Urgh, I've been cranky neighbor and have hated it too. But sometimes a girl just needs her rest.

The evolution of the alphabet

Shy-knee!

---

It's not the poor who would be punished by the flat tax. In all likelihood, they would be paying almost nothing, since they already have most of their income exempted already, and no one could survive re-election either cutting the exemption or raising the "real tax rate" on the poor. So, in all likelihood, the deductible would rise -- most of the plans actually suggest doubling the current exemption.

What does that mean? Well, in order to counterbalance that exemption increase the flat tax rate would be higher than the current minimum tax rate. And that would mean the "real tax rate" on the middle class would rise.

So, the poor would actual be better off, but the middle class would be hammered hard. In fact, the higher exemption could make it an incentive to be lower class than middle class, since you're paying zero income tax.

The only advantage to the flat tax is that it would probably come with a simplified tax form... or would it? Those deductions are pretty well entrenched, so you'd still see the hundreds of loopholes. And, honestly, TurboTax has simplified tax filing to the point that you slam some numbers in and you're on your way. The simplified tax form is a red herring.

So, the flat tax is stupid, and it ain't gonna happen.

ETA: Oops. Too sleep-deprived to know the difference between "incentive" and "disincentive."

---

Not sleeping. Not thrilled. And with no alarms in the morning, I am shying from taking more drastic measures.

but the middle class would be hammered hard.

I'm technically there. You can't tell because of where I choose to reside, but I am patently middle class according to most of the scoring. And I am getting hammered. Hard. I don't have kids to deduct or a house for the interest write-off -- and I really can feel it. I'm deep, deep in my heart a liberal and I want to take care of people who need help. I still think that a flat tax with a standard deduction per person would be a lot better than what we have.

---

I need a chiropractor as a fictional boyfriend. He could fictionally come adjust me and then fictionally snuggle me and then we could go for a fictional breakfast before he did one last adjustment and faded away like smoke. My fictional back would feel a whole lot better for it.

---

Gronk. Up at Baby:Thirty and then didn't go back to bed so that we could take our guest to meet his tour group. It's sad that an 80 year old man with a steel rod in his back gets around more and better than I do.

Cute baby story: When I was waiting for our guest at the airport yesterday, I was chatting with some of the tour guides who were holding signs and waiting for clients. I was wearing the baby in the Baby Trekker (more comfy than the Baby Bjorn for front-facing carry). One of the guides needed to step away, and asked me if I'd mind holding her sign. As she handed it to me, Mallory reached for it, so she gave it to him. He squealed and kicked and held it the whole time.

Baby's First Employment.

ION from Raq's world, the New Best Recipe has finally let me down. I made their peach pie, with tapioca as the starch, and it wasn't very good. Seemed like a storebought pie. I'll be going back to my old peach pie recipe.

---

Poor Cass. I hope you're sleeping now.

Such a cute baby story, Raq! Mal is such a sweetie.

Toto decided that we weren't going to sleep last night. I went to bed later than usual, 'cause I was waiting to hear that Emily's flight landed and everything. At 2am I hear Toto puking. I get up, clean it up. But, then he decided it was time to play and barked when I didn't comply. I did finally get him to settle down, but by then, I was awake. I stayed in bed till just recently, but didn't really sleep. It's gonna be a long day.

---

That alphabet evolution page is cool, Daniel ( [link] for people who didn't catch it the first time out)

Here's what I think about taxes:

I think I should get to decide who doesn't pay, who pays a little, who pays a moderate amount, and who pays a (comparatively speaking) lot. And I should get to decide how the money is spent, too.

Barring that, I am with Anne (I think it was Anne) and think that certain luxury items should be highly taxed.

That's about as likely to happen as me getting to decide all the tax particulars, I'm afraid.

---

I'm not commenting on the tax issue, because right now I basically don't pay taxes. I feel a bit guilty about that, especially since most of my income, food costs, health insurance, etc. is from the government.

---

vw, you don't need to feel guilty. You're in exactly the position to need it right now and I, for one, am glad my taxes are helping you succeed in your life goals. More power to you for using them the best you are able.

---

gronk.

I slept finally and pretty well, but was awakened by my sister calling with big family issues. I'm taking the nephew for the day now. She's kicking her husband out. Siiiiiiigh.

Baby's First Employment.

Hee!

---