Whose Sap Is This?

Whose sap this is I think I know
As from the tree it drips and flows.
The tree won’t mind me gath’ring here
To fill my bucket sweet and slow.

The tree stands upward without fear,
Each drop of sap falls like a tear
Into the patient plastic pail,
The drop sound pleasing to my ear.

Up the hill and down the vale
Through snow and mud and sleet and hail
The trees pump faithfully their spirit
From roots to leaves, it never fails.

The tree stands still as I get near it,
So close I sometimes think I hear it,
Rising liquid pushing clear up,
No gravity can quash or or smear it.

The arch is ready, all my gear up,
Fire burning, flames that rear up;
And hours to go before it’s syrup,
And hours to go before it’s syrup.

We Don’t Need No Judges

Speaker Johnson’s job is grueling,
Off to work he deftly trudges.
What do you think of the latest ruling?
“We don’t need no stinking judges.”

“We’ll impeach them, stop their pay,
Eliminate their budgets.
No one dare get in our way;
We don’t need no stinking judges.”

But the law and constitution…
“Communists and left-wing drudges;
Corrupt judicial institution;
We don’t need no stinking judges.”

We asked the President, eyebrows thick,
A man with many grudges,
What’s your take on this latest trick?
“We don’t need no stinking judges.”

Decline and fall, as Gibbon showed us,
(History seldom budges)
Begins when leaders vain and lawless,
Say, “We don’t need no stinking judges.”

The Week That Was

Wake JFK’s assassination,
His nephew’s fear of vaccination;
How we guarantee smooth sailing
As we deport the Venezuelans;
Eliminating all the Houthis ,
While reinstating all the junk fees.
The Teslas fall, the markets tumble,
Government shows off its fumbles,
And any migrant they don’t like
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.

But we know hope is on the way,
‘Cause Trump calls Putin every day,
To carve the world in little slices
That satisfy their selfish vices.
“Strong men bring peace, weak bring war,”
(We’ve heard that ditty once before)
A war of words, a war of trade,
Nations crushed and empires made;
While Congress cowers on bended knee.
That was the week that was, you see.

What will it look like?

What will it look like when Trump is all done?
When everyone everywhere’s under his thumb?
(A thumb we know that Putin controls;)
(Trump is his puppet, he does what he’s told.)

Four years from now, when Greenland’s a state,
With a bridge to Russia, a welcoming gate,
We’ll send them Teslas, they’ll send us borscht,
Free from all tariffs, no standards enforced.

They’ll walk across Canada, our fifty-first state,
Its Eskimos herded across Bering Strait .
Minorities expelled from American lands;
Full of resentment, they don’t understand.

People from countries black, red or brown,
May no longer visit American towns.
While Russia’s invaded both Poland and Minsk
Putin and Trump exchange clever winks.

Congress has ceded from Article Two
Its powers to Donald with great ballyhoo.
Even the courts are at his command:
He fired all the judges with a stroke of his hand.

The rest of the world is taken aback;
China’s preparing a counterattack.
Europe’s investing in nuclear arms,
Their civilized culture threatened with harm.

Tariffs have sent all the prices of goods
Far above the levels they should.
Our ports are stagnant, our factories quiet,
Economy plummets, you can’t deny it.

Meanwhile the rich pay no taxes at all,
With no IRS, they’re having a ball.
The government’s deficit grows every day,
That’s how it is: Trump’s had his way.

Noodles and Poodles

Heard at the summit on tariffs and trade,
The place where global deals are made…

Trump: I’ll tax your metals.
Europe: Then we’ll tax your booze.
Trump: You’d better not do that!
Europe: You’re going to lose.
Trump: I am not a loser!
Europe: We’ll see about that.
Trump: A tax on your wine!
Europe: The old tit for tat?
Trump: Please, don’t tax our whisky…
Europe: Jack Daniels? Who cares?
Trump: I’ll tax your Volkswagens!!
Europe: We’ll sell them elsewhere.
Trump: Our country is strong!!!
Europe: Your dollar is weak.
Trump: I’ll double the tariffs!!!
Europe: Your people will freak.
Trump: They love me! They love me!
Europe: That’s what YOU think.
Trump: They’ll welcome high prices!!
Europe: Sir, you’re on the brink…
Trump: Of what, you effeminate socialist dweebs?!?
Europe: Of shooting yourself in the foot.
Trump: You tax our feet? We’ll tax your noodles!
Europe: We’re getting nowhere…
Trump: I’ll tax your French poodles!!!

With that the summit came to an end;
Never lovers, hardly friends.

History

Chamberlain abandoned the Czechs to Hitler;
Remember what happened after:
Austria, Poland, Belgium, Holland,
Fell to the dictator’s laughter.

The French surrendered, a war began,
Five years of destruction and hate.
Europe asunder; all from a blunder
Of appeasement in the year ‘38.

To coddle a tyrant, history knows,
Brings only despicable ends.
Better to gather the good and resist
When first wicked evil portends.

Instead of appeasing, we should be seizing
The helm of the ship of resistance,
‘Gainst unashaméd agressive invaders
Who threaten our peaceful existence.

