I'm certainly not aligned with the "Tea Party" folks; but my husband received this [modified for placement here] in his email today... and it surely does contain some "food for thought."
Is all of this (or the orignal source cited) 100% legit?
I don't know - so hold it "loosely" - do your own research (if you so choose) - and form your own opinions...
How did we get where we are?
What are potential peaceful solutions?
Why are New York State taxes so very, very high?
Would one tax - a higher sales tax perhaps [applicable to all non-food items] - equally applicable to all people, organizations, etc [even not-for-profits and religious not-for profits] be more equitable, sensible and FAIR than what we currently have going on?
It [the SINGLE sales tax idea] would certainly cut down on paperwork, red tape, governmental and institutional paperwork, mailings, personel costs, etc. - wouldn't it?
Just my thoughts.
Read on.
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"Subject: worthwhile read about congress from A retired Orlando Sentinel reporter...
'What the heck happened -
545 people vs 300 million people...'
Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinal has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgements made that impact each one of us every day.
It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!
545 vs. 300,000,000
EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO READ THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS JOURNALIST HAS scriptED IN THIS MESSAGE. READ IT AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT
OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBACLE.
Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.
'545 PEOPLE--By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them...
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits..... The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red ..
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power..
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!'
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
What you do with this article now that you have read it is up to you...
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think..
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax..
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service FeeTax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the hell happened?...'"
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Any thoughts on this?
Clarifications?
Corrections?
Additions?
Thoughts on my SINGLE sales tax idea?
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Postscript:
1. I think it would be important to know when (?) this was originally written - which I don't.
2. When I mention an across the board sales tax v the current taxation system - I certainly see some items that I believe should be taken off that list as well [In fact, I think this sales tax should only be applied to big ticket luxury items...]
3. In honor of my oldest brother who has said that he is going to be cremated and that there will be no viewing or funeral associated - because of the associated costs (including taxes...) - I certainly think all of THAT deserves a serious looksee... [Yes bro, I do think it is the ultimate indignity to be charged (even post mortem? after working your A off and paying taxes all your life...) top dollar (and/or for your children to be charged top dollar) in order to have a decent funeral, viewing and burial...)]
4 I'm sure more thoughts will come (Where is everyone? I KNOW I have readers....!). This issue is (collectively) very complex but it could potentially (I think) be very simple...
I don't think the answer is voting everyone out of office [round and round we go...] as is stated up above - it is more about communicating and problem solving - in tandem with the above [citizen activism / taking US seriously] - NOW.
[Oh yeah --- sales tax idea aside --- I heard Richard Cahill Jr. (with whom I disagree on a number of issues...) state a brilliant (in my opinion) idea on his Kingston Area Public Access show the other night! That is (This is not a direct quote /I'm relying on my shaky memory...) to tax any business or corporation that takes jobs out of the U.S. (all too often exploiting workers in other countries) to the MAX and give tax BREAKS to any business or corporation that does its business (all manufacturing plants, jobs, etc.) exclusively within U.S. boundries.]
Kudos Rich. I certainly LIKE that one!
