Hit And Jog Thoughts

-While the left speculated, perhaps prayed in their putz bunk, whether the bombings in Boston were the work of right-wing, Tea Party extremists on tax day, it's worth reminding that during the Bush years I seem to recall movies about killing him and constant violent verbal attacks that threatened him in pop culture and left-wing sites.

So. Why doesn't anyone ever wonder if such atrocities are the work of "left-wing" extremists?

Funny that.

******

-Was talking to my accountant yesterday. We were discussing a time when my wife took maternity leave and later was part-time at work. She would receive thousands of dollars back on her taxes because she was paying social costs as if she were full-time. Now that things have returned to normalcy, we get back hundreds.

As he was explaining certain facts and realities of how taxes work in Canada and Quebec (Quebec files two tax returns. A ridiculous position for wanting to be a pretend country), it struck me how odd it was. On the one end, progressive taxes are thought to be the fairest most equitable way of redistributing wealth (although taxes are perhaps the most inefficient tool in our financial arsenal. The business concept - axiom if you will - of "nobody or nothing should ever come between you and your money" is pretty much dead in the post-welfare era). On the other, it seems to strictly put all the burden on a few willing and productive workers.

So I asked him, as currently designed, does it reach a point where a person calculates it pays to just stay home?

He answered, "without question."

He went on to explain that a person on welfare, as but one example, if they need to go to the grocery store can take a cab and that expense is paid by the government - IE taxpayers.

There's a fine line between legitimate welfare and enabling. According to him, the government is aware of the problem and is looking to crack down. Alas, when you've spent decades forming a social-democratic mentality where you have the right, a sense of entitlement, to state help, it's hard to remove this.

He went to further explain that nearly 50% of Quebecers pay little or no taxes. That leaves a precious tiny tax base to support Quebec's lush and posh welfare apparatus. No wonder they like equalization payments and don't want to relinquish it even if they separate.

I think it's the same problem in the United States. In Massachusetts, for example, EBT fraud is widespread costing taxpayers millions. This problem is only being covered or discussed in conservative circles (because they lack compassion, you know?) and are chastised by liberals for daring to debate it. After all, corporate fraud lays more taxpayer waste in their minds.

At best, two wrongs don't make a right, right? That line of logic is problematic. Because corporate "greed" is perceived to be the problem the ever problem of welfare fraud should be overlooked?

I love when politicians say, "a 2% tax hike comes out to $12 dollars off your pay!" That's a tact you learn in high pressure sales training. I remember one of my my first jobs was to sell children's encyclopedias (yeah, I know. Hilarious. But they really were beautiful books....a set for $3000). One of the "hooks" were trained and told to tell customers was it merely cost $2 a day!

The theory was that you can pay it off painlessly in a couple of years all to the benefit of your child's education. Which, I reckon, there's truth in.

A rational person would have said, "yeah. but it's still $3000!"

And so it is for politicians who prey and play on our emotions. What is $12 for the 'common good?"

Problem is, add up ALL YOUR TAXES. Further that with what you see in the news with corruption and waste and tell me if you're getting bang for your buck. Like you choose between BBQs at Home Depot (incidentally, just bought myself a basic Weber for $115. I bought a fancier one years ago and it's already giving problems so I figured go simple; retro. I bet you they last longer. Plus it's a pain in the ass to keep killing the propane tank), we should treat our social dollars as if it was a household budget. Accustom ourselves, if you will, to questioning to what degree is our responsibility to the community. At present, to me anyway,  it's a one-way street where the state and certain pundits are dictating we must at every cost. Or as libertarians are fond of saying, "fuck you, because we say so."

Which brings me to my last point, it's easy to measure the waste in government. And there's no question governments in the West in general are being financially stretched to the brink with welfare.

The question is will anyone show leadership and do anything about it?

I'm not encouraged.