- We would need a law effective in every state to the effect that a price attached to an item is inclusive of all taxes. A big tax bite added at the register just won't be acceptable but if the taxes are part of the price sticker, then they will quickly blend into the background. A breakdown of the price could be printed on the sales receipt.
- All of the attorneys and accountants who currently earn their living by guiding you and me through the maze of tax law would have to be re-tasked. This is almost certainly the bigger problem and one that has prevented US tax law from being reformed since the income tax became law in 1861 via the 16th Ammendment. Note that this was a Republican government (under Abraham Lincoln) actually trying to pay for the war they were getting into.
Communication today is hampered by two conflicting tendencies. One is an increasing "fog factor" and the other is decreasing attention spans. Short declarative sentences or questions using words of three or fewer syllables should be able to get us by regardless of the subject at hand.
About Me
- Mike
- I have worked in health care information management for more than 13 years. I have been a patient of many physicians for much longer. I have found most physicians to be devoted and conscientious but captive to systems and processes that they often don't even think about. We could all benefit from better communication. I'm on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/mpmeier)
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Taxes Simplified
Talk of a federal sales tax recently had me thinking. As a replacement for the income tax, this has some traction. To make it work, there are just a couple of things that will need to be resolved.
Monday, July 2, 2012
What Should I Do?
A few weeks ago I was driving on a two-lane state highway and listening to the radio. I was listening to a "news" station and found my blood pressure rising as I listened to report after report concerning the political campaigns. If you've read previous posts here, you might empathize a bit.
Each report delivered essentially verbatim the latest sound bite from one of the candidates. There was no real attempt at critical analysis (who has time for that) and "big lies" were coming one after the other. Fortunately for me, I recognized my condition (rising blood pressure) and took action in the only two ways that ever work. One: a series of deep, cleansing breaths and two: prayer.
Wherever you may find yourself on the God spectrum, you'll find that these two approaches can work wonders. There is a wisdom out there that will take every trouble that you hand to it and give back something that is for you.
I asked, "What should I do in the face of such lies, fear and anger?" An old testament injunction came to mind immediately. "...what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
"Yeah!" I thought, "that's what they should be doing!" The answer to my prayer wasn't complete yet, though. The rest of the story came then, "No, you." I was busted (again).
When we attempt to control the lives of others by limiting what they may (legally) do or think or discuss or write, we fail in our obedience to this simple advice. We fail in mercy or justice or humility or all three at once. I can do it. You can do it.
The Big Lies do not come from God (in spite of what their speakers may try to imply) and, in fact, do not come out of any kind of relationship with God by whatever name. Government that can't effect mercy or justice or humility is no government at all.
Each report delivered essentially verbatim the latest sound bite from one of the candidates. There was no real attempt at critical analysis (who has time for that) and "big lies" were coming one after the other. Fortunately for me, I recognized my condition (rising blood pressure) and took action in the only two ways that ever work. One: a series of deep, cleansing breaths and two: prayer.
Wherever you may find yourself on the God spectrum, you'll find that these two approaches can work wonders. There is a wisdom out there that will take every trouble that you hand to it and give back something that is for you.
I asked, "What should I do in the face of such lies, fear and anger?" An old testament injunction came to mind immediately. "...what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
"Yeah!" I thought, "that's what they should be doing!" The answer to my prayer wasn't complete yet, though. The rest of the story came then, "No, you." I was busted (again).
When we attempt to control the lives of others by limiting what they may (legally) do or think or discuss or write, we fail in our obedience to this simple advice. We fail in mercy or justice or humility or all three at once. I can do it. You can do it.
The Big Lies do not come from God (in spite of what their speakers may try to imply) and, in fact, do not come out of any kind of relationship with God by whatever name. Government that can't effect mercy or justice or humility is no government at all.
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