Re: Clark's Freestyle Stroke

[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Larry Weisenthal) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> There are taxes and then there are TAXES.  "TAXES" are federal.   "taxes" are
> local.  I don't like TAXES, but I like taxes, because (#1) I can see for my own
> eyes what the latter are doing and (#2) my local taxation agency receives
> "matching funds" from the federal and state governments in terms of tax
> deductibility.  The anti-tax jurisdictions (e.g. Texas, where you live) and
> Orange County, where I live, are really suckers.  We stand up for our anti-tax
> principles, then don't enjoy the benefits of parks, libraries, good schools,
> and good pools, while WE subsidize the high tax Northeast (and other such
> areas) through our Federal taxes, which provide "matching funds" to the
> Northeast, through the federal tax deductions which they enjoy, but we do not.

In my cynical moments -- which are becoming more frequent -- I want to
say, "Boy, you guys really *are* suckers!  You pay for the smart bombs
that Washington uses to kill anyone who threates to stand between your
SUV and cheap gasoline, but then don't have nice places like parks and
swimming pools to drive them to."

In my more serious moments, I want to say that those "matching funds"
are a trap.  They are literally the carrot that Washington uses to get
those too naive to see the ploy goose-stepping to its tune.  You only
have to look at the "No Child Left Behind" program to see where that
parade is headed.

In the end, Larry, you may be better off without them.  You may not
have as many parks and pools, but you keep your pride and your local
independence.

Otherwise, you can take carrot.  Every farmer knows that the carrot
only works if the mule gets to eat one in the morning.  And once he's
had the first one, the promise of a second one is all that's required
to keep him towing the line for the rest of the day.