“Republicans believe that every day is the Fourth of July.
Democrats believe that every day is April 15th.”
There’s a chance that Ronald Reagan didn’t really say that. It’s almost universally attributed to him, though, and it’s the sort of thing he would’ve said. Let’s just go with it, ok? It’s clever. And obviously, it’s correct.
April 15th fell on a Saturday this year, which meant that Armed Robbery Day* would get bumped to Monday — except that the 17th was a holiday observed only in DC. So citizens who choose to fund this extra-constitutional government of ours have until today to surrender their money.
Deb and I took care of that distasteful business yesterday. It was complicated, owing to selling a house and our mid-year move. We filed returns for Arkansas and Ohio, our former city-of-residence, “school district tax” collected by Ohio and, of course, federal.
And despite our best efforts, we got killed this year.
But it’s done.
The older I get, the crankier I am about taxes. I mean, you’d think that the years would’ve left me with a calm perspective on contributing to the efficient operation of a government “instituted among men.” What I see, however, is a sewer of appeasement and entitlements.
And we pay for this clusterfuck. We keep funding our own demise. We keep paying taxes, and we ought to be ashamed of ourselves — tea should’ve stained the harbor long ago.
Groucho Marx used to tell the story about the man standing on the gallows, about to be hanged. He was asked if he had any last words before his sentence was carried out.
“Yes,” said the condemned. “I don’t think this damned thing is safe!”
I think things. Lots of things. At random, then, here are some things I think.
Sorry, but I can’t help y’all with a Bud Light boycott. It’s been a dozen years since I’ve bought or consumed an Anheuser-Busch product (unless that’s all that was available at the moment I wanted a beer). For mass-produced beer I go with Yuengling, whether I drink it at the bar or buy it at the store. So when A-B courted Woke Nation by putting a tranny on a can, it didn’t rock my world.
Trump will win the Republican presidential nomination. Between his take-no-prisoners style and his legal entanglements, there won’t be enough oxygen left to support challengers.
Trump is scared to death of Ron DeSantis. Too strong? Okay, let’s say that he sees DeSantis as his biggest threat. For evidence, look no further than ads that “independent” MAGA-PACs are running, along with his own weak-sauce attacks on the Florida governor in stump speeches.
DeSantis will run, I expect. That wouldn’t be the smart play, and (for America’s sake) I wish he wouldn’t. We need to keep Ron in Florida, Kristi in South Dakota. Sarah in Arkansas, Jim in the House, Ted in the Senate, and so on.
Trump can’t win the presidency in 2024. Notice that I didn’t say he won’t — I contend that he can’t. There’s no way. If you believe otherwise, then you learned nothing from last year’s “red wave” that wasn’t. Wise up.
I spend no time fretting about “artificial intelligence.” First, AI already is with us — we feed it whenever we Google. Second, there’s absolutely nothing (beyond being aware) that we can do to stop AI. And third, progressives will destroy America before the spookiest breed of AI even gets its panties on (or off).
Sooner or later, an American city or state will enact a “reparations” scheme. The People’s Republic of California, probably, or Pelosiville. It’s only a matter of time, and the feds will follow when (not if) progressives regain control of both legislative chambers. Since today is Armed Robbery Day, it’s a good time for me to say this — should I ever have the misfortune to live in a jurisdiction that spends the People’s money on “reparations,” I’ll never again pay a red cent in taxes to those identity whores. Fortunately, that kind of woke bullshit is highly unlikely in Ozarkansas.
Tomorrow is the 248th anniversary of “the shot heard ’round the world,” a High Holy Day for Patriots. More than Emerson’s hymn, I remember Captain Parker’s orders: “Stand your ground.”
This latter-day Patriot will not advance and will not attack, but “if they mean to have a war” I will not retreat. To my last breath, I will stand and defend patria mea — my homeland, “Where there is Liberty.”
“Missed me.”
Ronald Reagan, 1987, in West Berlin
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB
*I used to say, “Taxation is theft” until a like-minded friend pointed out the penalties for not paying and the fact that the IRS fields heavily armed enforcement units. He contended that it’d be more accurate to say, “Taxation is armed robbery,” and he’s right. Therefore, today is “Armed Robbery Day.”