There was a time in history when all good old Uncle Sam wanted was . . . boots on the ground. It was a time when neighbor helped neighbor and the local soup kitchen depended on the charity of good people. Fast forward and now neighbors, no longer living on the wind-swept prairies but in the burbs, turn a blind eye to the needy, believing government welfare is a quick fix. And your favorite Uncle Sam wants more. Your house, your dog and your Faith. Well, maybe not Rover, at least not yet. What he is after is your total dependency. Your absolute faith.

The separation of church and state is a hotly discussed topic in the media and on the web. However, there’s a deeper issue at stake. The “Faith-Based Initiative” allowing religious organizations to apply for and receive federal funding contradicts the motto “In God We Trust” on our currency; a parlance which itself is at stake. As more and more Christian organizations, not to mention pastors, are seduced by programs and ‘free’ money, the belief that a faithful God will provide is eroded. Sooner or later, the government well will run dry. Administrations change, but true faith is eternal. Corporate knee bending is a must when it comes to financing a religious sponsored activity.
The controversy over charitable choice, even among the religious right will continue, as is the nature of debate. Should you be taxed to fund rescue missions run by religious non-profits, church programs and houses of worship. Some of you might agree that this is a good thing and others strongly oppose for a variety of reasons. Let me open the tax dollar purse a little wider, think about the following government supported operations. Remember, there are many ‘pork barrel’ initiatives which slip into already bloated bills, from the obscure and the ridiculous to the offensive, think about it.

Tax funded - tax wasted:

• Porn at State Universities. Such was the case in Buffalo New York where the schools activities center received funding to show pornographic films to the students for a ticket price of $2.50
  
  
• Abortions
  
  
• The study of algae in hot water cost you $1.8 million dollars.
  
  
• Mailing social security checks to fugitives to the tune of $223.7 million dollars.
  
  
• Hiring 2 million government workers in Iraq to promote stability. In effect putting one our of every ten Iraqis on the U.S. government payroll. This while our own military wives stand in line for food handouts from local churches.
  
  
• Expensive government property sold for pennies. The Energy Department sold a $9,000 copier to the NTS Development Corp. for 5 cents, and sold the firm 23 trucks worth $448,000 for 17 cents each. This, according to government auditors.
  
  
• “Team-building” exercises for the Postal service. For $3.6 million dollars, postal employees were sent on retreats where they played children’s games, sang “We Are Family”, wrote Christmas carols, went on treasure hunts, dressed in cat costumes and talked to imaginary wizards, magicians and mad scientists at staff meetings.
  
  
• The War on Drugs - Poverty - Crime. Billions spent on questionable results.