Fri AM Thoughts

Ah, back to some semblance of normalcy (a word invented by Warren Harding or his campaign writers--look before 1920 and you'll not find it in a dictionary; you'll final norm, normal, normality, normalness, but not normalcy--but it's a nice word), hectic normalcy as usual (is that redundant?).

Bopper and Ash are asleep, as is Matt. The Codester will be over in a few hours (it's early). Lots to catch up on.

The funeral is over--what a week! I understand the need for different people to grieve in different ways. I'll never understand why they need to grieve they way they do at funerals. And, despite understanding, I don't have to like it. I detest funerals, even more so as mine is closing in, I guess. And I still don't like hugs and handshakes, not at all. Yuck.

I guess there are only a few explanations for the ways our DC legislators have been acting in recent weeks. They could be stupid, not understanding the clear message sent to them in Nov. That's a strong possibility. They could be ideological, with the arrogance that comes from knowing they are right and we are wrong. They could be vengeful, getting us for what we did in Nov. My guess it's one of the first two, maybe a combination. Whenever I hear the words "bipartisan" or "compromise," I cringe. I immediately think of "sell-out." One never compromises on one's principals. For instance...

Have you seen the contents of this "tax cut extension bill?" Even the title is misleading, very misleading. What part of "no more spending" has so soon been forgotten? What part of "quit borrowing" against the future has so soon been forgotten? It's a terrible bill in many ways and, no, that neither party is happy with it doesn't mean it's good. It stinks, adding to the deficit, encouraging undesirable behaviors, etc.

Why the "tax the inheritance of the rich" screaming, esp from Pelosi? Talk about a hypocrite! The inheritance tax isn't on income, but on wealth. There's a difference. Consider a family farm or business that has been handed down from father to son, father to son, father to son...perhaps for generations. Take a farm, just to take something. Do you know how much farm equipment costs? Several pieces of it, tractors, harvesters, balers, etc. can run into millions of dollars. Toss in the price/value of land and, if say a dairy ranch, the animals like cows. If a son inherits this from his father, after working it with dad for decades, he's received no money, none, just the farm that has been in his family, where he's worked. The ding-a-lings in DC want to tax that farm--its equipment, land, animals, etc. So, to pay the tax, for which the inheritor has received no money, the farmer has to sell some of his stuff (isn't that a great word, too!?!?). It's utterly ridiculous, if not worse.

Oh, well, off to run and blow off some of this steam--it's about 20 degrees warmer this AM that several other AMs this week.

Out...