The REAL Truth

Remember President Bush's fabulous "economic stimulus" package?

Well, the TRUTH comes home to roost. The following correspondence from the IRS was mailed and received at my home, which I have completely retyped for your examination and consideration. Please note; the various emphasized aspects are of my doing:

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT NOTICE

Dear Taxpayer:

We are pleased to inform you that the United States Congres passed and President George W. Bush signed into law the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which provides for economic stimulus payments to be madeto over 130 million American households. Under this new law, you may be entitled to a payment of up to $600 ($1200 if filing a joint return), plus additional amounts for each qualifying child.

We are sending this notice to let you know that based on this new law the IRS will begin sending the one-time payments starting in May. To receive a payment in 2008, individuals who qualify will not have to do anything more than file a 2007 tax return. The IRS will determine eligibility, figure the amount, and send the payment. This payment should not be confused with any 2007 income tax refund that is owed to you by the federal government. Income tax refunds for 2007 will be made separately from this one-time payment.

For individuals who normally do not have to file a tax return, the new law provides for payments to individuals who have a total of $3,000 or more in earned income, Social Security benefits, and/or certain veterans' payments. Those individuals should file a tax return for 2007 to receive a payment in 2008.

Individuals who qualify may receive as much as $600 ($1,200 if married filing jointly). Even if you pay no income tax but have a total of $3,000 or more in earned income, Social Security benefits, and/or certain veterans' payments, you may receive a payment of $300 ($600 if married filing jointly).

In addition, individuals eligible for payments may also receive an additional amount of $300 for each child qualifying for the child tax credit.

For taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) of more than $75,000 (or more than $150,000 if married filing jointly), the payment will be reduced or phased out completely.

To qualify for the payment, an individual, spouse and any qualifying child must have a valid Social Security number. In addition, individuals cannot receive a payment if they can be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer or they filed a 2007 Form 1040NR, 1040NR-EZ, 1040-PR, or 1040-SS.

All individuals receiving payments will receive a notice and additional information shortly before the payment is made. In the meantime, for additional information, please visit the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/.

Please read that second red-emphasized paragraph. That means the wife and I will receive nothing from the government, though we pay the greatest amount of taxes. I guess we're simply considered, by the government, to be simply too filthy rich in Fornicalia, there being a huge difference between gross and net. It was a poor idea, poorly executed. But it lets me know precisely what it is that my federal government thinks about me:

At first I wrote in response for this post: "I guess I should just take a big cup of Shut The Fuck Up and bend over for my monthly piece of white-hot governmental rebar shoved up my ass. 'Thank you sir, can I have another?' " However, after a few days' consideration I've simply decided to write: "The Revolution, Dear Government, is actually beginning to achieve form. I would highly recommend you tread a bit more daintily in the next 10 years should you decide to more deeply exploit the fount of your largesse."

BZ