As IF Times

link OPINION Blog | The Dallas Morning News.

Since I”m an average person,  let’s chronicle my activities on a recent day to observe the tax exposure we all face on a typical day.  Some of the activities are one-off, but the majority are things the average person faces every day. 

Morning.

Radio alarm goes off and it happens to be an advert for a financial institution reminding us that the deadline for retirement account contribution is upon us.  We are encouraged to contribute in order to save taxes.  Turn on the light switch and am concious that tax is assessed on our electric bill.  Turn on shower and of course, tax is applicable on water and utility bill.  Brush teeth and note tax paid on purchase of toothpaste as well as mouthwash rinse.  Question whether to brush only on alternate days, but quickly reject notion.  Make some coffee, from taxed beans but at least do not pay the tax if purchased from Starbucks.

Jump into car to head downtown, mentally noting the tax paid on the purchase of car, the insurance and of course repairs from time to time.  Notice  that I’m low on fuel, so pull into gas station to fill up.  Note that price paid per unit of fuel is MAINLY tax.  Driving downtown, make mental note that roads are a result of gasoline and property taxes.  Park in parkade which has a new parking surtax just recently imposed by the city. 

Just before the morning meeting, I check stock prices on blackberry, which also requires a tax on cell phone bill.  I notice some trading positions are moving, so I effect an execution with broker, which also triggers a transaction tax.  As the morning progresses, I get a call from  son who informs me that he will need a flight back home after the school term.  Purchasing the airline ticket online yields a cost number of which  about 20% is tax and surcharges.

Afternoon.

Lunch time rolls around and I purchase something simple from the kiosk in the building, which of course requires a tax payment.  While I’m eating, some sauce drips onto white shirt.  Annoyed, I go to purchase a shirt to change into, which has requisite PST and GST charges.  During the afternoon, I get a call from my accountant reminding me to get my tax documents together for this tax year so that I can pay, what else, income tax.  I’m of course aware that his services come with a tax attached to it.  Later on in the afternoon, someone makes note of my unkempt appearance so I proceed to my barber to get a haircut, which of course includes a service tax.

Evening.

On way home, I drop by the supermarket to pick up a few things for the house and by now am very aware  of every taxable item on the list.  When I’m home, there is a message on answering machine from friends about meeting up at the Richmond O-zone, a site set up for the Olympics which are in town and of course which we are being taxed to support.  Naturally, I elect to go and purchase tickets, which of course have a tax on them, as will the food and drink consumed during the evening.  I finally get home in the late evening and check the mail, most of which are pesky bills with taxes attached to them.  Tired from a day of tax paying, I thumb through a magazine purchased earlier at the supermarket which of course, I’ve paid tax on.

This started off amusing, but wound up being depressing.  I fall into bed and as it happens, the exact same radio ad about retirement account contribution is on again.  Someone’s gonna get a hurt real bad.

link  Acquiring Shotguns – Federal Business Opportunities: Opportunities.

This is indeed shocking.  The request for tenders in the article specifies a modified choke on the shotguns.  I would have gone with the full choke myself for reasons of accuracy.

Well at least someone in the government is planning ahead.  By the manner in which the tax bill for everyone may be increasing in the U.S. to fund the programs laid out by the administration, the collectors are assuming many will  have issues with paying their assessments.  This is the most far sighted planning strategy evidenced by this government yet.  It’s also confirmation that somebody up there knows there may be some push back from the masses on tax increases.  Hmm.

If the government were actually trying to help the people in upcoming times of financial hardship, they could at least make  barrels available  for them to wear or provide pencils in cups.  Instead, they choose to go the route of expecting people to be modern day Al Capones.   If you think about it, the people who shoulder the bulk of taxes are the so called wealthier 5% of the population, who by some accounts, pay about 40 to 45% of the tax tab.  I’m trying to envision the Donald Trumps of the world barricading himself in his office holding the shotgun wielding IRS agents at bay.  Not probable.  More likely a team of lawyers armed with motions and restraining orders will be manning the doors.

The likely targets for the collectors would be the hoi polloi, those who are more likely to be in real distress over unpaid taxes, small business owners and average individuals, those for whom strongly worded letters won’t work.    If you think about it, the U.S. was founded in part by the very act of protesting the imposition of taxes upon the then colony by an imperious British government.  Going after taxpayers, reluctant or otherwise with guns drawn may get the populace all wee wee’d  up come election time.

 Still, at  least they’re asking for submissions for American made guns in deference to sensibilities and creating jobs for Americans.  Nothing says “open up”  like the unmistakable click click of a Remington shotgun.   In less turbulent times, they probably would have gone with Beretta.