RufusAtticus

Because our government is a secular and/or nonsectarian government. Politicians shouldn't be using religious arguments to make or pass laws or get elected. I don't campaign to be the head of the SBC by being methodist, do I?

Except in American politics there is no "separation of labor and state."

The problem is that catering to individual religious belief systems is unconstitutional.

I have family in Alabama. With everyone trying to out Christian everyone else, no one is actually trying to govern effectively in the state. Is it not depression that corperations can pay "Christian" organizations to argue that a law isn't christian, and the sheep eat it up? The governor is arguing that the tax reform is Christian; the Christian Coalition and timber industry is arguing that forcing the poor to shoulder the tax burden is Christian. At what point does the term "Christian" actually mean something again?

Infidelettante

If Jesus can convince the voters of Alabama to vote for the funds required to run this state like something close to a modern one I say "Go Jesus." But, don't bet the farm, or the tree farm. The powerful timber and farming industries here pay almost nothing in taxes relative to what they own and earn. The tax system is supported on the backs of the poor.

The Republicans have drumed 'no taxes' into the heads of voters for so long they will never give this state the funds it needs just to keep going much less thrive and grow. If the Gov can't raise taxes with the name of Jesus then Alabama will remain the backwater it is meant to be. Come on down in twenty years and vacation in the 1800s.

An yall come back now ya heah.

B. H. Manners

Wasn't former Alabama governor Guy Hunt and ordained Baptist minister. Didn't he get impeached and removed from office for embezzlement or something?


I'll tell you why so many damn Alabamans, Mississippians, Louisianans and Arkansans go to church: its to stay on the good side of an organization that might help them out if it ever gets where they need help with the bills. My home town of Corsicana, TX used to have an 80-90% church attendance back before a lot of the bigger factories came to town in the 1940's---before them everyone was pretty much piss poor.

When the factories came in and paid pretty good wages there was no longer a need to depend on the church like before.

Krieger

Wow, he is supporting a tax plan that lowers the tax on the poor and apparently increases it on the rich? That is damn nice for a Republican. Haha, and he is using the right-wingers' Christianity to get them to support it, lol. This guy is better than most Democrats!

lunachick

I think Riley's tax plan is a good one. Kudos to him for that, at least. As Kreiger said, he's better than the Democrats on that issue!

But the whole God thing - for crying out loud - only in America!!

99Percent

Unfortunately too.

At least in Mexico laws are very stong regarding the separation of church and state. Politicians are barred from using any kind of religious language, and priests (mostly catholics) are barred from making any kind of political statements. In fact they aren't even allowed to vote I think.

The problem I see about this is that it conflicts directly with freedom of speech. As a libertarian, I think both politicians and religious leaders should be able to say whatever they want. What should clearly not be allowed is legislation that corrupt the separation of church and state.

Leviathan

I can summarize all of this: speaking to one's political influences, (ie religion), does not trigger First Amendment protection. Rallying around a specific belief system, such as a group of voters being Christian, does not impose an establishment of religion on anyone.

Constitutional protections are only triggered when there are Constitutional violations. A politician on the stump, calling for votes and for people to do their "Christian duty" does not trigger such protections. Please, tell me the constitutional violation, for the aforementioned.

RufusAtticus

My wife's cousin, who works for the Alabama State Archives, pointed out that Alabamians need to realize that the budget crisis is really bad if an anti-tax Repbulican is proposing such tax reform. Some localities in Alabama had to threaten to cut high school sports to get their voters to approve a local tax hike. Too bad the governor can't threaten to do it state wide.

RufusAtticus

Then explain to me why these politicians who run on being "True Christians" routinely introduce bills that violate constitutional protections, even after they have lost in the courts multiple times. If a politician routinely promises to violate the constitution and ignore the rule of law, how are they capable of governing effectively?

Blixy Sticks

He will never be reelected as a result. Word is that Siegleman will be running again in the next election. Looks like his chances of winning have increased significantly.