Tax Benefits?

Who is running our government? As our politicians have attempted to make things better for the working class of our society, more insanity ensues. Today, i'm talking about Flexible Spending Accounts.

At DAXKO, where I work, we received news yesterday that we would now have FSAs as a benefit. My first thought was, oh good. After a little research, I do not know what to think about them. I must decide how much medical expense I will incur during the year at the beginning of the year, and if I guess wrong, I'll lose any money I did not use. I do not know the accuracy of wikipedia on this, but it tells me that I can REQUEST a refund (it's not automatic) of unused funds, and if I do not request a refund, I'm taxed on the non-refunded amount.

Surely, this is wrong. From my little research (10 minutes or so online), it seems that FSAs are another attempt by our government officials to provide relief, and once again, they have only made our lives more difficult.

At first glance I think, "Yes, I'll participate. After all it's free money." But stepping back, I wonder if it is free money. There seems to be a good bit of overhead as I must manage yet another account of money, and interact with the government on yet another level (Ever file tax returns?). Living in America, we become less free everyday. If I participate in this plan, does the federal government now know every medical expense I make? And what am I being paid for this disclosure? The tax benefit does not seem to be that significant (a few hundres dollars per year).

I'm not knocking DAXKO here. This is all about the politicans we continually elect into office. They attempt to fix a broken system and it only becomes worse. And no Mike Huckabee, preventative healthcare is not the ultimate solution. We cannot prevent all health problems, and if we move that direction, I'll be going to the doctor once a week for a "check-up" in order to not lose my co-pay that I set aside at the beginning of the year in hopes that I could keep from getting sick. Preventative healthcare simply leads to "charts" that are useless.

After all, how many of you have babies under a year old that either weigh too much or weigh too little? Everyone of Peggy and I's children have measured 90% height and 10% weight on "the charts"? In a world where obesity is a major issue one would think this is a good thing, but not according to our doctors who are into "preventative healthcare measures".

Henry

Down With Charter Communications!

I know I'm not supposed to really "Hate", but I do Hate charter communications. Everytime I contact their support (which is too often), I'm on the line forever (or chat), and they must "access my account".

Charter representatives cannot tell me how much certain services cost without "accessing my account". I guess I'll be charged a "complaint fee". I'm considering downgrading to "basic cable", and I've been chatting with the charter support team for 10 minutes just to receive a simple quote.

The chat representative needed my address, phone, and last 4 digits of my social security number to receive a simple quote. I was then told it would take 2-3 minutes (after the previous 10 minutes) to get the quote.

I'm curious how a company run like this stays in business, and I quickly remember it is because the government is involved. We in Hoover have no options. Cable is regulated and restricted to charter alone in hoover alabama. I have never spoken to anyone with favorable things to say about the company, yet we're stuck. Someone in our city council is receiving a kick-back. This must be the case!

Charter raises my rates annually without providing any additional value (they actually took channels away this year). They increase their internet costs and I have no other options because bellsouth cannot get a strong enough signal to our neighborhood. I guess I should just be a good little American and quit complaining.

In a free country, I should have choices, but I have no other viable options, and I have no voice to make changes. I didn't intend to get into this during this post, but this is why I support Ron Paul for President. Everytime the government becomes involved in something, the cost goes up, the value decreases, and government officials become rich and more powerful. This is not a good combination.

It is indeed time for a revolution. I vote we start with taking down charter communications.

Henry - 1 month - January 3rd, 2008

To my son,

Today you are 1 month old! I can't believe it's only been 1 month because it seems like you've been with us forever and I can't even picture our little family without you now.

You are a good baby. You sleep well and have only gotten up one time in the night since you were 8 days old. I'm hoping in the next week or 2 that you'll follow in your sisters steps and start sleeping all the way through the night but if not, I'll enjoy the time that just the 2 of us share at 3am. You smiled for the first time on New Years Day! I must say that I am so glad that you gave your first smile to me. You fit right into our family and your sisters sure do love you. They hug and kiss you all the time and fight to hold you. Whenever they wake up in the morning or after naptime, they both ask for you first thing.

If I could tell you one thing that you should carry with you your entire life it would be to watch your father. See how worship is first. See how he loves me and treats me and cares for me. See how he loves you and your sisters. See how he works hard but never puts work above us. See how he spends his time. You will never be too old to seek his guidance or spend time with him.

While you are in our house, we will be preparing you to one day leave and to be a man, a husband and a father. You have no better example than your own father. When you leave us, you will be ready if you learn from him. The Lord has blessed you. All this talk of leaving makes me sad so for now, I will hold you close and hold you tight while you are still my baby.

I will love you my whole life,

Mommy

Ron Paul, Fox News, ABC, Stop the madness!

For the first time in my life, I'm interested in politics. The message of Ron Paul deserves credit for this. I do not want to lift the man up too high for fear of him overshadowing our Saviour Jesus Christ, but I do enjoy hearing the refreshing political message Paul is broadcasting. I generally do not trust politicians and am not sure if Ron Paul is really different from the others, but at this point he's convinced me to give him a shot unlike Fox News and ABC.

These two channels have not invited Ron Paul to their debates, and I would like to see the other candidates refuse to participate in those debates if they truly believe openness and freedom are good things.

Granted, I do not truly expect anyone of the candidates to refuse an opportunity to squash another candidate due to censorship, but then again, if they did, I may actually give them another look.....on 2nd though...nah.