Quote :

"The Supreme Court permitted White House outreach to faith-based charities • The 5-4 decision said taxpayers did not have the "standing" to challenge office • Atheist and agnostic groups said office gave religious groups unfair access • White House says the decision is a win for thousands of "faith-based nonprofits""

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/25/faith.based.office.scotus/index.html

I see a problem with this, not because it under-represents atheist and agnostic groups, but that it represents any groups. the White House has NO business pushing incentives for religious preference

6/25/2007 5:12:25 PM

Quote :

"OFBCI does not directly provide grants to any group. Rather, it serves as a clearinghouse of sorts, holding regular conferences around the country where a variety of federal agencies -- including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration -- set up booths to provide information and guidance for religious and community groups applying for aid."

Question to be answered:

Are non faith based groups denied access or given limited access to these confrences or the information and resources therein?

If not, I fail to see how this is an issue. Just because faith is involved doesn't mean the government can dispense money, just that it must do so without regard to faith.

Although reading the article it seems it's less about permiting the whitehouse to do anything and more stating that because of laws prohibiting the challenging of federal spending by the tax payers (why do we have such laws by the way?) and the fact that this money was not earmarked with specific direction from congress, that there was no standing to challenge it in the first place. No specific ruling as to whether this particular activity is just or not.

6/25/2007 9:05:37 PM

Quote :

"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents. -President James Madison"

6/25/2007 11:20:42 PM

^Oh since when have we actually cared about the constitution? Why bother, its an oligarchy, accept it move on. I agree with you in principle of course.

6/26/2007 3:39:23 PM

Quote :

"The 5-4 decision"

get used to that ratio for a few years

Quote :

" said taxpayers did not have the "standing" to challenge office"

that's just BS.

6/26/2007 3:50:38 PM

^

If it's BS, take it up with your congress critter.

Quote :

"Normally, citizens are barred from contesting in court how the federal government spends its money. But a 1968 Supreme Court ruling carved out a narrow exception, saying taxpayers can sue over Congress' tax-and-spend authority for specific programs favoring or promoting religion."

6/26/2007 4:45:57 PM