Our political environment has been so vile for so long we've forgotten how inappropriate that is.
The point of this Challenge isn't rational discourse. Blogs are monologues, not discourses. The point is to try to be rational. That's it.
Every blessing is mixed. So is every curse. There are no absolutes in real life. The point here is to put the focus back on real life.
Taxes do some good. They get used for some bad. What, specifically, do they do for you?
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
The Fair Share Challenge
Fellow bloggers, we are the modern journalists -- whether we (or anyone else) like it or not. We tell the truth as we see it, because we're pulled to, not so much because we're paid to.
Though our differences are key to our collective wisdom, our similarities are greater: we all use roads, phones and the internet; we all breathe EPA-regulated air, which could be much worse; and we all know someone traumatized by the wars. That, too, is where your tax dollars go. None of us agrees with all of it, but our personal and professional survival always depends on a large part of it.
Provide footnotes explaining how and what proportion of support is provided by taxpayer dollars for these things, and what you know about related tax issues. This could make the footnotes a lot longer than the article, but very informative:
It's time to raise this country's civic awareness to the level of my old 3rd grade class. The professionals have obviously failed ... it's up to us amateurs.
Though our differences are key to our collective wisdom, our similarities are greater: we all use roads, phones and the internet; we all breathe EPA-regulated air, which could be much worse; and we all know someone traumatized by the wars. That, too, is where your tax dollars go. None of us agrees with all of it, but our personal and professional survival always depends on a large part of it.
THE CHALLENGE:
Write a blog entry in your usual style, but put every government-funded or heavily-subsidized term in bold font. Link your blog here, or crosspost it here. This is some hot publicity... What a great chance to reach new readers!EXAMPLE 1: Lean & Easy
Simply write your blog entry as usual, and bold words of things that are paid for by taxes:'During the last election cycle, I saw an angry woman on TV waving a sign that read, "Get your government hands off my Medicare!"'
EXAMPLE 2: Info Hound
Provide footnotes explaining how and what proportion of support is provided by taxpayer dollars for these things, and what you know about related tax issues. This could make the footnotes a lot longer than the article, but very informative:
I took my M-16(1) down the I-95(2) in my F-150(3). . .
- The M-16 was developed by ArmaLite and Colt bought the rights in the mid-'50s. It entered field armament in 1962 and was a standard-issue firearm from the Viet Nam war until recently. Colt still produces most M-16s and is fiercely defending its unique relationship with the Pentagon.
Everything you wanted to know about the M-16 but were afraid to ask: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle
Colt's lobbying: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/25/colt-firearms-hires-lobby_n_866672.html
- Interstate Highways started as an idea embodied in the Pershing Map of 1921.
Then, in 1938, FDR drew a map with 8 superhighway corridors detailed for special study.
Eisenhower came back from WW II full of admiration for the German Autobahn system, and in 1955 published the Yellow Book detailing what the US interstate highway system should look like. It was authorized the following year.
They are the fastest, safest, best-maintained roads in the country, overall.
They are funded 75% Federal and 25% State/Local tax money. Maintenance is usually 90% local, but the Federal stimulus funds changed that for now.
The CBO's highway spending brief: http://cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=12043
The CBO's summary of funding for transportation and water: http://cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=11940.
- This mythical blogger bought the truck sometime in 2004-2007 from Ford's financing arm. This branch of the company received the largest bailout of all American auto company finance arms, at $15.9 BILLion under the TARP program of 2008 under the second Bush administration.
Reference: http://jalopnik.com/5704575/ford-bmw-toyota-took-secret-government-money)
Ford explains how they legally AVOID paying any taxes at all: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=30971
My fellow bloggers...
The first entry in the Fair Share Challenge is posted here: http://livinganyway.blogspot.com/2011/08/fair-share-challenge-what-taxes-do-for.htmlIt's time to raise this country's civic awareness to the level of my old 3rd grade class. The professionals have obviously failed ... it's up to us amateurs.
Tech request
Who wants to install signup, newsfeeds, and a wiki, so everyone can play? In other words, turn it into a real, freestanding website. Serious offers in the comments, and we humbly thank you in advance!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)