government mixing with religion in Walton County

[ShallowsNole]

SJ, have you seen the South Walton Community Center lately?

Can you think of a better place to put the precinct, considering parking, bathroom facilities, etc?

If we had a suitable facility, not located in a school or church, I'm sure that is where it would be. But for the life of me, I can't think of one (but you can always vote early at the Annex )

 

[jodiFL]

my sentiments on this are stated pretty good on a bumper sticker recently seen around here.....
"the last time government and religion were mixed.... people got burned at the stake."

 

[Jennifer Steele]

I don't mind voting in a church.

But I do find it peculiar when the Defuniak Springs city council prays to Jesus before the city council meeting.

 

[Matt J]

Just for the record I know a very nice Jewish lady that attends Good News on a regular basis.

On that note, why not have polling places in bars? I bet the voter turn out would be a lot higher. I guarantee you can find a bar in ever precinct.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

What if the voting polls were located in a mosque (muslim church)?

Again, going into a Christian Church wouldn't bother many Americans, but voting should have much more separation of church and state than some seasonal lawn decorations, don't you think? For the record, I am for mixed use of gov't building space.

Thanks for that question. It's a good point but if I lived in a Muslim dominated community and that was my voting place then I would probably be accustomed to it from my surroundings. But again, you make a very good point.

I'm all for multi-use for gov. facility's. They are picked I think to represent a place close to those registered voters, making voting easier and for lack of other spaces.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I don't mind voting in a church.

But I do find it peculiar when the Defuniak Springs city council prays to Jesus before the city council meeting.

That's baby Jesus to you..........

 

[CPort]

Just for the record I know a very nice Jewish lady that attends Good News on a regular basis.

On that note, why not have polling places in bars? I bet the voter turn out would be a lot higher. I guarantee you can find a bar in ever precinct.

liquer stores can't open here on election day. Not sure what the bars do. I vote in a fire station.

 

[Matt J]

liquer stores can't open here on election day. Not sure what the bars do. I vote in a fire station.

Both stay open here. I can't imagine trying to vote in a South Walton fire station. They stay far too busy and I don't think I'd want to dodge a truck on it's way out.

 

[Jdarg]

Good News is not the first church polling place here- we voted at Christian International last November.

 

[beachmouse]

My precinct when we lived on Okaloosa Island was at the Elks Lodge. Any thoughts on where a free-standing (not on church property) Knights of Columbus hall would fall on the church-state ookieness scale?

I don't feel like we should describe America as a Christian nation, and I don't like seeing prayer at city council meetings and such. But as long as no endorsement of faith is made, discrimination is not allowed, and the intent of an action is entirely secular, I've got no problem with a government entering into a contractual agreement with a religously-connected institution.

Sacred Heart is, at the core, not a secluar institution. Have you noticed how many crosses are on the walls there? But no reason for them to not be allowed to contract to provide Medicare/Medicaid services.