Tag Archives: Facebook

Ten Gallon Tax Expert…

Jim Hightower

I try and stay away from most Facebook debates as they tend to morph into ideological wars, leaving behind any productive and factual exchange of ideas. But recently I was compelled to investigate a post comment by a clearly Liberal individual regarding the IRS scandal, and how he felt these “Right Wing Groups” somehow got what they deserved. He cited an article by stalwart progressive Jim Hightower concerning what “he” believed was illegitimate application of the 501 (c) (4) tax status. Moving past the obvious bias of the author, I did read the article and was somewhat amused by it. Hightower refers to the many abuses of the C3 and C4 as if “Rush Limbaugh” wrote the classifications into the tax code himself. His continual references to “whining and notorious” political players like Rove and the Koch brothers made it clear there would be little substance contained in the rest of the article. Nevertheless, I read on and then decided to do a little of my own homework. Here’s what I discovered.

For starters, let’s look at the obvious. The U.S. Tax Code reads like a Bernie Madoff manifesto. Generations of smooth talking politicians and bureaucrats have manipulated the Constitutional basis for taxation, (the 16th Amendment etc…), into what in many ways resembles something which should be investigated under the organized crime statutes. In any event, after hours of perusing this categorized collection of fiscal injustice imposed upon a complacent citizenry over the last couple of hundred years, I narrowed my search and found a PDF file, readily available through our POTUS’s personal information gathering company, “Google”, http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopicm95.pdf which basically tells us everything we need to know. There you will find fairly easy to understand criteria which one would have to meet in order to qualify for the exemption. Hey, what do you know? It appears the witnesses who testified freely before “The Ways and Means Committee” last week, and their respective initiatives, seem to fit right into those categories rather nicely, despite what some would have you believe.

irsoverhaul12Inevitably there will always be those (on both sides) of the political argument who misuse or misrepresent the tax code. Having said that, the notion or implication that these mostly “Average Joe” or “Tea Party Types” are somehow assaulting the American Taxpayer by seeking a particular exemption, is just another example of Liberals using, “the best defense is a good offense” strategy that they use quite often as a means to navigate around the facts. Moreover, when one looks closely at the number of organizations joining Mr. Rove’s on any list receiving the aforementioned exemption(s), one finds the ACLU, NAACP, AARP, DLA, The Humane Society, The “Colbert” Super Pac, and so on and so on…

All I’m trying to say here is that this is clearly a two-way street. But some folks and their efforts were certainly scrutinized far beyond what is acceptable, and in some cases what was legal. The fact that some fool doesn’t like the “Tea Party” or what they stand for should mean absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. Personally, I think the “Coalition to Stop Gun violence” is a sham which regularly spreads inaccurate data to further an un-Constitutional agenda. However, until the tax code says differently, they will continue to receive tax exempt status in compliance with the letter of the law. And one more thing, what do you think my “Facebook commenter” and Mr. Hightower would say if the IRS started asking the folks over at the AARP or Planned Parenthood how many times a week they pray or don’t pray, or if they planned on participating in any illegal protests in the near future. Answer that with a straight face…

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Congress, Constitutionality, First Amendment, Fred Comella, Gun Control, Health Care, Law Enforcement, Politics, Religion, Right vs. Left, Taxes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ten Gallon Tax Expert…

Facebook False – Step…

Facebook (FB) is now a public company. I’m certainly not enough of a stock guru to prognosticate on Mark Zuckerberg and “friends” brainchild as it relates to any future of the premiere social networking site. I will tell you though, that I have mentioned Zuckerberg and the other co-founders of FB prominently and in various posts for their ingenuity, hard work and entrepreneurial prowess. Let’s face it, their creation is an American success story.

Having said that, I have been watching a few issues closely on FB which have me seriously considering leaving the site all together. You see I have gone back and forth with the concept of FB and other social sites for some time now, and truth be told I see no tangible or crucial benefits. I have stayed with it as I can interact with “friends” from time to time and pick up new ideas to write about. But one of the more recent FB faux-pas that has me a bit put out, is they have banned a young Tennessee mom’s photos of her child who passed away shortly after birth because of a fatal physical defect. I am told the photos were taken down because they showed the deformed little ones head, and the FB elite must have felt this was unacceptable. Mom Heather Walker re-posted the photo’s and was subsequently banned for 24 hours from the social mega-site.

Now I’m gonna put aside my sympathy for the family and the emotions they must have been, and continue to be feeling regarding the loss of their child, but what the heck are these bumpkins at FB thinking. I have read and seen some pretty sickening content on FB that continues to be allowed, seemingly without recourse. Yet when this mom wants to “share” her life experiences, (sad as they may be) as the site promotes is the reason for its existence, she is treated like a spam artist and degenerate.

Now again, I applaud Zuckerberg and his buddies for their successes thus far and I hope this is just a simple misunderstanding which will be rectified post haste. However, if these folks at FB turn out to be nothing more than a bunch of idealistic censorship artists, allowing only material of a particular “party branding”, then I, and I suspect many others may begin to head for the exits. Moreover, I would at that point  take up the cause to ensure that everyone I reach will know the true marketing intentions of FB should they be less than honorable about the whole thing. You boys have made it big. Don’t mess up big and blow this. Your company is now publicly traded, and it doesn’t take an investment banker to know that even the mightiest have fallen in that arena.

Posted in "Patriot64", America, First Amendment, Fred Comella, Health Care, Home and Family, Media, Politics, Religion, Right vs. Left, Socioeconomic, Women's Issues | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Facebook False – Step…