Did you ever feel like a victim? Slapped—without so much as a kiss? Overloaded, abused, kicked around and beaten like a rented mule?
Say hello to the Alternative Minimum Tax! This year for the first time—because finally; at our “distinguished ages,” myself and “Mrs G” have attained the enviable income level of “middle class.” We have no more little boys from whom we can glean a child tax credit and so instead, we get to be hosed an additional $1,400 above and beyond the tax tables provided in the tax booklet! All the while, we proudly pay for college to the tune of $20,000 per year—along with millions of other “middle income” folks in the same situation. Man….what a country! No wonder the democrats in congress keep fighting the repeal of this gold mine. IT’S FREE MONEY!
Once I realized I would be afforded this special opportunity to step up and pay more than my fair share—I just sat back on the couch and stared at my computer screen in utter disbelief. My first reaction, was, “Huh? What, the hell? I am certain these are words uttered ad nauseum, in the collective privacy of millions of homes. This, is this Alternative Minimum Tax. I silently wished I had back the 30 minutes or so it took to compute the boy’s limited, small tuition write-offs. What was the point?
So I researched. Apparently, instituted in the 1960s, this brainstorm was actually conceived in the spirit of fair play. Contrived so that the very wealthy having a myriad of tax write-offs they could take advantage of and in doing so, actually pay less tax than “normal folks,” they would still have to pay a “minimum amount.” And it worked—BACK THEN. The problem, was that it was never indexed for inflation, so that now, forty years later, middle income levels having approached what were then, high-income levels, now fall into the range where the AMT comes into play!
Now I am no accountant. I am not tax professional of any kind. I’m just a regular schmoe—a retired Wyoming state trooper as it happens, who picked another job after retirement. Hardly anything more than middle-class next-door neighbor material. I mow my own lawn and everything. And, in just one direction!
Well, wait a minute. How dare I! I am, after all, fortunate enough to be considered middle class nowadays. I should be proud, to pay an extra little tidbit, so that the less fortunate United States Government will not have to do without. After all, the Congress is people, too.
Among the many “Bush Tax Cuts” I was so proud to support, was a temporary raising of the income level to qualify for this tax, but it wasn’t raised nearly high enough. Now, if you approach $70,000 or so, stand by and be sure to do the worksheet provided—you may be next in line to see the hose monster magically come alive and chase you down! If they think I supported those tax cuts before; you ain’t seen nothing yet! Sign me up for the camp to completely abolish the AMT. What a rip off!
For now, I sit and lick my wounds from doing battle with the IRS tax forms for another year—stunned, that I work every year until April, to pay my taxes. Then, smiling in irony, I think back to a day not too long ago where my liberal-leaning son suggested higher taxes were a good thing—that people should have to give even more, to pay for all of the finer things our government wants to bring us.
So I tossed in some logic he could relate to. How would he like it, I asked, if, (as he usually gets straight “A” grades and works very hard to attain them) he had to give two of his “A”s every semester, back to the school. They would then give him a “C” and give those perfect grades to a less studious, less fortunate youngster who “deserved” their help. My son’s GPA would suffer a 20% hit. His 4 point would become a 3.2! Shouldn’t he feel thankful the school would use his grade to help someone they felt needed the help, more than he? After all, he already had plenty!
“That’s different!” He exclaimed.
“How so?” I asked, puzzled.
“Because I worked very hard, for those grades!”
“Indeed, my boy. Tell me about it.”
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Wyoming's Castle Law - The Last Laugh they Hear
In the debate of the Castle Law currently being considered in our legislature, is the core question: Does the head of a household have the right to protect with deadly force if need be; his home, property or loved ones within. It amazes me that there would be anyone available to actually argue against this.
When in our nation’s history—much less Wyoming’s history—did we ever agree to acquiesce to the criminals among us? When did that happen? While in some circles of upper crust, liberal mindset it is true that some, have suggested that criminals are victims. That criminals are only evil, foul, violent and selfish—because our society has somehow dropped the ball and let them down. Hogwash!
