Belated thanks for mentioning Jackie Robinson. When I was a kid growing up in the mid-60s, I was a Giants fan and idolized the two Willies: Mays and McCovey. I had no clue that twenty years before, they wouldn't have been allowed to play in the major leagues. I just watched "42" -- great movie and it filled me in on the history I was clueless about.
Even though we got a refund this year (because we made estimated quarterly payments), I still feel like laugh-crying right along with Dony. “It’s the worst part of the game!” Innocence lost. Poor kid!
Our tax accountant takes it as a personal failure when we overpay the quarterly estimates. We bank some extra to cover a tax-day payment if needed. You and I know what we're paying. Most folks have it extracted from each paycheck, and most don't look at more than what shows up in their account (direct deposit helps hide the details). So they don't really know how much they're taxed. And don't realize that all their after-tax income gets taxed even more (every bill has built in or added on tax). Built-in taxes are preferred by governments because it's harder for people to see the true abuse.
Another reason they're at war with "independent contractors" and small businesses. We see the truth, well, some of it.
OMG you found something factually correct on Wikipedia! how strange!
"it also greatly reduced the taxpayer's awareness of the amount of tax being collected, i.e. it reduced the transparency of the tax, which made it easier to raise taxes in the future" That is the actual point - to make it easier to raise taxes, to hide the true amount.
The true tax burden is hidden many ways. Buried in the prices of everything is the cost of producing and transporting it - much of it tax expense (fuel, power, etc). Many programs are created to hide taxes - called something else. When we used to get paychecks you could see the breakdown with all sorts of acronyms like SSA, SDI, etc. That wasn't opaque enough, so now we have direct deposit. Also touted as "for your convenience". Most people don't see the "top line" anymore, just the amount that shows up in their bank account
The cancer of Statism/collectivism depends on an ignorant public.
You know, most of Wikipedia et al is awesomely informative, but as in all things, the individual must remain skeptical of orthodoxy/indoctrination by revisionists of the Left (imo) on certain subjects.
Wikipedia is very political and often inaccurate. I have little confidence of it as a source. The "crowdsourced" model is largely fraudulent - it seems that a few people control content. I've corrected blatant factual errors in articles only to have my edits undone by "someone" - restoring verifiably false information. Thus the "rule of the majority" isn't actually. how one becomes a Wiki-elite I don't know (I'm not it, for sure).
Yes, too opaque and too unresponsive. Good on you for trying.
I didn't mean to imply that I *ever* use it as primary reference. You know that phrase, "trust but verify". In Wiki's case it should be, "remain skeptical, and verify". I also am sure of egregious violation of that which is purposely absent or left out in a sea of unimportant detail and minutiae (akin to the burying of essential truth at the end of NYT articles and neglect of important story on the front page).
Still, protected by this healthy skepticism, I find it useful, especially in getting up to speed on the non-political.
Thanks for another Monday dose of cute and happy. I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but I always look forward to sharing these with my oldest daughter, who is hard keyed into the quiet and cute in a way I am... how you say... not. It always gives us something nice to talk about for a little bit on Monday evenings. Much appreciated.
SC - Thanks for my LMAO of the day. "Taxes Are Just the Price We Pay to Not Be Harmed - Wait, isn't that extortion?" Government is called legal plunder, legalized racketeering and a kleptocracy for a reason Mr Mulder
Snow is gone! Finally! That is very positive, because now is the time for planting (indoors) seeds so that the wee green sprouts can be put into soil outdoors in a month.
Starter of the car broke and the mech put in a faulty one - manufacturing fault, so not his fault - but the workshop paid for towing and replacement with zero fuss. Always positive to find a business or craftsman with some integrity and pride.
Moffe the retired sled-dog is now fully a member - and a powerhouse now that he dares to show off. Biked with him yesterday, to get a little exercise. Silly human. 6 miles, and I had maybe turned the pedals twice. And him none the worse for wear - just a quick dip in a flooded ditch filled with mini-ice floes and it was as if he reset to full power. Very positive.
And woke cancel pigs are scurrying hither and yon as cut-downs, lay-offs and people simply nope-ing out of modern media - that's really positive!
The adorable "yoga kitty"! The kitty grooming the bunny. And the camouflaged fluff ball on the bedspread! So much cuteness in one place! Made me so happy I had to laugh.
And how did that dog learn to turn corners on a skateboard? Mind-boggling.
Pure gold, SC! Thank you!! Too much politics and State of the World woes - this was a really nice break! Sometimes a smile feels strange on my face... but not right now! "Dony" in the first video is right on the mark!
And now...a skateboarding cat (actually there are three of them but Didga is the best).
When I saw the title in my email, I thought, "Isn't that the very definition of extortion?" Then I opened it up and saw your tag(?) line and actually laughed out loud. 😂 Thanks for the laugh, SimCom. More importantly, thank you for the fluffy and furry videos. Those were great to cap off a stressful day!
Belated thanks for mentioning Jackie Robinson. When I was a kid growing up in the mid-60s, I was a Giants fan and idolized the two Willies: Mays and McCovey. I had no clue that twenty years before, they wouldn't have been allowed to play in the major leagues. I just watched "42" -- great movie and it filled me in on the history I was clueless about.
MissionAccomplished.jpg!
https://www.dossier.today/p/biden-admin-commissioned-report-concludes?
Drip, drip, drip...
The sound of truth willing out.
