FLDS Bleeding the Beast

Opponents have accused the FLDS of fraudulently collecting welfare benefits to the tune of millions. The theory they put forward is the church encourages its members to get all the welfare benefits they can by lying to qualify for these benefits. Bloggers supporting this assertion use this news story to prove the allegation. The story certainly proves many of the FLDS receive welfare benefits but it actually disproves those benefits are obtained fraudulently.

Curt Stewart, of the Utah Department of Workforce Services, was interviewed for the piece. Stewart said, "We've gone in there a couple of times. But we've not found anything that is above the average of any other area, as far as fraud and abuse."

There is no evidence of wide-spread welfare fraud as purported by opponents of the FLDS. While many may resent the FLDS supporting their families with the help of welfare it appears they are receiving that assistance legitimately.

Another favorite article often linked on the blogs of opponents of the FLDS describes Bleeding the Beast at great length. This article asserts other forms of welfare fraud by the FLDS.

The beast can be bled in other ways. The government allows benefits to be paid to child-care providers who are related to their charges, so one wife can be paid for taking care of another wife's children.

What the article does not report is that in order to qualify for this benefit the mother of the children receiving the care must provide proof that she is working a job or attending school outside of the home. One can logically conclude that for every wife being paid for childcare there is at least one other wife out working a job or getting an education. What this article inadvertantly proves is that the FLDS women work to help provide for their families.

That leads us to another alleged method practiced by the FLDS to 'bleed the beast' - tax evasion.

Of course, contributions to the beast's existence are anathema, so paying one's taxes is a grave sin.

Since we know at least some of the women are out earning paychecks this statement cannot be true. State and federal income taxes are taken off the top of every paycheck. With so many children to deduct and earned income tax credits the result of not filing a tax return would be not receiving a sizeable tax refund ... not avoiding paying taxes.

Wouldn't that be like giving the "Beast" a blood transfusion?