My View on the issue of the week: tea parties
So I've put a lot of thought into the tea party thing, and while I liked the video they put out on Youtube, I don't really agree with a lot of the stuff people are talking about, nor do I even agree with a lot of the principles they're talking about.
So what is up with the issue of the week? Why does everyone want to commit themselves to cause now?
What is it about our society that is making everyone want to be a part of something, but not making people want to think about the something they're going to be a part of.
Why is it better to pay a buck for a ribbon than it is to give a buck to a company that is dedicated to fixing society's ills? Or why is it better to know the government is paying less money even if the nation GNP grows slower because of it?
It reminds me of my gf, who I keep trying to explain taxes to. She'll say something random like "oh my friend is complaining because she has to pay 2k in taxes!" and I'll ask "well what percent of her income did she have to pay" and she'll say "I don't know and who cares, she had to pay 2K!!!!!!!!?!?!?!??OMG!?!?!?OMFG!2K!!!!"
:/
So then I start giving an example "if I make the same as her, and for the entirety of the year I pay 3.5k but I get 500 dollars back, and she only pays 3k, but she has to pay 2k at the end of the ye.." "You're better off", she suddenly blurted, interrupting me.
"What?" I ask, confused, surely she must misunderstand. but no, after repeated goings back and forth, she says it only matters what you pay at the end of the year, so in order to make her happy, they can increase her taxes but overtake throughout the year, then she'll be happy to get a refund, where as I, because I carefully watch the amount I pay in taxes on every paycheck, would apparently be less happy if I was her because even though I get interest on my extra income throughout the year, the fact that I pay at the end of the year makes me less successful.
:(
She hates that she says I look at her as dumb sometimes. She's getting her masters degree in applied statistics, I don't think shes dumb. But I do think shes irrational, and I think the people who keep spending time on these various special projects every couple week are really really irrational. They can think I'm irrational of course, thats the good part of rational discourse.
Oh wait, they're already irrational, so maybe I can't hope for rational discourse.
I hope there aren't protestors outside my house when I get home. ;)
So what is up with the issue of the week? Why does everyone want to commit themselves to cause now?
What is it about our society that is making everyone want to be a part of something, but not making people want to think about the something they're going to be a part of.
Why is it better to pay a buck for a ribbon than it is to give a buck to a company that is dedicated to fixing society's ills? Or why is it better to know the government is paying less money even if the nation GNP grows slower because of it?
It reminds me of my gf, who I keep trying to explain taxes to. She'll say something random like "oh my friend is complaining because she has to pay 2k in taxes!" and I'll ask "well what percent of her income did she have to pay" and she'll say "I don't know and who cares, she had to pay 2K!!!!!!!!?!?!?!??OMG!?!?!?OMFG!2K!!!!"
:/
So then I start giving an example "if I make the same as her, and for the entirety of the year I pay 3.5k but I get 500 dollars back, and she only pays 3k, but she has to pay 2k at the end of the ye.." "You're better off", she suddenly blurted, interrupting me.
"What?" I ask, confused, surely she must misunderstand. but no, after repeated goings back and forth, she says it only matters what you pay at the end of the year, so in order to make her happy, they can increase her taxes but overtake throughout the year, then she'll be happy to get a refund, where as I, because I carefully watch the amount I pay in taxes on every paycheck, would apparently be less happy if I was her because even though I get interest on my extra income throughout the year, the fact that I pay at the end of the year makes me less successful.
:(
She hates that she says I look at her as dumb sometimes. She's getting her masters degree in applied statistics, I don't think shes dumb. But I do think shes irrational, and I think the people who keep spending time on these various special projects every couple week are really really irrational. They can think I'm irrational of course, thats the good part of rational discourse.
Oh wait, they're already irrational, so maybe I can't hope for rational discourse.
I hope there aren't protestors outside my house when I get home. ;)