“I just mailed about 5 grand in checks to 3 different taxing entities...grrrrr.”
Living in Californicator land, we know what you mean.
Besides our Federal income taxes, California income taxes are among the highest.
Our property taxes even with Prop 13 would finance a 14-21 day first class cruise in a mini suite.
Our gasoline taxes are among the highest in the nation, and you need a 4 wheel drive with undercarriage protection to drive safely over our pot holes.
Our local sales tax on everything including the all ready taxed gasoline runs from 8% to what ever.
Then, we have fees on our vehicles, boats, even kayaks with a little electric motor.
I’d fell a little better if the OTHER family I’m funding via the fed and state govts would send me a thank you note every now and then.
I hear the respirators are coming, the ones that tax breathing in the not too distant future. Frankly, that is the way I feel most days.
Last evening when I shut down for the day, turned on the TV and was greated with an ad for the “smart phone”, the one that comes with 500 minutes air time plus 1000 text messages a month. I thought these were for “emergency” situations. First thing went through my mind was why would someone watching TV on a paid for cable connection (this was an upper tier station) need a free phone for and if it were for emergencies, how many would need this level of service? Just paid my cell bill with the gov fees and probably at least one of them is for this “free” service. I know it is a minor thing but when these minor things are aggragated, they add up to real money for someone who works to get it.