Attempt at coherence (an attempt to explain stupidity tax)

Okay, so I spent all day yesterday pontificating on pure drivel. While I do not expect to improve upon that record today, I do have a specific item I would like to get out. I had hoped that I could focus enough yesterday to get everything out of my system, but it did not work out so well. The problem is twofold. One, this particular area is for releasing brain steam as it were. Basically stream of consciousness writing to let out the pressure in my brain. Which is fine and dandy. Except that because I deem it so, I allow myself free rein, and have trained myself to pretty much not accept restrictions here. There is one exception to that rule. In fact, there is only one particular rule I have here. Avoid contractions at all costs. I know that seems like a strange rule. And with good reason, it is one. I am American, and pretty much obviously speak and type it comfortably. So what is wrong with contractions? I am certain somebody out there is asking. (although again I claim that I only have two readers, one of home (the child) only reads when she is forced to, which isn't as often as you would think. It should be at least that often, but I have a weakness where my child is concerned. I am overprotective on the one hand, and I am over indulgent on the other hand. Admittedly it balances out, because the overprotection keeps me fairly strict, but the over indulgence gives her a bit of freedom. So basically I view it as a wash. I am probably wrong, but I am not objective, and do not have to be, after all I am a parent, and one of the job requirements is subjectivity. Although....) see I have to stop here. There is much more I could type on this topic, and pretty much any topic that stemmed from it, but I am attempting to feign coherence here, so I have to catch distractions when I recognize them (such as now, although a few lines too late.) and stomp them into submission, so that I can get out my specific point that I want to get out and have been trying for the past two days. I wonder if it is mere scatter brainedness. (I don't think brainedness is a word, and even if it is, I doubt it would be recognized by spell checker, but I am going to leave it in, because I like it, and I can do what I like......) see another distraction. Anyhow where was I? Distracted, and streaming my consciousness time to seriously switch gears.

WRENCH!!!!!

Okay I want to talk about taxes. I tried yesterday to talk about them, hence the title Tax season. I know that generally my titles are just a jumping off point which have little to no bearing on the subject matter of a days particular posting. But yesterday I had a purpose, and it was the the current tax season I find myself in. I know, I know everybody thinks tax season ends on April 15th. And you are right for the obvious taxes. I, however, am talking about a special tax the government discovered, but has not taken full advantage of yet. Specifically I call it the stupidity tax. In which we the citizens of this glorious democratic republic are pretty much taxed on how much stupidity we take up. It is actually a year round tax payable in installments, employed by state governments. The federal government has not officially gotten in on the scam yet, which surprises me because it is very brilliant and easy. There are collations of states involved in the tax that cause it to appear federal, but it is pretty much (so far) a state tax. Completely lost my train of thought. I was plotting out a term paper like setting, and figured out where I wanted to be 2 paragraphs from now, and forgot how to get there. (that sentence was another diversion, but small so I will let it slide, and ease back on track.)

I should first off explain what a stupidity tax is, and how it works. Later I will go into alternate uses, why it works, how it affects some people, and some variations that could be employed. (not necessarily in that order, and that is only a plan, there is no guarantee that I do not get distracted, or do not get bored with this and stop typing. Still, I am no longer in school, so I can pretty much write my papers as I like and the consequences will not go on my permanent record. They will enter into the opinions of the people who read my postings, however because I am secure in the knowledge that they are solely my wife and child. (because pretty much everyone else who may have tried to follow my thought patterns gave up after the first couple of posts) and they have been living with me and my brain for more than 10 years apiece, I am fairly certain that my readership will understand and not complain if I do not reach my lofty goal for reasons of brain trouble.)) wow this has taken enough space to merit it's own paragraph. Bummer. heheheheh one word sentence. Distractions seem to be coming pretty thick now, I wonder sometimes if it has to do with fear of success and personality disorders. But then I stop caring. Time for another re-adjustment to get back on track. But first let me explain my attempt (which I am fairly sure I have failed at in this particular posting) to avoid contractions. It is not so much...Wait I used this distraction before...Except that I did not fully explain it, before another distraction. So let me try again. It has nothing to do with grammar. I avoid contractions because I only read what I have written after running it through the google translator page. I translate it into a language (generally several, although only one at a time) and then back into English. Because I have a vague idea what I wrote, and it is very entertaining to see how it turns out after being translated twice. Usually it is very difficult to follow, and in some of the more difficult to write languages (specifically Korean, and Chinese (Japanese also, but I rarely use that one because I like to randomly pick my languages and get bored with translating before I get to Japanese due to limited options. They should really add stuff like Icelandic, and Canadian, and other such languages. (I would truly love to see translating from English to English. (American English to British English and vice versa)))) wow that is a parenthetical record for me I think. Anyway time for another one.

