We may not be facing martyrdom by firing squad like Bl. Miguel Pro did (82 years ago tomorrow), but we are celebrating today's solemn feast with an array of construction paper crowns:
Does the Church grant plenary indulgences for that?
Sunday, November 22, 2009
"Viva Cristo Rey!"
They were his final words.
We may not be facing martyrdom by firing squad like Bl. Miguel Pro did (82 years ago tomorrow), but we are celebrating today's solemn feast with an array of construction paper crowns:
Does the Church grant plenary indulgences for that?
We may not be facing martyrdom by firing squad like Bl. Miguel Pro did (82 years ago tomorrow), but we are celebrating today's solemn feast with an array of construction paper crowns:
Does the Church grant plenary indulgences for that?
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Taxation without Representation (alternately titled "Why I'm so Glad Local School Levies Failed.")
Call me bold or a prude or whatever, but I don't think everyone is entitled to a 'free' government education. I understand that education comes with a price tag, and that some people who desire it may not be able to pay in full. In that case, I'm down with the ancient concept of anonymous benefactors.
If a group of citizens chooses to give charitably of their own funds to an educational institute so as to enable a group of children - their own or those of their community - to attend said school, I praise them for their selfless generousity.
But i consider it criminal to garnish - I mean *tax* - the honest wages of any citizen in order to fund these same schools. It's robbery. That's grounds for a totally separate post, and I lay it out only as the foundation for what i'm really trying to say here.
Consider my personal circumstances:
I won't beat a dead horse by reiterating the "I-Pay-Twice-Because-I'm-Sending-MY-Kids-To-Private-Schools-AAaaaaaaaaaaaND-Paying-For-Everyone-In-Town-To-Go-With-The-Taxes-I-Pay" arguement. It's true, and that's robbery as well. But I feel smacked in the face when my money is taken - I mean *taxed* - when I have zero say.
My husband and I live in one town, and own an investment property in another town. You all know that school levies are funded through (an increase in) property taxes, right? Well, because we reside in Town A, we pay property taxes in Town A. We also pay property taxes in Town B because we own property there. Suffice it to say that we are now funding not one but TWO towns' government schools.
That's not all, though.
You all know that you can only vote where you reside, correct? So we vote in Town A. But what happens if Town B wants to vote on a levy that will increase the property taxes I pay on my investment property?
I GET NO VOICE!
I don't get to vote on what Town B does with the money they take from my wages. And what's worse is that the 2 sets of tenants that occupy my apartments - none of whom even PAY property taxes - DO get to vote on what's done with my money. I see this as robbery twice over. Sick. Sick. Sick.
Despite all the nausea, I rejoice today: Town B's school levies failed (by like 46 votes!).
Cue the choir!
If a group of citizens chooses to give charitably of their own funds to an educational institute so as to enable a group of children - their own or those of their community - to attend said school, I praise them for their selfless generousity.
But i consider it criminal to garnish - I mean *tax* - the honest wages of any citizen in order to fund these same schools. It's robbery. That's grounds for a totally separate post, and I lay it out only as the foundation for what i'm really trying to say here.
Consider my personal circumstances:
I won't beat a dead horse by reiterating the "I-Pay-Twice-Because-I'm-Sending-MY-Kids-To-Private-Schools-AAaaaaaaaaaaaND-Paying-For-Everyone-In-Town-To-Go-With-The-Taxes-I-Pay" arguement. It's true, and that's robbery as well. But I feel smacked in the face when my money is taken - I mean *taxed* - when I have zero say.
My husband and I live in one town, and own an investment property in another town. You all know that school levies are funded through (an increase in) property taxes, right? Well, because we reside in Town A, we pay property taxes in Town A. We also pay property taxes in Town B because we own property there. Suffice it to say that we are now funding not one but TWO towns' government schools.
That's not all, though.
You all know that you can only vote where you reside, correct? So we vote in Town A. But what happens if Town B wants to vote on a levy that will increase the property taxes I pay on my investment property?
I GET NO VOICE!
I don't get to vote on what Town B does with the money they take from my wages. And what's worse is that the 2 sets of tenants that occupy my apartments - none of whom even PAY property taxes - DO get to vote on what's done with my money. I see this as robbery twice over. Sick. Sick. Sick.
Despite all the nausea, I rejoice today: Town B's school levies failed (by like 46 votes!).
Cue the choir!
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