FROM: Terry Lynch@aol.com; POB 241035; Montgomery, AL 36124-1035 Phone: (334) 272-4217 voice (334) 277-3582 fax via arrangement DATE: June 10, 1998 TO: Letter to the Editor WORD COUNT: May be edited for space REF: Tax Churches Not Food! One way Alabama could eliminate tax on food and yet raise more money for the Educational Trust Fund would be to start taxing churches. It would be especially appropriate to tax churches which operate private schools and teach such archic dictates as the requirement that women should submit gracefully to the every whim of men. In one sense that means letting men tax baby food and baby milk formular along with everything else growing children need. The tax exempt status which churches enjoy is ludicrous because in modern times churches function as big businesses. Many churches even ask their members to donate 10% or more of their income to the church and to will property to the church. These practices over time enable churches to grow rich without having to contribute money back into public education. Because it is the churches sucking money out of public education, establishing private church doctrine based educational schools and programs with the tax exempt monies, it is no longer logical to not tax churches. Traditionally church and state have been separate. Now the churches want to get involved with every aspect of politics, law and government so that they can "reform society" and institute "traditional family values" upon all members of society. The men making the laws are puppets for the churches who want to keep women and children poor and eating out of their hands. It has been said people do not live on bread alone, meaning spiritual nourishment is also required for a healthy life. Therefore it would be reasonable for the state to stop taxing food and start taxing churches. I'm sure if this were done Alabama would have more money for public schools and the enlightenment level of high school graduates would increase a thousand fold! But with a conservative, right wing, male dominated legislature bent on controlling every aspect of government, it's not likely to happen, not in this lifetime. Sincerely, TerryLynch@aol.com Montgomery, AL