We’re all screwed. My IRA is lower now than it was in the Clinton Administration, and my house has been devalued by a stupid amount that makes my heart pound. The GOP just abandoned their president and their candidates McBush and FemQuayle.So here’s a thread for the financial crisis. How long before the politicians start praying for relief from a god (like the Alabama Governor prayed for rain)? It’s too bad we don’t have huge numbers of large buildings that are exempt from taxation for no reason. Then we could tax these buildings in a fair way and lower the burden on citizens. If only there was a huge and powerful sector of the economy that wasn’t paying its taxes AT ALL, that we could finally tax, and get immediate relief for the country. If only.

Today I watched the Jets beat the snot out of the Cardinals. I don’t like the Cardinals because their QB is Kurt Warner, who I met once at a TV studio. He was nice enough, but when I asked him for an autograph for my nephew, he wrote a bible verse on the autograph. This AFTER he learned who I was. I felt it crass, and my nephew thought it was a joke, but since then I’m not a Kurt Warner fan.So today, a player (Anquan Boldin) got hurt, and Warner led a prayer for all the world to see on the football field for that player’s health. Both teams participated — but not all players. Some players actually chose not to pray along with their teammates or to take any part of their sheepish display. Wish I had a picture or a list, but I don’t. But I saw it. Warner wanted it to be a church, but it was still a football stadium to some. I wonder how those other players felt.Thanks to medicine, and not invisible men in the sky, the injured Boldin is healing in a hospital and hopefully will be fine.Too bad Jesus didn’t want to help the Cards win today.

In honor of all those wonderful clergy who tomorrow will break the law of the land because they want to be “treated like everyone else”, I propose that we all call our congresspeople and demand that indeed, the churches be treated like everyone else, and the “religion tax” on American taxpayers be repealed.The fact that a religion or cult believes in a deity should not, in and of itself, allow them tax exempt status. If they do something for the community, then let them prove it (like everyone else), and be tax exempt (without, of course, breaking the laws to which other nonprofit organizations must adhere). Mind you, what they call “outreach” is nothing more than marketing, and does not qualify as community service. They have to actually help other people, not just recruit.If they pay their taxes like everyone else, they can endorse their candidates like everyone else, and every community will enjoy a lot more revenue, paving the way for tax cuts for –guess who — everyone else. Simple stuff.Happy Tax the Church Day!

Did you watch it? My take (personal opinion): Obama won. I’m not saying this because I went in leaning his way (which I did), I’m saying this because McBush was rude, obtuse, and clearly looked like Grandpa or a weird uncle that occasionally gets invited to dinner. McCain was worse than I thought he’d be.And… Where is Ms. Palin? Could she be stepping aside so McCain can attack Obama’s experience without reprisal? Or is she out having non-marital unprotected sex and shooting animals from helicopters? Giuliani was very happy to spin the session in her absence.Here’s the good news: NO GOD! No religion in the whole debate? Did anyone else notice that? Nobody even tried to slip him in.No god, no Palin… Hmm…..

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.http://www.atheists.orghttp://www.americanatheist.orgFor more information, please contact:Ed Buckner, President (404) 423-2114Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333ATHEISTS WELCOME, OPPOSE ELECTIONEERING SERMONS An Atheist civil rights group announced today that while it opposed a”Pulpit Initiative” by churches to openly endorse political candidates,the effort may encourage people to question the veracity of competingreligious faiths. According to Ed Buckner, new President of American Atheists, “The U.S.Constitution cannot be subverted by a few greedy preachers determined towantonly undermine it, as many have sworn to do this Sunday–28September 2008 CE–during what they’re calling a ‘Pulpit Initiative.’ Their disdain for the rule of law and for the First Amendment isdisgusting. The principle of separation of church and state, set forthin the First Amendment and consistently supported by every reasonableinterpretation since Jefferson first put it into words as ‘a wall ofseparation’ in 1801, prohibits undue involvement of preachers in ourpolitical arena.”David Silverman, National Spokesperson for American Atheists, questionedthe tax exempt status. “Why aren’t they paying taxes in the firstplace?”, noted Silverman, “There are more churches in this country thanthere are pizza parlors, and none of them pay property taxes, even ifthey do nothing to help the community at large. In this era of economicuncertainty, the public has the right to pay the lowest and fairesttaxes possible, and I think we should start by taxing the churches.”Both Atheist representatives, though, pointed out a “pleasant upside” toSunday’s “Pulpit Initiative” that may prompt believers to questionreligious authorities.”What happens when different churches and preachers end up quoting theirholy books and citing ‘God’ as the basis of endorsing areligiously-correct political hopeful?” asked Mr. Silverman. “It seemsthat when it comes to supporting candidates, ‘God’ is very confused –or maybe His followers are!”AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights forAtheists; works for the total separation of church and state; andaddresses issues of First Amendment public policy.American Atheists, Inc.PO BOX 158Cranford, NJ 07016Tel.: (908) 276-7300Fax: (908) 276-7402