WRENCH!!

Okay stupidity tax. Basically it is year round, and somewhat seasonal. Meaning it varies. But the variety is person to person to family to group. Based on the prevailing....This font looks funny hang on a second. Sorry minor distraction. Still not better let me try something else.

Basically it has to do with how you perceive odds. Okay enough obfuscation. I am pretty much talking about the lottery. Specifically the powerball lotto. (although many states (and even countries) have their own versions.)

basically he stupidity tax charges you on how much stupidity you use. It is measured by the size of the jackpot. Currently the powerball jackpot is at 155 million. Which is enough to kick in my stupidity enough to pay into my stupidity tax. Different people have different levels and different payment structures. I work with a person who pays huge amounts of stupidity tax. Enough that she actually needs help from her co-workers to get all of it paid. Basically it works like this. There are...53 white balls, and 42 red balls in the powerball lottery. It is drawn twice a weak for 5 white balls, and one red ball. for a total of 14,463,212,400 combinations. So basically what that means is that to get a 1% chance of selecting the right combination you have to have 144,632,124 different numbers. (if I am doing my math right, feel free to correct me anybody, although since Ellen has lost her probability book, and Malika is in Jr. High I doubt anyone will bother.) Now most people who can amass enough money to buy that many tickets are smart enough to invest it in a more secure format, they are fairly exempt from the stupidity tax. it is late, saving as draft will finish later.

Well on second thought and looking at my schedule it looks like I won't be finishing it today. oh well, got most of it out of the brain anyway, and that is the important part. Yet there is so much more to say about stupidity tax. IT is a sad thing. At least I recognize I pay it. I know a person, who pays upwards of $40 in collective stupidity tax a week. Powerball, megabucks, scratch off tickets. Not to mention grouping people at work to pay a larger portion of stupidity tax. Then buying more on her own just in case. The problem is she does not relate all of them together. She tries to get me to help pay her stupidity tax. "come on...it's only $5 you don't smoke any more you can afford it." yet when she does not get a refund. (because it generally doesn't pay back enough to cover the initial tax) she does it all again, sometimes upping the amount. But it is all (to her) individual payments, and she does not realize the huge cost of stupidity tax she is paying.

I know people say, "it is not just the jackpot. I would be happy with any of the other (implied over $1000) prizes". Which I am certain they think they are sincere. Yet, they do not pay their stupidity tax every week for the lesser prizes. They wait to pay it until the jackpot is high enough to trigger their stupidity usage. (which varies per people) admittedly there are those who pay their stupidity tax every week, because they are certain sooner or later they will get a huge refund. (which shows why they owe so much stupidity tax.)

On the whole, even though I am affected by it. I support the stupidity tax. It does help pay for some government programs. Like treating gambling addiction. And improving parks so they can charge people more to use them. I believe the government uses the majority of the stupidity....hey I wonder if people in the government can win the lottery. I do not' think it's officially a government agency kind of like the post office. But I do wonder if those affiliated, or related to politicians are excluded kind of like the McDonald's monopoly game. I think it should be expanded. Take advantage of all the stupidity floating around. For example people who fall for the credit card commercials. "there is more to life than money" go out and charge up and get into debt and be harassed. (not what they said, but the result if you follow their advice. Either that or wind up old and broke and dying in a gutter. (a bit of hyperbole but it makes my point)) There should be an extra sure-charge for the government for people who use those credit cards. In fact anybody who uses a credit card with over 12% interest rates. (being generous here) why should the credit card companies be the only people to profit on stupidity. Let the schools have some of the stupid money so that we can educate people, so they can avoid paying the stupidity tax. Anyway I said I wasn't going to explain it all, so I am stopping here.