I was trapped in my car behind a slow poke on the main road. Riverhead to my village took forever and I was switching the dial on the car radio and struck up one Sean Hannity spewing forth on "satanic liberalism" and the death of "traditional values" whatever they are.
The food stamp issue was his cause du jour as it was such a giveaway, such an example of government overreach and "pork"....all those buying booze, loose women, and cigars while driving away in their BMWs...yada yada.
It prompted me to think about the Mitt Romney "tax return" kerfuffle last year. ... actually Sean brought it up so here it is, otherwise I lack motivation. Actually this entire business leaves me flat. What was in the returns is pretty obvious; a $77,000 dressage deduction and other nonsense. I'm pretty bummed by that; that $77k. An unreasonable food stamp benefit for an elderly couple or a mom with kids might be $300 a month or $10 a day. (Think two Micky D's Happy Meals) That means a lot to a huge number of people, perhaps 20% of our population. So Wilton writes off $77k and that is the trade that irks me. It is the trade between giving someone a tax deduction equal to that subsidy for 21.4 "units" NOT people but Food Stamp units, many of these units (elderly husband and wife, mother and child) supporting multiple people.
It prompted me to think about the Mitt Romney "tax return" kerfuffle last year. ... actually Sean brought it up so here it is, otherwise I lack motivation. Actually this entire business leaves me flat. What was in the returns is pretty obvious; a $77,000 dressage deduction and other nonsense. I'm pretty bummed by that; that $77k. An unreasonable food stamp benefit for an elderly couple or a mom with kids might be $300 a month or $10 a day. (Think two Micky D's Happy Meals) That means a lot to a huge number of people, perhaps 20% of our population. So Wilton writes off $77k and that is the trade that irks me. It is the trade between giving someone a tax deduction equal to that subsidy for 21.4 "units" NOT people but Food Stamp units, many of these units (elderly husband and wife, mother and child) supporting multiple people.
So let me get this straight. In order to make sure that Wilton gets his $77,000 dressage deductions, 21.4 units of American folk, perhaps down a bit on their employment luck, or deserted by a husband, or whatever, will have their Food Stamps removed (Congress just cut Food Stamps back 20% in case you are wondering). Dressage tax write offs v. eating. How stark a choice can one make.
The argument goes that Food Stamps are such a boondoggle that people have turned down raises so that they qualify for Food Stamps (don't make too much so to loose the opportunity). Now what does that tell you? What does it tell you that an associate at Wal-mart needs Food Stamps to feed his or her family while working 40hrs a week. What does it tell you about the state of the Union that 20% of the folks need help feeding themselves and their families?
Probably a good exercise would be to give an Sean Hannity $10 a day to feed him and his wife on. You gotta love mac and cheese in a box to do it. It seems like a lot of money to some, really it does, and that one should have no problem with it but it isn't, by all accounts, the lap of luxury. Think two Starbucks Grandes to go with a bagel and there you have it.
But Wilton has his $77,000 dressage deduction and 21.4 units of real people don't get enough food. Seem like a fair trade to you Sean? Why don't you go door to door in some neighborhoods and explain why feeding a horse should come at the expense of feeding a child.
Love to hear that one.
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