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My Story as a Homeless Developer

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Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#321
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems wrong that faith-funded organizations are allowed to discriminate based on religious belief. This also seems like a different scenario than, say, paying for birth control.

> It seems wrong that faith-funded organizations are allowed to discriminate based on religious belief. Not that I think it's morally acceptable for faith-funded charities to turn away some people based on their lack of faith, but: a) Individuals acting on their own founded and run the organization. It would be a violation of several important rights (theirs) for a government to regulate how they choose to run their…

> It would be a violation of several important rights (theirs) for a government to regulate how they choose to run their charity

No, it wouldn't, especially if they want the tax subsidy of being a 501(c)3 charity; they aren't merely tax exempt, but donations to them are tax deductible. That's an outright public subsidy: the government literally is paying people (and paying rich people more) for every dollar they donate.

Government subsidies come with government restrictions.

You can have a lot more freedom if you choose not to drain the public treasury, and even more freedom if you also don't choose the liability shield associated with the corporate form (which also comes with favorable tax treatment, in some regards.) And even more if all the work is done by partners in the effort committed to the cause for its own sake, and not as wage labor.

But, yeah, volunteering for optional, preferential government status and engaging in the employment market subjects you to government rules associated with those things

Re: My Story as a Homeless Developer

#322
post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It would be a violation of several important rights (theirs) for a government to regulate how they choose to run their charity, They formed a charity to get the tax relief from that same government. With that relaxation on taxation comes a restriction on activity.

> They formed a charity to get the tax relief from that same government. Not at all. They formed a charity because they wanted to make a positive difference in the world. That US law originally recognizes charities, churches, and other non-profits as tax-exempt is a a recognition of the solid, positive contribution to society that such organizations make. Their tax-exempt status was originally granted as such, and no…

> That US law originally recognizes charities, churches, and other non-profits as tax-exempt

...Is a false statement. It doesn't “originally recognize” any such thing.

It permits charities, including churches and some other non-profits with specific functions, to voluntarily apply for status that includes tax exemption, a public subsidy via tax deductibility of donations, and a wide variety of restrictions on behavior.

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