Up and Down

Eggs are up, my savings are down.
While most Republicans’ noses are brown.
Selling our country to Putin and Musk;
As they kiss his tushy, he swaggers and struts.

Coffee rises, measles spread,
Assets diminish, we’re all in the red.
Tariffs are taxing the things that we need,
All to enable the oligarchs’ greed.

Our country is tearing apart at the seams,
Rockets and airplanes crashing in flames;
Each day brings reversals of yesterday’s news;
Government paralyzed, research abused.

How far down must he take us before we rise up
And save our republic from running amok?
Wipe off your noses, climb out of your hole,
Before our democracy loses its soul.

Three Little Vermonters: Analysis

Last week’s lesson introduced three typical Vermonters — a teacher, a landlord, and an investor — as they were visited by the Big Bad Tax Man. Let’s see how the taxman’s takings fit with the balance sheet of property and income of our three.


TeacherLandlordInvestorTotal
Property Value



Property, house$300,000$300,000$300,000 $900,000
Property, other$0$0$1,000,000$1,000,000
Property total$300,000$300,000$1,300,000$1,900,000
Income




Income, wages$60,000

$60,000
Income, capital growth

$40,000$40,000
Income, rents
$60,000
$60,000
Income, Social Security

$60,000$60,000
Income total$60,000$60,000$100,000$220,000
1040 AGI income$60,000$6,003$30,000$96,003
Taxes




Vermont Property tax$5,100$2,000$5,100$12,2001.7% of value
Rebate$0$0$2,000$2,000
Net property tax$5,100$2,000$3,100$10,200






Federal income tax$7,200$720$3,600$11,52012% of AGI
Social Security tax$4,800$0$0$4,8008% of wages
Total  Federal tax$12,000$720$3,600$16,320






Vermont income tax$3,600$360$1,800$5,76050% of Federal
Vermont sales tax$2,000$2,000$2,000$6,000$2000 per family
Total Vermont tax$10,700$4,360$6,900$21,960






Total Taxes$22,700$5,081$10,500$38,281

From our Three little Vermonters, the State and Federal governments collect about $38,000 per year, most of it from the teacher. (A similar burden would apply to an office worker, a small business owner, a firefighter, a carpenter, a technician, a cook, anyone who earns their income in wages.) That’s a heavy tax burden, heavier even than in the progressive countries of northern Europe.

It’s no wonder these middle-class families — the kind we need to strengthen Vermont’s economy and society — find our state unaffordable and its tax burden inequitable. And it’s no wonder that we see a growing influx well-to-do retired folks and real estate speculators moving into our Green Mountain State: they enjoy significant tax advantages. 

Between them the three own $1.9 million of property, and receive an income of $200,000. Yet Vermont collects only $10,000 from that property each year (most of it from the teacher), an overall rate of one-half of one percent. And from their income it collects $5760 (again, most of it from the teacher), an overall rate of about 3%. The effective Vermont tax rates for our three are:

Property tax rateIncome tax rate
Teacher1.7%6.0%
Landlord0.6%0.6%
Investor0.2%0.2%

Perhaps Vermont is overtaxing some of its citizens, and undertaxing others.

Next week’s lesson will propose a simpler and fairer way to collect the funds that Vermont needs to operate its schools and highways and other necessary functions of government. A proposal that would reduce the tax burden for most Vermonters.

The Three Little Vermonters

…and the Big Bad Tax Man

Once upon a time, there lived three average Vermonters, neighbors in the same town. They were very much alike. Each lived in a home of about 1700 square feet on a small plot of land and enjoyed an income of about $60,000 per year. 

One was a teacher. One was a landlord. The third lived off his investments. They loved living in the Green Mountain State.

One day the Big Bad Taxman came along. He knocked on the door of the first house.

“Little teacher, little teacher, let me in!”
(He was correcting papers with a pencil and pen.)

“I see that your income is about 60K.”
“That’s right Mr. Taxman, it’s on public display.”

“So first six percent for Social Security,
Then another for Medicare, to support your maturity.”

“That seems like a lot — four thousand at least,
And by the time I can use it, it might not exist!”

“Let’s move on to income: for the Feds twelve percent,
Then five more for the State – all money well-spent.”

“Twenty-four percent, it looks like you’re taking;
This makes me sad, it’s my bank you are breaking!”

“But that’s not all: there’s your Property Tax:
For your house and land, we’ll need 5K in my sack.”

“Twenty-one thousand! You’ve got to be joking;
I’m not a rich man; my finances are choking!.”

“And don’t forget sales tax: a full six percent
And nine for your meals, that you can’t circumvent.

For you that’s another two thousand dollars…”
“Please stop! I give up! I just want to holler!

Of my income you’ve grabbed thirty-eight percent.
It doesn’t seem fair, though I see where it went.”

Next day the Big Bad Taxman knocked on the door of the second house.

“Little landlord, little landlord, let me in!”
(He was counting his rent receipts money within.)

Cash and checks piled up on the table
The Taxman would have seen 80K if he were able.

“How much is your income?” asked Taxman at first;
“That’s none of your business,” was Landlord’s outburst,

“I’ll file my taxes with the feds when I must,
“And whatever my figures, you’ll just have to trust.”

