Looking to opt out of the forthcoming “cash for clunkers” healthcare legislation? How about a religious exemption?
One of the central tenets of the health care legislation under construction on Capitol Hill is a mandate that every American be protected by some kind of medical insurance. There’s one exception to the mandate, though: people opposed to buying health coverage for religious reasons.
Whether you’re a Scientologist who thinks that a good beating at the hands of David Miscavige is all the healing you need, a Jain who considers bacteria-killing antibiotics an affront to the teachings of Mahavir, or a New Age weirdo who prefers the non-insurance-covered medical art of shamanic healing; this is your one chance to speak up.
And if those faiths are too farfetched, why not start your own? If a treasure hunter and a Klutz and the “wickedest man in the world” could all do it, then surely you can too. Except that they‘ve anticipated that move:
To get the exemption, taxpayers must provide evidence they are members of a qualifying sect that has been in existence continuously since 1950.
Why 1950? Possibly to commemorate the creation of Beetle Bailey or maybe the birth of Billy Ocean, or perhaps even the Jayuya Uprising. Or maybe just to screw you out of your clever “religious” excuse.
And if that arbitary deadline makes you unhappy, just imagine how the Scientologists must feel!
Does this principle apply to other government programs as well? If my religion says that women shouldn’t be taught to read, can I deduct half my share of public school support from my taxes? If my religion has a commandment saying “thou shalt not kill”, can I deduct my share of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars?
As long as your religion was founded in 1950 or earlier, you should be good to go!
I’ve always found religious exemptions (e.g. the draft, vaccination, etc.) baffling. Wait, so you’ll let me off the hook, but only if I admit up front that I have absolutely no rational reason for opposing this rule? Huh…
I have to frequently remind myself that evolution is still ‘evolving’ when gobsmacked with yet more absurd religiosity interwoven in our social fabric (by the government no less!. It can’t possibly be 2009, is it?