| Friday, January 26, 2007 |
| April 15th - Make it just another day! |
 Many Americans may have received in their Snail Mail this week, the IRS Publication 600 for the refund of general State and Local Sales Taxes. My first thought as a self-inflicted family in poverty while hubby is in college - was full of anticipation. This means our Federal Income Tax return check will be a few hundred more!
As my husband will attest, it is very dangerous to get the bean-counter side of my brain ticking. My Ego prefers to hang out with the ID of my Right Brain. The creative, dreamy and artistic side that wanted a degree in Communication Arts 15 years ago.
Strangely, it was the Left side of my brain that was used to pay my tuition while I worked in various accounting and managerial positions. Now I have this dangerous "Rainman" ability of reasoning and mathematics that can count, separate and chart a box of colored toothpicks that fall on the floor.
(Remind me later when commenting -that I need to go to KMart and buy a pack of underpanties.)
Now all of these colored Federal toothpicks are all over my calculator and it feels strange. Yes, we're living meagerly enough that the IRS doesn't want to keep the income taxes that we pay. In fact they toss in this Earned Income Credit that entitles us to getting more than we pay in. Then there is the Federal Pell Grant that pays most of the husband's tuition. There are many more federal programs that we would qualify for but choose not to take advantage of. (Heating assistance, HUD, WIC, Childcare, etc.) Now they want to refund a part of my general sales taxes paid this year and I feel like we've hit the lottery for a few thousand bucks.
Yet our national deficit is in the Trillions?! Where is this money coming from? The Social Security accounts of our future seniors or the future salaries of our children? The milk from this tit tastes strangely sour. Granted, we want out of our predicament so we can someday better ourselves to the point that we won't even mind paying taxes. When the husband graduates his salary increases by three to four fold and that is very inspiring. Not only for our own benefit but we can finally be able to help a friend in need or give to charities that touch our hearts.
('Course it's Ten minutes to Wapner. We're definitely locked in this box with no TV)
Down here in self-imposed poverty hell we've met many people who do not plan to overcome. I'm going to say it - have to say it and my apologies to those who honestly cannot rise above. It sucks to sit in a health clinic waiting room for the impoverished when most of the people around me are wearing department store clothing. To look down at my frail fingernails and adjust my Suave product and home-job hair style in shame.
To see our beautiful daughter dressed in last year's Kmart Clearance rack specials and faux Disney Princess Sneakers as she wants to play with another little girl. A little girl playing with her GameBoy, wearing more bling than Mr. T himself accompanied by the coolest pair of pink Nike Airs ever made. While we leave the clinic into a parking lot is full of souped up Caddies, Camrys and Lincoln Navigators. Driving away in our beater car with the needle just under a quarter tank.
('Course I'm an excellent driver.)
Something isn't adding up just right and it needs to. This refunding of my general sales tax makes me think of a bigger, brighter idea. The Fairtax Plan - it makes sense! Abolishing Income tax and begin a Federal Sales Tax instead. Isn't it odd that although many don't have an income to claim they do have money to buy things? Tax the GameBoys and Air Nike sneakers and at the same time tax the Yachts and large estates purchased by the rich on undeclared income. Is your neighbor a drug pusher or working under the table? He'll pay taxes now.
If anyone wants to save money on taxes they can simply stop buying shit! Stop playing "Keep up with the Jones" for a year or two. Institute refunds based on certain necessary purchases such as medicine, food and health care. I really believe that this would sort out all of the colored toothpicks and put them back into their box. Reducing our federal deficit and at the same time providing for those who are in need. Safeguarding the future of Social Security and the salaries of our children. In fact, I really believe there will be plenty of extra toothpicks left over to support a free college education for anyone who wants it.
('Course when they bring the maple syrup after the pancakes, it'll definitely be too late.)
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Stumble It!
.......posted by Margaret @ 12:03 PM   |
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| 5 Comments: |
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Definitely love the quotes!
The Fair Tax plan sounds great in theory--I haven't read too much about it but it seems like a *fair* way to do it.
Would states lose out on the revenue then though? I'll have to start reading!
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There is no fair tax because the people who make the tax laws always figure out how to give back to them and theirs. The income tax would work if they stopped putting in loopholes to let the rich out. If you went to a national sales tax they would exempt yachts and second homes for the "good of the economy".
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I like the idea of a flat tax, or a national sales tax. Unfortunately, it'll never happen.
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Tax evation is common in India
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You guys have a seemingly overly complicated tax system. We, here in Aust, have something similar to the Federal State Tax called the GST (Goods & Services Tax), however the promise to abolish other taxes were never seen through. So becareful what you vote for.
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Definitely love the quotes!
The Fair Tax plan sounds great in theory--I haven't read too much about it but it seems like a *fair* way to do it.
Would states lose out on the revenue then though? I'll have to start reading!