Comments on: Tax Time http://www.melindasnodgrass.com/musings/2007/04/16/tax-time/ Rational Life Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:38:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Preston http://www.melindasnodgrass.com/musings/2007/04/16/tax-time/#comment-161 Preston Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:44:51 +0000 http://www.melindasnodgrass.com/musings/2007/04/16/tax-time/#comment-161 Actually, a *really* moral society would just help the less fortunate directly, without the gross waste and fraud. But it's better than nothing. I just mentally write it off as a small price to pay for living in one of the most free and secure countries on the planet. Actually, a *really* moral society would just help the less fortunate directly, without the gross waste and fraud. But it’s better than nothing. I just mentally write it off as a small price to pay for living in one of the most free and secure countries on the planet.

]]> By: Melinda http://www.melindasnodgrass.com/musings/2007/04/16/tax-time/#comment-162 Melinda Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:28:49 +0000 http://www.melindasnodgrass.com/musings/2007/04/16/tax-time/#comment-162 I agree, Preston, I wish our very frayed safety net would get repaired. There's been a really pernicious swing in attitudes in this country over the past twenty-five or so years. First we had the Regan statements that government was the problem -- tell that to our grandparents with there social security and medicare, or victims of a catastrophe when FEMA used to work before Bush broke it. And now we have this kind of capitalist Christianity being pushed in some of the mega churchs. The idea that your economic situation is an indication of how pious you are and how much god loves you, and those less fortunate are somehow "sinful". It excuses people from caring or helping. I went to school in Austria, and I've traveled a lot though only in the first world, and I do love this country. I just want America and her citizens to be better than this -- braver, kinder, stronger and more thoughtful. I agree, Preston, I wish our very frayed safety net would get repaired. There’s been a really pernicious swing in attitudes in this country over the past twenty-five or so years. First we had the Regan statements that government was the problem — tell that to our grandparents with there social security and medicare, or victims of a catastrophe when FEMA used to work before Bush broke it. And now we have this kind of capitalist Christianity being pushed in some of the mega churchs. The idea that your economic situation is an indication of how pious you are and how much god loves you, and those less fortunate are somehow “sinful”. It excuses people from caring or helping.

I went to school in Austria, and I’ve traveled a lot though only in the first world, and I do love this country. I just want America and her citizens to be better than this — braver, kinder, stronger and more thoughtful.

]]> By: Preston http://www.melindasnodgrass.com/musings/2007/04/16/tax-time/#comment-163 Preston Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:56:20 +0000 http://www.melindasnodgrass.com/musings/2007/04/16/tax-time/#comment-163 I think we all wish that, Melinda. I think many charities would describe a long, slow decline in donations over the decades. We've forgotten how to give--of our money and of ourselves. Instead we've become taxpayers, pushing the burden of responsibility and caring off on a third party. Here's hoping for that better America. I think we all wish that, Melinda. I think many charities would describe a long, slow decline in donations over the decades. We’ve forgotten how to give–of our money and of ourselves. Instead we’ve become taxpayers, pushing the burden of responsibility and caring off on a third party.

Here’s hoping for that better America.

]]> By: Ty http://www.melindasnodgrass.com/musings/2007/04/16/tax-time/#comment-164 Ty Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:54:00 +0000 http://www.melindasnodgrass.com/musings/2007/04/16/tax-time/#comment-164 The bastards got us for an extra four grand, and I wasn't even working half the year! The bastards got us for an extra four grand, and I wasn’t even working half the year!

]]>