Creationists & Moving the Goal Posts: How Tax Breaks Work

fundamentalist economics 101

The Young Earth Creationists at Answers in Genesis clearly have not read Ezekiel chapter 23 or Hosea, otherwise, they would not be so shocked by Joel’s comment, comparing funding the “Ark Encounter” with an adult film store. Of course, the YEC’s put Joel, James McGrath, I and other Christians in a camp that “have accepted the opinions of fallible scientists and have used them to reinterpret Scripture, rather than let Genesis—written as history, not poetry—speak for itself.” Apparently Creationists have a difficult time understanding the notion of literary genre. That’s their problem, not mine. I’m a libertarian, and I could care less what they believe, but I want to point out one thing.

When a state government declines to receive revenue from a business venture, out of the notion of tax rebates, the funds have to be taken from somewhere else in the budget. In other words, the prospective revenue that the business denies the state does indeed impact the state’s budgeting process. Why is that so hard to understand? Take this story from the Wall Street Journal; the President plans to propose tax breaks for businesses; the risk is obvious, since the federal government is denying itself revenue from tax payers. This means a change in budget planning by the government, which means either higher taxes elsewhere, spending cuts, or both. This is what it means we have tax deductions. It is that simple.

Apparently, The folks over at Answers in Genesis do not understand this. I could care less how you feel about evolution versus creation. Joel’s point was that a ministry business endeavor is prospering over and against other businesses. If there truly is a free market system, the government would keep its hand out, and remain neutral. That’s free market capitalism 101. Instead, the Ark Encounter is a public/private sector joint project now, and AIG risks being influenced by government decisions in the future because the government can, at any time, take back the tax breaks. Imagine if Kentucky ever had a governor who was hostile to the project, along with a legislature? They could probably double the taxes that the Ark Encounter people owe them out of a personal vendetta. Do we want this to happen? No, so the best thing to do is to fight for the freest markets possible and keep the government out of the churches coffers. That is the nature of the separation of church & state–a primarily economic concern.

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RodtRDH

Formerly known as Rod of Alexandria, Rod the Rogue Demon Hunter Preacher of Hope | Black Scholar of Patristics | Writer for Nonviolent Politics. Destroyer of Trolls. It must be that angry puppy.

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