Yes!
https://rollcall.com/2024/04/16/supreme-court-questions-use-of-statute-against-jan-6-defendants/
Our taxes (wealth *we* create, in the private sector *only*) pay the salaries of deep state apparatchiks like Ciaramella:
https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2024/04/17/impeachment_whistleblower_was_in_the_loop_of_biden-ukraine_affairs_that_trump_wanted_probed_1024937.html
Here's another important spot on:
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2024/04/16/americas_broken_pendulum_150796.html
Even though we got a refund this year (because we made estimated quarterly payments), I still feel like laugh-crying right along with Dony. “It’s the worst part of the game!” Innocence lost. Poor kid!
Our tax accountant takes it as a personal failure when we overpay the quarterly estimates. We bank some extra to cover a tax-day payment if needed. You and I know what we're paying. Most folks have it extracted from each paycheck, and most don't look at more than what shows up in their account (direct deposit helps hide the details). So they don't really know how much they're taxed. And don't realize that all their after-tax income gets taxed even more (every bill has built in or added on tax). Built-in taxes are preferred by governments because it's harder for people to see the true abuse.
Another reason they're at war with "independent contractors" and small businesses. We see the truth, well, some of it.
The evil of tax withholding, part of our early 20th century corruption of the Constitution.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_withholding_in_the_United_States
OMG you found something factually correct on Wikipedia! how strange!
"it also greatly reduced the taxpayer's awareness of the amount of tax being collected, i.e. it reduced the transparency of the tax, which made it easier to raise taxes in the future" That is the actual point - to make it easier to raise taxes, to hide the true amount.
The true tax burden is hidden many ways. Buried in the prices of everything is the cost of producing and transporting it - much of it tax expense (fuel, power, etc). Many programs are created to hide taxes - called something else. When we used to get paychecks you could see the breakdown with all sorts of acronyms like SSA, SDI, etc. That wasn't opaque enough, so now we have direct deposit. Also touted as "for your convenience". Most people don't see the "top line" anymore, just the amount that shows up in their bank account
Spot on.
The cancer of Statism/collectivism depends on an ignorant public.
You know, most of Wikipedia et al is awesomely informative, but as in all things, the individual must remain skeptical of orthodoxy/indoctrination by revisionists of the Left (imo) on certain subjects.
Wikipedia is very political and often inaccurate. I have little confidence of it as a source. The "crowdsourced" model is largely fraudulent - it seems that a few people control content. I've corrected blatant factual errors in articles only to have my edits undone by "someone" - restoring verifiably false information. Thus the "rule of the majority" isn't actually. how one becomes a Wiki-elite I don't know (I'm not it, for sure).
Yes, too opaque and too unresponsive. Good on you for trying.
I didn't mean to imply that I *ever* use it as primary reference. You know that phrase, "trust but verify". In Wiki's case it should be, "remain skeptical, and verify". I also am sure of egregious violation of that which is purposely absent or left out in a sea of unimportant detail and minutiae (akin to the burying of essential truth at the end of NYT articles and neglect of important story on the front page).
Still, protected by this healthy skepticism, I find it useful, especially in getting up to speed on the non-political.
Thanks for another Monday dose of cute and happy. I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but I always look forward to sharing these with my oldest daughter, who is hard keyed into the quiet and cute in a way I am... how you say... not. It always gives us something nice to talk about for a little bit on Monday evenings. Much appreciated.
Another classic SimCom
SC - Thanks for my LMAO of the day. "Taxes Are Just the Price We Pay to Not Be Harmed - Wait, isn't that extortion?" Government is called legal plunder, legalized racketeering and a kleptocracy for a reason Mr Mulder
I laughed until I realized, it's the truth, and not really funny :-(
Snow is gone! Finally! That is very positive, because now is the time for planting (indoors) seeds so that the wee green sprouts can be put into soil outdoors in a month.
Starter of the car broke and the mech put in a faulty one - manufacturing fault, so not his fault - but the workshop paid for towing and replacement with zero fuss. Always positive to find a business or craftsman with some integrity and pride.
Moffe the retired sled-dog is now fully a member - and a powerhouse now that he dares to show off. Biked with him yesterday, to get a little exercise. Silly human. 6 miles, and I had maybe turned the pedals twice. And him none the worse for wear - just a quick dip in a flooded ditch filled with mini-ice floes and it was as if he reset to full power. Very positive.
And woke cancel pigs are scurrying hither and yon as cut-downs, lay-offs and people simply nope-ing out of modern media - that's really positive!
But snow always says; I'll Be Back.
The adorable "yoga kitty"! The kitty grooming the bunny. And the camouflaged fluff ball on the bedspread! So much cuteness in one place! Made me so happy I had to laugh.
And how did that dog learn to turn corners on a skateboard? Mind-boggling.
Lots of practice!
Pure gold, SC! Thank you!! Too much politics and State of the World woes - this was a really nice break! Sometimes a smile feels strange on my face... but not right now! "Dony" in the first video is right on the mark!
And now...a skateboarding cat (actually there are three of them but Didga is the best).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHhrgSJXzfo
Incredible fabulous cat!
In the world of organized crime it is called window insurance, and yes it is extortion. Also a legal holy day.
Theft is harm.
When I saw the title in my email, I thought, "Isn't that the very definition of extortion?" Then I opened it up and saw your tag(?) line and actually laughed out loud. 😂 Thanks for the laugh, SimCom. More importantly, thank you for the fluffy and furry videos. Those were great to cap off a stressful day!
Mrs. "the Knife"
Whadda day
We are getting an extension on daddys taxes, but we got ours out in time.
I really liked the videos
Happy Monday
Yes, why yes it is.