Taxes and tithing are not the same

(UNEDITED) Douglas Donalson said in his letter ("Bible: Republicans wrong in not helping poor"), "In the Bible, everyone was taxed, it was called tithing ....." Tithing and taxes are not even close to being the same thing. Tithing is voluntary, taxes are not. People who pay tithing believe that the money is spent as God sees fit, taxes are spent as politicians see fit. Donaldson also said, "Even in the New Testament people were taxed and if they weren't honest about it they dropped dead at the Apostles' feet," but that was for lying to God, not for non-payment of tithing, and had nothing whatsoever to do with taxes." We should ENCOURAGE people to give to the poor. We should NOT empower government to forcibly take from the rich - or those of us who work hard to get by - to give to the poor.

Karl Powell

Farr West