisingly yes, lots of people pay it

lots of brits get caught out with the innocent question when they first register here "what religion are you?" - thank you very much, we'll tax you now
then you have to go through a big rigmarole of officially renouncing the church for your 30 pieces of silver

if you don't pay it, you can't have a church wedding (which doesn't even count officially, you still have to do it at the town hall) or a christening etc

boo hoo

AndrewW-G

11,968 posts

247 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
Without looking at the article, would I be correct in thinking this is the Archbishop that looks like a paedo who's got a scraggley beard?................. if so isnt this the same guy who's previously come out with such chestnuts as suggesting that islam had lots of good ideas etc etc

FourWheelDrift

92,306 posts

314 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
We need another dissolution.

otolith

Original Poster:

68,962 posts

234 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
AndrewW-G said:
Without looking at the article, would I be correct in thinking this is the Archbishop that looks like a paedo who's got a scraggley beard?................. if so isnt this the same guy who's previously come out with such chestnuts as suggesting that islam had lots of good ideas etc etc
The very same, a "hairy lefty" as he puts it.

tubbystu

3,846 posts

290 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
otolith said:
AndrewW-G said:
Without looking at the article, would I be correct in thinking this is the Archbishop that looks like a paedo who's got a scraggley beard?................. if so isnt this the same guy who's previously come out with such chestnuts as suggesting that islam had lots of good ideas etc etc
The very same, a "hairy lefty" as he puts it.
With druid tendancies rolleyes

anonymousposter

131 posts

231 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
otolith said:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/art...

Times said:
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that higher taxation could be used as a means of improving the human “habitat”.

Addressing a TUC meeting on economics, Dr Rowan Williams also said that tax breaks could be used to promote environmentalist technology.

“We should be thinking about taxation neither as an unreasonable burden on enterprise nor as a simple mechanism of redistribution but as a potentially sophisticated tool for long-term economy — housekeeping. Taxation builds a habitat — already, quite properly, through state welfare provision, but potentially in other less familiar ways.”
I know his book of mythology says that Jesus was nice to the tax collector and that it's blessed to be poor, but perhaps he should be encouraging his followers to give more to charity if he wants them to have less money.
Did you miss the bit in bold?

tinman0

18,231 posts

270 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
otolith said:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/art...

Times said:
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that higher taxation could be used as a means of improving the human “habitat”.

Addressing a TUC meeting on economics, Dr Rowan Williams also said that tax breaks could be used to promote environmentalist technology.

“We should be thinking about taxation neither as an unreasonable burden on enterprise nor as a simple mechanism of redistribution but as a potentially sophisticated tool for long-term economy — housekeeping. Taxation builds a habitat — already, quite properly, through state welfare provision, but potentially in other less familiar ways.”
I know his book of mythology says that Jesus was nice to the tax collector and that it's blessed to be poor, but perhaps he should be encouraging his followers to give more to charity if he wants them to have less money.
Yes and no.

Jesus did socialise with tax collectors, and recognised them, but he was also against extortioners.

I think the definition of modern tax collecting (eg its rates and methods) tends towards extortion personally.

For instance, a common church tithe requests 10% of your salary regardless of how much you earn. And I think that is in the Bible somewhere. Remember that it was the church 100 years ago that provided social and welfare support.

So far from Jesus being a supporter of high taxation, I think he would be a supporter of low taxation with a flat rate, thereby having more in common with the average PHer than the Archbishop of Canterbury frankly.

otolith

Original Poster:

68,962 posts

234 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
anonymousposter said:
Did you miss the bit in bold?
No - but I don't see that changing the essence of the message.

Tangent Police

3,097 posts

206 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
So, what are the politics of christianity? Pretty much communitarianism, just like Obama and the EU like so much.

Worst bits of the left and right wing, but popularly advertised as "radical centre".

I don't want to generalise, but most Christians have a hypocritical view of money/politics/morals. s, all of them.

tinman0

18,231 posts

270 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
Tangent Police said:
I don't want to generalise,
Then don't.

Tangent Police

3,097 posts

206 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
tinman0 said:
Tangent Police said:
I don't want to generalise,
Then don't.
Ok, I won't.

ALL the christians I've met have had those attributes.

tinman0

18,231 posts

270 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
Tangent Police said:
ALL the christians I've met have had those attributes.
I would suggest you haven't met many Christians then.

I'm not going to waste any more of my time defending Christianity on PH as its futile and pointless, but if you genuinely think that, then the only loser is you. (And not Loser with a capital L as an insult).

HOGEPH

5,249 posts

216 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
tinman0 said:
....So far from Jesus being a supporter of high taxation, I think he would be a supporter of low taxation with a flat rate, thereby having more in common with the average PHer....
Apparently he had a Honda, but kept quiet about it.

John 12:49
"For I did not speak of my own accord."

tinman0

18,231 posts

270 months

Wednesday 18th November 2009
quotequote all
HOGEPH said:
tinman0 said:
....So far from Jesus being a supporter of high taxation, I think he would be a supporter of low taxation with a flat rate, thereby having more in common with the average PHer....
Apparently he had a Honda, but kept quiet about it.

John 12:49
"For I did not speak of my own accord."
Hmm, obviously filling out a friend's JD Power survey by the looks of it.