Trashy Tuesday 4/16/2013

“We can only move to a long-term resolution regarding terrorism and war by planting seeds of peace. We have to start with ourselves.” Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary)

Good Morning Drivelers! (Not to be confused with dribblers). Are we celebrating today? You know, it is the day after tax deadline day. Probably not, and I can certainly understand. The idiots who put “stupid” in stupidity and their bombing in Boston puts a really sour taste in our mouths. Thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims of the senseless act. Our thanks and gratitude to all of the first responders, policemen, firemen, and individuals who sprang to the aid of the injured. That is what America is about – people helping people.

Yesterday afternoon as I followed the developments in Boston, I tried to cope with the absurdity of the whole situation. I have often wondered how human beings cannot get upset or be motivated into action when they encounter events that run against our moral ideals. You know things like child abuse, pet abuse, terrorism, killing the innocent children, war and so and so forth. I finally realized that people have sub-consciously adopted apathy as a coping mechanism with all of these unpleasant events in our lives. I am not an apathetic person but I may have to become one just to be able to cope in my old age.

I had the good fortune last Friday to visit our wonderfully decorated FEMA financed Linn County whatever building to renew my license plate. Our arrogant Linn County Supervisors could not help themselves by renovating wonderful space in our local mall after the 2008 flood. No, that wasn't good enough; they had to totally renovate their old quarters which had been flooded. Shoot I think they may have even added a floor. I am certain if they had the opportunity they would thank all of the taxpayers for building it for them. They weren't satisfied with their new digs, they also gave themselves something like a 25% raise. I hope they enjoy it because I am going to enjoy getting rid of them the next time they come up for election.

Sorry, I digressed. We got our ticket in line – R512. They were on R501 at the time. I thought this won't be so bad. I was wrong. They also have ticket prefixes of “M”, “T”, and “P”. Oh boy. They had Wi-Fi access but I didn't bring my Nook with me so there was nothing to do but to people watch. Eventually we got to the window. Chatted briefly to the clerk. My current wife had to mention how some people attach the sticker to their license plate in places other than the LOWER LEFT CORNER. The clerk then related a couple of stories about people who have been given tickets for the improper display of their tags. One cost the person like $90.00 for the ticket plus an additional fee for a new license plate and tag. Since then we have seen all sorts of sticker designs on license plates. Just sayin', the cops will give you a ticket.

It is very well known in my men's breakfast group that I have an aversion to eggs. I don't really know why. Maybe it was when I was a kid, we raised a couple thousand chickens and had to pick up eggs all the time, wash them and crate them. It may be the powdered eggs we had in the service in Vietnam. Or it may be I cannot get past the thought that material inside the shell is an undeveloped chicken. I don't consider myself a picky eater. I am more of a selective eater. Anyway, I am always getting teased about my dislike of eggs. It has gone so far as receiving pictures from a mission trip some of our guys and gals took to Joplin. They called me – at 7:00 am mind you last week so I could get a picture of a plate of eggs into the blog. They are back and of course couldn't wait to show me more pictures of the egg based menu they had every day. These God fearing men cannot let eggs and their penchant for pork loin for every meal be abated.

In closing as a tribute to our Federal Government on the day after tax day, I wanted you to see a list of all of the ways the government gets your money. I am certain this is not a complete list but it is what I found on the internet. And you know – everything on the internet is true. At least that is what the gal in the insurance commercial states. If memory serves me correctly, I believe an individual will give something like 54% of their earnings to the government. Apathy – that is the way to go.

Some of the Taxes Americans Pay Each Year

If you don't read it all, go to the ending to read the comment. Isn't this amazing?

Accounts Receivable Tax	Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax	CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax	Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines (indirect taxes)	Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax	Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax	Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax	Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax	Inheritance Tax Interest expense (tax on the money)
Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)	IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax	Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes	Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax	Property Tax
Real Estate Tax	Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes	Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)	Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax	Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax	State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)	Telephone federal excise tax
Telephone federal universal service fee tax	Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax	Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax
Telephone state and local tax	Telephone usage charge tax
Toll Bridge Taxes	Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)	Trailer registration tax
Utility Taxes	Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax	Watercraft registration Tax
Well Permit Tax	Workers Compensation Tax

COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and our nation was the most prosperous in the world, had absolutely no national debt, we had the largest middle class in the world and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What the hell happened? 

 

I see by the clock on the wall that I have over stayed my welcome. The French Roast is cold and my editor is getting nervous. That usually means that it is time to wrap this edition up. Before I go, I want to give a shout out to the youth group kids and chaperones that came over on Saturday and raked and trimmed bushes. It was an awful cold day and they did a great job. Until we meet again, TA!