Chad's Rants - Episode 1 (taxes and tax cheats)

Although Melissa will be the major contributor to our family blog, on occasion I may take a moment to contribute. Today, I have decided to post a few rants that I have been stewing over in recent weeks. Those of you who don't want to hear any political rantings may choose to bypass this post (Don't worry, I won't hold it against you).

Over the last couple of weeks I have been finishing my taxes. Man, what a royal pain in the bahookie! As I sat there trying to gather all of my necessary documentation, I couldn't help but wonder why in the heck we are subjected to such misery in the first place. Why does the IRS have to have such a convoluted tax code? It is such a complicated mess. I can't help but wonder why the government doesn't just simplify and go to a national tax rate that is applicable to everybody - whether one is a private entity such as myself, or a corporate entity. Why not just go to a flat rate of, let's say, 15%. Everyone pays a flat rate of 15%...no corporate loopholes, no multitudinous deductions, just 15%. And that goes to everyone...even those who are getting welfare. That's it...15% off the top. Period. Anyone who is a US citizen, any entity that conducts business in the US, anyone or anything that earns an income of any sort within the US pays a straight 15% tax. Think of all the time and effort this would save, not only for average US taxpayers, but also for the IRS and associated tax collection entities. Seems pretty simple to me..which means that the US government will never, ever adopt such a proposal.

Speaking of the US government, man, am I ever impressed by the wisdom and foresight shown recently by our new President, Barack Obama. (Thick sarcasm applied here) Wow! Only a man of such experience and fortitude would think to nominate Timothy Geithner to be the Treasury Secretary, and by default, the head of our premier tax collecting agency, the IRS. Yes, folks, a man who purposely chose not to pay his taxes (except for a few days before his nomination was announced, at which time he paid his delinquent tax burden in full) was nominated and confirmed. And then, to nominate three other people to prominent positions, all three of whom also failed to pay their taxes! Among these latter three, Tom Daschle was delinquent in over $128,000 of taxes and fines. At least he had the decency to back out, but the point is, he never should have been in such a position to begin with. Can you imagine if you or I, as private citizens, would have been delinquent in the payment of our taxes? I'm pretty sure that if I were in a similar position, I would have probably been tracked down and put in jail. But I guess there is a different system for the politicians and former politicians. It's pretty sickening. But it really concerns me that President Obama would try and appoint such people to prominent positions within his Cabinet. It really causes me to question not only his judgement, but also the effectiveness of his staff's vetting process. It is going to be an interesting four years....

On a side note...during the Presidential primaries, didn't Joe Biden tell Katie Couric during a television interview that "It is PATRIOTIC to pay taxes!"? I guess by Joe's definition that all four of these Obama nominees are unpatriotic because they didn't want to pay their taxes. Joe Biden...what an idiot! I guess Obama picked Biden for VP as insurance against an assassination attempt by some white supremacist nut job.