“With deductions and credits and depreciation,
Six thousand and three’s the net taxable notation.”

“Well, none of that’s wages so no contribution
To Medicare, Social, or redistribution.”

“Now as to your income…”
“My fed AGI
Is practically zero; my accountant is wise:

She makes sure that number is so very small
That to the Feds I pay almost nothing at all.”

“So half of that,Vermont gets three-sixty.
Please pay that in April, and don’t be too tricky.

Now property tax: how much is it worth?
Your house with four apartments, sitting here on the earth?”

“It’s considered as rentals, so its tax assessment
Is based not on its value, but return on investment.

They take the net profit, and multiply by twenty;
On that basis: a hundred thousand is plenty.”

“Okay then, please give me seventeen hundred;
I hope that’s not too much, that you don’t feel plundered.”

“Now finally your sales tax: two thousand will do;
Your total: four thousand, and three sixty-two.”

“Goodbye, Mr Taxman, I’m pleased to oblige
With a small contribution to keep government alive.”

Over to the third house, the retired investor. The Big Bad Tax Man knocks at the door.

“Little investor, little investor, let me in!”
(Checking his stocks, his bonds, on his screen.)

(Year-to-date growth shows positive gains,
Equal to forty thousand and change.)

“Let’s see what you’ve got there, these tidy investments;
How much are they worth? What’s the assessment?”

“That’s none of your business, you lowly civilian;
Suffice it to say, it’s more than a million.”

“I can’t tax you on that, it’s fully exempted;
Nor state nor federal, though we be tempted

To ask to you pay a fair share of that money.
(With all that you have it does seem kind of funny.)

How about your income? Let’s see your ten-forty.”
“Not much to report there, nothing too sporty:

Our social security’s taxed but in half;
Subtract from that deductions on my behalf,

And you’ll see that my taxable income is slight:
For Feds and the State my tax burden is light.”

“None of it’s wages, so there’s no benefaction
To Social Security, not any subtraction.”

“For income you owe me five thousand and three;
Let’s talk now of tax on your nice property.

It’s valued at 300K like your neighbor’s
So I’ll need five thousand, that’s this year’s flavor.”

“From that five thousand, to be fair to me,
A homestead break of two thousand and three.

I’m old, and my income is under the limit;
I owe you three thousand, and that’s what I’m giving.”

“Now sales tax is easy, same as your neighbors:
About two thousand, and I’m doing you a favor.

Your net contribution to the commonweal
Adds up to ten thousand: how does that feel?”

At the end of the day, the Big Bad Tax man carries $38,281 in his sack:

$22,700 from the teacher;

$  5,081 from the landlord; and

$10,500 from the investor.

Does this seem fair to you?

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Code of Ethics for the New Administration

To: All new Appointees and Existing Employees
From: POTUS
Subject: New Code of Ethics

Following our mandate to turn over a new leaf, to drain the swamp, and to Make America Great Again, we have adopted a new Code of Ethics that you must follow, on pain of excommunication. This memo outlines the differences between the ethics you may be used to, and those of the New Administration. Forget all those things your mother, your teacher, your priest, your rabbi, your minister, your philosopher or your therapist taught you. The MAGA, and He alone, provides the light of Truth and Justice that informs this new Code of Ethics.

Old Code of EthicsNew Code of Ethics
Love thy neighbor as thyself.Exploit thy neighbor for thyself.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.Do unto others, then ensure the profits render unto you.
Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.Render unto the IRS as little as possible, and keep the rest for yourself.
Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, hit him back with a vengeance.
Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.Vengeance is sweet, saith the MAGA.
From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.From the poor take as much as possible, so the rich can fulfill their needs.
I am the Lord thy God, thou shall not Have strange Gods before me.He is the Lord thy MAGA, thou shall not have strange Gods before Him.
Practice the Seven Heavenly Virtues:Practice the Seven Deadly Sins:
   Humility   Pride
   Charity   Greed
   Kindness   Wrath
   Patience   Envy
   Chastity   Lust
   Temperance   Gluttony
   Diligence   Sloth
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.Repeat false witness enough times and people will believe it.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.Why not covet thy neighbor’s wife? Especially if she’s good-looking.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.Why not commit adultery? But only if she’s good-looking.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.Take advantage of the meek, and you shall inherit their wealth.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.If you must go to court, choose your judge carefully.
Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.Ask not what you can do for your country, but what your country can do for you.
The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.Bend the arc of the moral universe back toward self-interest.
Form a more perfect Union.Make it difficult to form a union of workers.
All men are created equal.Some men are more equal than others. As for women, well…
Be kindly affectionate, one to another.There’s a sucker born every minute. Take full advantage.
What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.What is the essence of life? To exploit others and inherit their goods.
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.Anyone foolish enough to drive a camel does not deserve to enter the Kingdom of MAGA. Rich men can go wherever they want.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.Let he who commits the most sins get the first throne.
Honor thy father and thy mother.Forget thy father and thy mother.
Thou shalt not steal.It’s okay to steal if it’s part of a deal.

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