Internal Revenue
I finished my taxes today. It seemed sort of weird to be paying money to such an organization as the US — as if I am somehow a benefit to something so great. I guess that's a twisted way to view taxes — it's more accurate to consider that I benefit from the US and owe a small sum in return. But nonetheless, I suppose I am of some actual though small monetary value to the country.
posted by Claire at 00:20
4 Comments:
I agree about the taxes. I was delighted to receive EIC this year for the first time - it helps to be a student! Now I feel like a real leech.
Do you have a brother Matt or am I on the wrong track? It seems that a while back I met someone named Matt Varney, but as far as I know he had no connection to Oregon State University.
Back to the national tax system, what do you in Oregon think of President Bush's stab at SS reform?
My brother is Matt. Where/when do you think you might have met him and do you remember any particulars about him?
There might be a slight minority of Oregonians in favor of the plan, if opinions follow the Oregon presidential votes for those in favor of Bush.
I personally don't know much about it. Something needs to be done to keep the Social Security Administration from running out of money, and I think privatization could be a good idea if implemented properly. I could probably do a better job of investing my money than the government, and I'm not keen on having my living provided by the government (it has socialist flavors). (I don't know if I go this far with it, but some conservative (not by government party, but in the way they live) Mennonites will not even receive Social Security payments and they can get a waver from paying Social Security in some states.)
If more workers start privatizing their social security, I suppose it could produce a shortage of money for today's retired people though it may work well for the retired people 20 years down the road.
So Matt is your brother! I can't remember exactly the last time I met him . However, I do recall some of his unique characteristics as being a bit off the cultural beat, which was fine by me, seeing I have some of the same. I don't remember, though, what it was in particular about him that made such a lasting impression...
On the Social Security issue, I am delighted to be among those who have filed form 4029. This is a religious waiver that completely exempts one from the Social Security program. No payments or redemptions, ever. The process to become exempt is relatively simple, and by what I have heard, the government is happy to get people out of the program. The only requirement is that one is a current member of a religious group that has its name filed in a under a list of exempt groups, and then you have to get your pastor to sign it.
I think privatization is a great idea. Larry Burkett makes the bold claim that only 12 percent of SS funds get back to the public anyway. How's that for efficiency? Problem is, SS has long been regarded as the third rail of politics - touch it and you're dead. You would never have caught Dubya attempting its reform in his first term. Only time will tell if he will get anywhere.
Too bad about the pope. IMHO, they may be hard pressed to find someone to fill his shoes. I believe he was about as good as a pope could be. He is known for his efforts to put the Scriptures into the hands of the common Catholic person. Makes me wonder what words St. Peter had for him when he knocked on heaven's gate??
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