These prople pay taxes on the dilapidated house...

[jberryhill]

8. It has nothing to do with the First Amendment

This odd belief never seems to die.

Newspapers are protected by the First Amendment. Do newspapers, publishers, TV stations, etc. - all of whose activities are protected by the First Amendment - pay taxes?

YES, they do.

Do people who make and sell guns, under the second amendment, pay taxes? YES, they do.

Do attorneys, to whom you have a right under the sixth amendment, pay taxes? YES, they do.

Churches are not untaxed because they are "religious" per se. nor because their activities are Constitutionally protected. They are untaxed because they are non-profit organizations, like a lot of other untaxed non-profit organizations.

It has NOTHING to do with the First Amendment. A truckload of other First Amendment activities ARE TAXED.