I Love Taxes...!

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...