There’s quite a bit of chatter going on regarding word-of-mouth.org. This is a site that allows people to post information on individuals. Kevin at Wizbang thinks he smells trolling and James Joyner thinks it sounds like the proposed TIPS program. I would be inclined to agree. I’m not linking to the site and I have not visited the site. I would advise others to stay away as well.
What if the governor’s “Plan A” for solving our financial crisis is rejected? Will there be a “Plan B”? And what will “Plan B” be?Well, let me advance a modest proposal, based on an idea floated by my buddy Gene Owens of the Mobile Register. Gene suggests that if Judge Moore would rule “that church and state are one and the same in Alabama,” the state would be “entitled to collect tithes” and with 10 percent from everyone every year, our money worries would be over.
It sounds like exactly the scenario that could win a lot of support from people in Alabama. We seem to have this burning need to have the church solve all of our problems. Let’s give them the chance! The real beauty is that it doesn’t even violate the First Ammendment, because as we have all been told by our good friends who pay attention to such things there is no separation of church and state. There is only the requirement that Congress not establish a religion. This wouldn’t be Congress, it would be the State of Alabama making the church the same as the state.
He continues,
And the church, which is also the state, would make sure roads were built and maintained, criminals were caught, convicted and put away (so they could be visited), health facilities were maintained, schools were up and running so all God’s children got an equal and sufficient education, old folks and little babies were cared for, and so on and so on and so on.
And there would be plenty of money to do this.
You see, according to my calculations (which are just as good as anybody else’s), the state would actually collect more revenue under my plan because rich folks and corporations would not have all those loopholes and exemptions so they would actually pay a larger percentage of their income by tithing than they do now. Meanwhile the poor, freed from all those regressive taxes, might actually pay less.
And since this money is given to the church, you can write it off on your federal tax return — a charitable contribution!
Now how about that, a system that is financially sound, that provides the services Alabamians need and deserve, that does not exploit the poor, and gives you a federal tax break in the bargain.
Whoa! Could this be what the Christian Coalition means when it says that good stewardship will solve our problems? That sneaky bunch.
One step ahead of me.
I think Professor Jackson is onto something.
As a long time subscriber to Entertainment Weekly let me express my gratitude to EW for their inspired choice to take over the back page, Stephen King. According to this morning’s NY Post,
ENTERTAINMENT Weekly Managing Editor Rick Tetzeli is turning to a celebrity writer - chiller author Stephen King - to pen a monthly opinion column on American pop culture.He takes over the back page, where the snarky humorist Joel Stein reigned for six short months before being fired.
Why did King, one of the best-selling name-brand authors in America, decide to do the column for the magazine?
“They asked me,” said King, who at the moment is also working on a new ABC TV series about a haunted hospital, “Kingdom Hospital.”
“That’s where a lot of my energy has gone lately,” said King of the TV gig.
“Eventually I hope to do another book,” he said, but added that he’s currently not working on one.
The first EW column from King hits at the end of this week.
Sources say he is believed to be getting about $5,000 a column - or $60,000 a year.
I can’t wait for this week’s issue.
The following comes from AP:
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. - An inmate accused of violating his work release program by having alcohol on his breath says it was all in the burritos.The judge wants to see the recipe.
Attorney Russ Jones said Monday that his client, William Dolge, 45, had burrito meat soaked in beer, which resulted in his testing positive for a low amount of alcohol about two weeks ago when he returned to jail from his job.
Lincoln County Attorney Jeff Meyer said he suspected Dolge washed the burritos down with something more than water.
District Judge John Murphy told Jones to bring the recipe — and a sample if he can — to the next hearing in the case on Aug. 6.
Dolge was granted work release while serving 364 days in jail for driving with a suspended license.
When I saw this article, I thought it would head more in the direction of the beans. Remember kids, don’t eat burritos made with beer soaked meat and drive. What’s the name of this joint? Drunk Burritos To Go?
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