[Koot]

This is too true to be very funny.
The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion"
in a casual manner, think about whether you want the
"politicians" spending YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one
advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure
into some perspective in one of its releases.

A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth.

E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.


While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New Orleans.
It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division...

Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking Congress for
$250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans. Interesting number, what does it mean?

A. Well, if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans
(every man, woman, child), you each get $516,528.

B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans,
your home gets $1,329,787.

C. Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! ... Are all your calculators broken??


Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.

Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.

Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.

If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.

Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom!"

And when he's gone,
We won't relax,
We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!!
And:
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Perm it Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt - had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened? Can you spell "politicians!"

And I still have to "press 1" for English.

[Stoner]

Don't worry, be happy...........inflation will solve everything.

[Stoner]

obligatory smilie--------------

[jmosmith]

Originally Posted by Koot

...

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt - had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened? Can you spell "politicians!"

And I still have to "press 1" for English.

I'd love to see some qualifiers for that remark. And some back-up. (e.g. "most prosperous", in what context? from what perspective? -- not saying you're wrong, just interested in the source and POV here. Thanks.)

As for New Orleans, and Landrieu's money request:
1 - She's not going to get that much money, and she knows it, but expects it to be whittled down to a figure closer to what she really thinks they need (and she really thinks will get her the most votes).
2 - Dividing that figure by the population is interesting, by falsely informative -- money is needed for infrastructure repair/rebuilding, and expensive Levees, and expensive wet-lands repair -- all for protection from future Hurricanes.
3 - Before you suggest that New Orleans is below sea level and maybe shouldn't be rebuilt, that really isn't an option -- it's the largest commodities port in the US, and as a port and rail nexus, it's just too important. (Replacing all that will be a lot MORE expensive!)
4 - Fixing the wetlands and Levees is a pay me now or pay me a LOT more later kind of a thing, you've already seen the result of NOT paying now for sufficient Levees -- repeating that mistake will repeat this catastrophy and massive levels of expense all over again down the road -- so the expense can be shouldered now, for less, or later for more.

...now if you want to debate whom should appropriately shoulder that expense, that would be a different point of debate.

Thanks,
J

[jmosmith]

Hi Jack!

(not to be confused with hi-jack...)