Kevin Phillips, Republican strategist for Richard Nixon, wrote a book in 1969, “The Emerging Republican Majority,” in which he correctly predicted the fall of the rust belt, the rise of the sun belt and proliferation of suburban Yuppies to indeed create the emerging Republican majority from 1969 to 1992.

But Phillips, just like Reagan Budget Director David Stockman, became disenchanted with supply-side economics and the “trickle-down effect,” and wrote a book “The Politics of Rich and Poor” in the 1990s and in 2005, “American Theocracy.” In the latter, he predicted the fall of the American empire, going the same way as the Greeks, the Romans, the Spanish, the French, the Dutch and the Brits.

Phillips said the decline and fall of the American empire would be caused by (1) an overextended military (2) debt and (3) the religious right. And this was before the infamous economic meltdown of 2008.

Phillips’ third reason has given me cause to call for taxing the churches. The time has come.

Freedom of religion should not be abridged, but churches, most certainly their richest and most flamboyant leaders, should pay taxes just like everybody else. Pastors and churches increasingly have dipped into the political arena, making them useful fund-raising and vote-getting machines for the Republican Party.

Three very public instances of crossing over to the dark side were demonstrated by three of the richest pastors in the world — Joel Osteen, Ken Copeland and John Hagee. All three are skillful at using television and other visual media to to get their messages to their flocks. All three arguably have made endorsements in the presidential campaign of 2016.

Osteen, who lives a lavish lifestyle tax-free in a mansion and preaches in one of those exquisite “Churches of Tomorrow,” has denied he actually endorsed Donald Trump, but said of him, “Hey, maybe the country’s not where we should be — let’s get back to where we were… He’s an incredible communicator and brander. He’s been a friend of our ministry. He’s a good man.”

Pastor John Hagee, purveyor of end times theology, recently urged Christians to get out and vote and made it abundantly clear that he’ll be casting his vote for Trump in November. He informed his viewing audience that “God will not hold us harmless” and so they have an obligation to vote. For Trump.

“I’m going to vote for the candidate that’s going to make the U.S. military great again,” he said. “I’m going to vote for the party that is going to solve the immigration problem, not the one that has created the immigration problem. I’m going to support the party that brings jobs back from China … I’m not going to vote for the party that has betrayed Israel for the past seven years.”

“If you can read a newspaper, you know who I’m talking about.”

Copeland, who has told his followers he can destroy the Ebola virus by speaking in tongues, had Ted Cruz’s father on his television program and said, “I believe, with all my heart, that his son is called and anointed to be the next president of the United States.”

Copeland also is filthy rich, and like the other two, pays no taxes.

Closer to home, I recall Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, when he was running for state representative in the 87th District, stopped in one fine Sunday to be guest speaker at the Nashville Baptist Church, the second largest in the district. He sang, played the piano and shared his faith in the Lord in front of about 900 captive people.

When I challenged him about it, he replied there is nothing wrong with him sharing his faith with fellow believers. But I’ll bet virtually all members of that church in the August primary of 2006 voted for the guy who showed up one day to sing, play piano and witness at their church. It’s what I call unfair advantage.

I understand not all churches and filthy rich pastors pull those kinds of shenanigans, but am I sick and tired of the lack of fairness in our political system that doesn’t insist religion has to “Pay to Play.” All of them should be granted their freedom of speech, but all of them should pay their taxes like the rest of us. It would increase the public coffers to pay for police, fire, roads and schools.

We should no longer allow these hucksters special privileges unless they pay.

PHOTO: John Hagee   Joel Osteen

Kenneth Copeland