Idaho is now significantly creepy.

http://www.larknews.com/archives/438

BOISE — In 12 short years, Christian Family Center, a church of 8,500, has purchased large swaths of cheap Idaho land with surplus tithes and effectively taken control of the state.

“I am largely a figurehead now,” the governor concedes.

Many state services are now in church control, including state highways, which the church maintains as toll roads. Church members drive for free. Others pay $7-12.

“It’s like The Blob or the Borg,” says one critic. “While we weren’t looking, they took over the state. It’s an evangelical Utah.”

One liberal watchdog group has launched a “Buy Idaho Back” campaign. For now, one can drive from Oregon to Montana and never leave the church’s “Area of Ministry.” Road rules are policed by an Usher Force driving new Mustangs. Every billboard bears an IXOYE fish or salvation appeal in addition to the advertisement. All roadside businesses offer Study Bibles in racks near the door.

The church owns so much pastureland it had to hire a full-time pastor to handle grazing requests from ranchers.

“Tithes are up again, so we’re heading to Oregon,” says pastor Rob Brilmeyer. •

Incidentally no member of SP has been willing to admit being from/in Idaho according to the current state flags in profiles.

Wat.

Well scratch Idaho off my list of places that seem vaguely interesting to visit.

I wish I had a cult that could buy whole states for me f4

Church taking control of a State (to a certain degree)? I agree with you Eos, this is creepy.

inb4theysuseedfromtheunion

Is this even legal?

Idaho wasn't creepy already?

I mean, everything from the name to the shape of the state itself was always odd.

Is this even legal?

For a private organization to buy land the state sells? Of course. States have also privatized state roads, although I'd assume there's some kind of fallback provision if the private organization starts castrating people with tolls (which is what $12 to drive in Idaho sounds like).

free driving in idaho, woohoo!

Does Idaho not have more than 8,500 non-church-going citizens? Surely they could revolt and take back their state. Why the hell are they tolerating this?

Does Idaho not have more than 8,500 non-church-going citizens? Surely they could revolt and take back their state. Why the hell are they tolerating this?

They would have to join together to buy back all of the state land they have bought up. Along with their roads, given that they are now privately owned. At least to the best of my minimal understanding of the situation.

I'm curious if this has happened elsewhere and that we just don't know about it. Would it be "different" if it were a corporation that did this and not just some church out in the middle of nowhere?

Does Idaho not have more than 8,500 non-church-going citizens? Surely they could revolt and take back their state. Why the hell are they tolerating this?

Just wondering, do the new owners got to sell it?
I'm pretty sure they wont sell it back unless ridiculous amount of money is involved, unless there's a law for that, is there?

I'm not really suggesting the buy it back, simply stop paying the fees; stop listening to them. Does Idaho have private property laws that would allow the church members to start shooting people who refused to pay?

I'm not really suggesting the buy it back, simply stop paying the fees; stop listening to them. Does Idaho have private property laws that would allow the church members to start shooting people who refused to pay?

I think the problem is they now own the highways(which to me doesn't make sense, although they own the land they shouldn't be owning highways but I don't know the laws) so in order to use their "private" highways you have to pay for it, or not use it at all. So people should just start driving on the grass.

This is pretty funny. Reminds me of an X-files episode.

I think the problem is they now own the highways(which to me doesn't make sense, although they own the land they shouldn't be owning highways but I don't know the laws) so in order to use their "private" highways you have to pay for it, or not use it at all. So people should just start driving on the grass.

This.
Or just use more boats.

I think the problem is they now own the highways(which to me doesn't make sense, although they own the land they shouldn't be owning highways but I don't know the laws) so in order to use their "private" highways you have to pay for it, or not use it at all. So people should just start driving on the grass.

It's no different if the state owns the highways or not. If you go to countries like Mexico every 40 miles or so there is a toll road that you have to pay. In this case the highways are just owned by the church. They, however, are entirely responsible for the maintaining of the roads and any costs that come along with them.

Toll roads are found in many countries. The way they are funded and operated may differ from country to country. Some of these toll roads are privately owned and operated. Others are owned by the government. Some of the government-owned toll roads are privately operated.
Some toll roads are managed under such systems as the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) system. Private companies build the roads and are given a limited franchise. Ownership is transferred to the government when the franchise expires. Throughout the world, this type of arrangement is prevalent in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. The (BOT) system is a fairly new concept that is gaining ground in the United States, with Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi,[10] Texas, and Virginia already building and operating toll roads under this scheme. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Tennessee are also considering the BOT methodology for future highway projects.

It's no different if the state owns the highways or not. If you go to countries like Mexico every 40 miles or so there is a toll road that you have to pay. In this case the highways are just owned by the church. They, however, are entirely responsible for the maintaining of the roads and any costs that come along with them.

True. Except that they cost 1 dollar and I could bet their distance is greater than that. At least here on the south part.

Anyway, the people can't do nothing about it, can they?

A few hundred pounds of homemade c4 could make a difference.

A few hundred pounds of homemade c4 could make a difference.

Are just do what the cool guys on the movies and just pass without paying (breaking the barrier).

*sigh*