Taxes and Politics

Not quite the zing of "Twilight," but this title is sure to get...about four people reading it. Now normally, Joe (that's right, Joe's going third person on this one) doesn't like to philosophize on the political.  Because it's stupid.  Joe has one rule for talking politics: find out what the other person's view is, and if they don't agree, don't talk politics (and if they do agree, try to limit the conversation anyway).  But one thing Joe does care about is JOE, and when Joe's life is being directly impacted (something, say, a presidential election rarely causes), it is time to speak up.

As I've mentioned, we are buying a house.  One of the great things about America is even a guy such as I, who has made his fair share of mistakes and missteps, can still be good looking enough to marry a pretty girl and get a house loan.  Very cool.  

So as we're about to close on this thing, we look at the bill, which includes about 87 different taxes--property, real estate, view, tax for a name beginning with a letter in the alphabet, I mean, fucking taxes, taxes, taxes.  And I am not against taxes.  I understand their need.  I like having roads to drive on, and I am not some libertarian/tea party douche.  Yes, government is populated by gigantic asses, because government is selected from a larger gigantic ass pool.  We can quibble over left or right, or whether my unborn child deserves health care, and wars and all that.  I'll respect your opinion.  Even if it is wrong.  

But how the fuck is it that I have to pay taxes and about 2/3rds of corporations doing business in the United States don't have to pay any?  Not one fucking dime. Now, granted, I haven't done extensive research on this.  Heard it from Peteresen. Did a quick Google search.  Got all the ammo I need.  I am writing a blog, not an article for the Times.  So feel free to find fault with my logic (all 4 of you).

Here's a link http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/08/12/us-usa-taxes-corporationsidUSN1249465620080812

Here's another http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/01/ge-exxon-walmart-business-washington-corporate-taxes.html

And another...oh, never-mind.  Just do a Google search.

I don't pretend to know "how this all works."  I am sure there are people out there who will explain why it is actually good for the economy.  And they might be persuasive.  The emperor looks great in his new clothes, which will one day trickle down to you.  At the Salvation Army.

Maybe I am a simple man.  But I am pretty sure $10 billion is more than I make.  

What difference does it make, really?  These are abstracts, numbers, articles, conjectures.  The data can be skewed to support whatever position.  I get that there are other variables.  Mostly basic humanity.  It's easy to outline "left" and "wrong," but the truth is, like my buddy Dave 2 once said in his awesome documentary, In Whose Interest?: In whose interest?  Vantage- and viewpoint are everything.  Who doesn't try to circumvent the system?  We steal pictures off websites, we download illegal music.  How is this any different?  Using the rules in place to get around having to pay money.  

Believe it or not, my gripe isn't with the corporations or the evil 5% of rich, old white guys.  They are protecting their interests, right, wrong, moral, immoral, whatever. It's human nature.  What pisses me off are postmen of modest means in Florida, who are arch conservatives railing against Nancy Pelosi and socialism, like a black man supporting the KKK.  Now I love postmen, I really do.  Good men, good friends. Great album titles. But like non-slave owners in the 1800's south, some postmen will still support the aristocracy's right to own slaves.  Not because he can afford them.  But because one day, when he is rich enough to, he doesn't want the government telling him he can't.  Which is doubly offensive.  One the institution is immoral, and two such support makes a man a jackass.