Now you know that's a lie, right?
First of all, I don't pay income tax anymore. It seems that even the government realizes that folks like me, living just above the poverty level, couldn't pay taxes if we wanted to! Luckily, I fell below the "have to pay" mark when I retired.
It's really a little more complicated than I make it sound, but I like things simple...so that's how I think about it!
You know, taxes have been a problem for a long, long time. Thanks to the "Old Farmer's Almanac" I have a little bit of tax history to pass on to you. (I just love the Almanac, ya know?)
Tax Day’s around the corner (April 15 for U.S. residents; April 30 for Canadians).
Here’s something to think about: In the 1730s, all “U.S.” residents paid a 6-shilling tax for a “night watch” guard.
Benjamin Franklin circulated an essay decrying “the inequity of this tax . . . since a poor widow housekeeper . . . paid as much as the wealthiest merchant, who had thousands of pounds’ worth of goods in his store.” This led to a reform law.
Ben's proportional tax resembles the U.S. federal income tax, enacted in 1913, with its progressive rate.
In the spirit of thrifty Ben Franklin, here are a few tips on saving money:
• Plant your own veggie garden.
• Collect rain off the roof with a water barrel.
• Compost in the backyard.
• Heat your home with a kitchen wood stove.
I hate to bring up such an unpopular subject as taxes, but a little history never hurt anyone, right? Right! Now...let's get a fresh cup of coffee, my friend. OK? OK...
17 comments:
Hey Jim - We make sure to keep our income below the have to pay mark as well. It's also a great way to protest paying income taxes!
Jim;
Just think how much you PAID over the years. Got a head ache yet? I'm glad you don't have to pay now, income tax that is. Don't forget the rest of the taxes you still get to pay. Smokes? Man I am rotten this morning.
Hey Jim, good morning. Another great tidbit from the Almanac. I think the school tax here in the Northeast at least is the most unfair. Why should, say a retired couple, who have no kids pay a huge school tax just because they own a home, while someone renting an apartment with 5 kids pays nothing?!
The school tax on a newer home in this country area is upwards of $7,000 a year. While this is peanuts for the tri-state area of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey it is quite high for a location that offers very little in the way of schooling our children.
Ahhh yeah, taxes...
How bout some coffee instead?
:)
lydia
Unfortunately, I'm still paying taxes on just about everything I have or do! The sad part is that if or when I die they still want some more tax money. Hopefully by that time I will have run out of money! LOL
I definitely need more coffee!
RW
Good morning Jim, Yuck another nasty taste in my mouth. I had to pay $268. in state tax this year because the idiots at the unemployment office didn't take out enough not that I could have afforded that much more anyway. It must be time for a camping trip I pick her up this morning, At least I can get excited over that in a good way. :)
Please pass the pot.
We get ours done & over with as soon as possible, anymore a good chunk goes toward seeds, supplies & repairs. Seems the economy might do better if people could keep their money & spend/save it all year long instead of at tax return time. oh well...never knew ole Ben was responsible for the tax mess. Wouldn't it have been easier to let some private person decide to help the widow out? Maybe he had no idea how bad his simple suggestion would get.
Hey OWMom...it's a shame that we have to deliberately NOT make money just to keep from paying more taxes. It would be different if they were going for something really useful, instead of for funding bailouts!
Thanks for coming by today!
Hey Tony...yeah, about the only thing they DON'T make me pay taxes on is the air! And I wouldn't be surprised if that was coming...
Thanks for coming by, Tony!
Hey Lydia...I never did understand all the school tax, bridge tax, and all the rest! I certainly agree that the amount you talked about is way out of line! At least, it seems to me to be way too high!
Hey, thanks for the visit, my friend!
Hey RW...yeah, they even have that death tax...strange, huh? It's amazing how many times a dollar bill is taxed from the time it's printed!
No wonder so much of the economy is going underground!
Hey, thanks for coming by, RW
Hey JoJo...always a good way to get your head straight after tax time...besides, going camping is good for the soul!
About time for some more pictures, my friend! I'm glad you are getting the little house back and fixed up to go!
Thanks so much for dropping by!
Hey Stephanie...couldn't agree with you more about keeping the money and recirculting it ourselves. Seems to me that would be a good thing.
I think that Ben had the right idea, but as usual, once the GOV. gets hold of something, they can really screw it up!
Thanks to you for taking the time to visit!
My dad always told me there were two things you could count on bugging ya through life, death and taxes.
He also said that those two things always take something from ya that ya want to keep.
I'm at zero again this year...grin
but any EIC or stimulus will be absorbed by them for back taxes...I wont miss the irs blood suckers or any other tax man after the collapse....Well, not if my scope is in good adjustment.
Hey Eddie...I'm thinking that old Dad was absoutely correct!
Thanks for the visit, my friend!
Hey Dragon...being at zero is a good thing. I try and stay under the radar as much as possible, ya know?
Let's hope your site stays aligned! Thanks for coming by today!
I kinda expect to see a screaming, hair-pulling post or three come midnight...
Hey Cyg...I suspect you're right! We will see...
Yeah Jim, Here's something for YOU to think about:
The income tax was never ratified by every state and is not and has never been federal law.
And just try to tell that to Uncle. haw haw.
Quirky
I'm making it over your way today. It's been a while and I needed to say thank you for your comments on my blog. Great post above!
Hey JSJacobus...no thanks needed, my friend. I appreciate the kind words and the visit!
I would think the people in 1730 would have definitely appreciated their night watch guard, what with very upset natives who had their lands stolen out from under them running around, and of course the criminal types that are in any age, like highwaymen. That Benjamin Franklin was a smart cookie.
I think that we could definitely use an overhaul of how our money is spent, less on war, more on education would be a start. But these people who act like they shouldn't pay their fair share are very, dare I say it, unpatriotic. ;)
Hey Mad...sometimes I wish we had someone that spoke as well about the situations that arise as old Ben did.
But those days are gone, I'm afraid!
Hey, thanks for coming by!
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