The reason you, I, or most other folks have anything of value, precious artifacts we collect in our lifetimes and the human blessing in our lives—is because we’ve worked hard for them. Sacrificed for them. Waited for them. Earned them. Created them. For the most part, few of us had much more than the shirt on our backs when we started out making a life and acquiring those things of value to us. Now, some would argue, we must simply hand over these things—including the lives of our loved ones—to these poor, misunderstood souls. I don’t think so.
As a retired Wyoming state trooper, I once lived the life of a peace officer. A cop who, like other cops, understood all too well, the vial realities of the criminals among us here in Wyoming. Yes, we are few in population my friends and we all like to brag about keeping our doors unlocked to our homes and cars, because after all, Wyoming is such a friendly place. That is true. It is the most wondrous land in all of America in my opinion. But splash a little ice water in your face my neighbors—Wyoming—as good as it is—has no exemption from evil.
Understand clearly, that if you call 911 at 3 a.m. to report one of these animals forcibly breaking into your home while your children sleep just a few feet from the window you just heard get shattered, a police officer just a couple of miles away, will take precious minutes to respond. The intruder, will take but a few seconds, to find you all, kill you, steal your things and be gone—into the night. Yes—they are that bold, that fast and that ruthless.
And so now our legislature debates whether you should be allowed to defend your life and the lives of your family, against these thugs. Whether you should be required to bow down and surrender, at the feet of the evil and depraved living among us.
There are, living among you in virtually every tiny hamlet from Wamsutter to Casper; Story to Cheyenne and everything in between—very bad, very mean and very violent criminals who laugh, at the well-intentioned but far removed liberal judges, legislators and citizens who come to their defense. They are waiting; these self-gratifying parasites, laughing at us, as we argue this bill. They laugh also at the police, who must try to protect you when they cannot be in two places at once. They are waiting.
Please, contact your legislator and ask them where they stand on this issue and tell them that it is you—and your good, Wyoming neighbors—for whom the last laugh, is reserved.
When in our nation’s history—much less Wyoming’s history—did we ever agree to acquiesce to the criminals among us? When did that happen? While in some circles of upper crust, liberal mindset it is true that some, have suggested that criminals are victims. That criminals are only evil, foul, violent and selfish—because our society has somehow dropped the ball and let them down. Hogwash!
The reason you, I, or most other folks have anything of value, precious artifacts we collect in our lifetimes and the human blessing in our lives—is because we’ve worked hard for them. Sacrificed for them. Waited for them. Earned them. Created them. For the most part, few of us had much more than the shirt on our backs when we started out making a life and acquiring those things of value to us. Now, some would argue, we must simply hand over these things—including the lives of our loved ones—to these poor, misunderstood souls. I don’t think so.
As a retired Wyoming state trooper, I once lived the life of a peace officer. A cop who, like other cops, understood all too well, the vial realities of the criminals among us here in Wyoming. Yes, we are few in population my friends and we all like to brag about keeping our doors unlocked to our homes and cars, because after all, Wyoming is such a friendly place. That is true. It is the most wondrous land in all of America in my opinion. But splash a little ice water in your face my neighbors—Wyoming—as good as it is—has no exemption from evil.
Understand clearly, that if you call 911 at 3 a.m. to report one of these animals forcibly breaking into your home while your children sleep just a few feet from the window you just heard get shattered, a police officer just a couple of miles away, will take precious minutes to respond. The intruder, will take but a few seconds, to find you all, kill you, steal your things and be gone—into the night. Yes—they are that bold, that fast and that ruthless.
And so now our legislature debates whether you should be allowed to defend your life and the lives of your family, against these thugs. Whether you should be required to bow down and surrender, at the feet of the evil and depraved living among us.
There are, living among you in virtually every tiny hamlet from Wamsutter to Casper; Story to Cheyenne and everything in between—very bad, very mean and very violent criminals who laugh, at the well-intentioned but far removed liberal judges, legislators and citizens who come to their defense. They are waiting; these self-gratifying parasites, laughing at us, as we argue this bill. They laugh also at the police, who must try to protect you when they cannot be in two places at once. They are waiting.
Please, contact your legislator and ask them where they stand on this issue and tell them that it is you—and your good, Wyoming neighbors—for whom the last laugh, is reserved.
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