A Work in Progress

Tax Re-"Form"

When I was in my early teens, I had this quirk – I enjoyed filling out forms.  In those days, our TV schedule was printed in a guide that was delivered weekly with the paper. [I know – how archaic!] This little mini-book was also filled with ads for all sorts of home improvement products and services, and most of them included a form to be filled out and mailed to receive more information.  For some reason, I enjoyed filling out those forms.

One afternoon, my parents called me into the kitchen for a conversation. They were both sitting at our kitchen table, and my dad looked particularly concerned.  On the table was the most recent TV guide. Seemingly out of the blue, my dad asked me if I was embarrassed or bothered by the fact that he was pretty much bald. Surprised, I responded with the truth – nope, didn’t bother me at all.  My dad then flipped open the TV guide to the page where I had filled out the form to receive information on curing baldness.  Fortunately, I had been my meticulous self, and it was fairly easy to demonstrate that I had filled out ALL the forms in that week’s guide (they hadn’t really thought to look, but jumped to a more obvious conclusion).  Alongside completed forms for basement waterproofing, new gutters and house-painting, it was clear that I had merrily just completed any form in the TV guide.  Honestly, I must not have read the ads for the forms I was completing, or I’d like to think I would have skipped the one on baldness to make sure I wouldn’t hurt my dad’s feelings.  In any event, my parents chuckled, my dad was relieved and I limited my form-filling ways to working the TV Guide crossword puzzle from then on.

Well, I am pleased to report that, after years of clandestinely feeding this passion for filling out forms, government tax “re-form” has totally cured me!!!  Over the weekend, I finalized and processed my personal tax forms, and the tax forms for the 2 micro-businesses I operate.  I had a change in the need for payroll processing this year, and cannot believe how many forms have to be filed just to tell the government that I would not be filing certain other forms anymore!!!  So, I am cured.  No longer will I look forward to filling out forms, written or electronic!

Geez, I wonder if I can claim all this somehow as a medical expense??

Dizzy Yet?

The spin from last week’s government “near-shutdown” will make those with even the most stable constitution a bit queasy.  It’s now several days after the big “deal” and it is only this morning that any actual details are available.  In the meantime, the only thing the main-scream media wants to talk about is who “won” – Obama, the Republicans, the Tea Party? On most lists, there is no spot for the American people.

So, how did we lose our place at the table?

It’s not unlike the times you attend a wedding and excuse yourself from the table to go see Aunt Martha, who you haven’t seen in years. Upon returning to the table, someone else is in your spot and gives no indication they are interested in relinquishing the seat. As a matter of fact, they pretty much ignore the fact that you are even standing there, waiting to be acknowledged.

How do we reclaim our seat?  We pull up a chair, squeeze in wherever there’s a spot, take a moment to understand what’s being said at the table, and then participate in the conversation.   We don’t need to shout, we don’t need to demean those with other opinions, and we certainly don’t need to lie.

At the height of the government stoppage frenzy last week, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl (R) sought support for his stand on cutting funding to Planned Parenthood with this statement on the Senate floor:

But you don't have to go Planned Parenthood to get your cholesterol or your blood pressure checked. If you want an abortion, you go to Planned Parenthood. And that's well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does.

Can Senators just make up numbers that constitute more or less the opposite of the truth? Well, yes, they can. Lies are told all the time, and usually go uncontested. When standing in front of a microphone, those in the public eye are speaking for the sound bites the media will use. Sometimes the lie-tellers are challenged and corrected, but by that time, many have adopted the lie as truth.  In this case, when challenged, Kyl’s office claimed the comment was not meant to be “factual”…

…his remark was not intended to be a factual statement, but rather to illustrate that Planned Parenthood, a[n] organization that receives millions of dollars in taxpayer funding, does subsidize abortions.

In the meantime, how many heard the first remark, but didn’t (or didn’t want to) hear the clarifying statement?  Elected officials are counting on the public to NOT find the time to fully understand what’s being said and done in their name.

Were the American people in last week’s conversation at all?  Absolutely! Like clockwork, politicians from both parties appeared regularly in front of microphones and cameras to state that they were “standing for the American people” as they sought support for their actions.  Well, it’s time for the American people to stand for themselves.  That means taking the time to understand the issues. That means accepting that the person next to you may not agree with you on all issues. That means RESPECTING that the person next to you may not agree with you on all issues.

Politically, I consider myself as an independent – in that I may find myself in agreement with one political party on one issue, while agreeing with an opposing party on another issue – and am capable of thinking independently on any issue.  There is no one party that is going to represent all my views, and I shouldn’t have to give up one of my beliefs just to belong somewhere. I am the “Emily” party. I encourage you to create your own political party, with party planks supporting all the beliefs that are important to you.

And, when you are done catching up with Aunt Martha, come join me. I have a seat saved for you.