The FairTax....Simpler, Fairer, Richer

As promised, here's my entry on the FairTax. Honestly, after reading and researching about this, I don't see how ANY rational person could be against this. It replaces 60,000 pages of IRS rules and regulations with a 133 page tax reform bill (currently before Congress) that will abolish the unconstitutional IRS and income taxes and replace them with a simple consumption tax (NOT a flat tax or VAT tax as in Europe). In short, rather than piling over forms or paying somebody else to figure out our taxes for us each year, we would NEVER have another IRS worksheet to fill out...let alone simply paying somebody else to figure out something so complicated that we can't do it on our own (BTW, did you know in a sample of 25 professional tax preparation agents, all 25 were given the SAME data and produced 25 different results?). A consumption tax works by collecting a 23% tax when new goods and services are purchased (cars, houses, etc., everything is only taxed once). And NO, this is NOT a 23% tax increase as MOST politicians against this will try to tell you...it is a blatant lie or an honest admission of complete incompetence to understand simple principles. Research shows that prices currently contain a 23% EMBEDDED tax rate that we are paying in order to cover the cost of taxes for the manufacturer, shipper, seller, etc. of certain goods. We are, in essence, adding our money to the bottom line of several companies so that they can pay their taxes. The 23% rate for the FairTax is designed to off set this, so if you spend $100 for an iPod before the FairTax you will NOT be spending $123 after, you will still spend $100, maybe less. Oh, and since this is a consumption tax, guess what else that means? You keep every penny you earn, nothing is ever taken out of your paycheck. You're only taxed on what you buy--YOU are in the driver's seat about how to spend ALL your money. And since taxes are collected on purchased goods, EVERYONE that buys anything will be paying taxes. In other words, all those illegal immigrants, tax evaders, and even black market runners will ALL be paying taxes. They have to buy groceries and that new Mercedes, don't they? Even tourists will be helping us out! And the lower class will not suffer, as democrats will cry (this will actually help them FAR more than any good-intentioned democrat). Most obviously, they'll be getting MORE money. They won't be sharing their paycheck with Uncle Sam. Additionally, the government will issue prebates to ensure that nobody has to pay the consumption tax on on life's basic necessities (figured using annual poverty level data and calculations on how much sales tax a household would be paying on basic necessities). And think about how our economy will take off when all the money (some $11 trillion) in overseas Swiss and Cayman Island accounts can be brought back home because the IRS and all their wonderful taxes and regulations will no longer be driving money away from the country they're designed to help. Anyways, I must stop--I could go on much longer because I'm quite passionate about this opportunity to participate in a great tax reform that will HUGELY help out our ailing country. I don't expect this to pass soon, but with enough support from us regular citizens I think it will be a reality in time. Check out www.fairtax.org for more info or just email me! BTW, check out "The FairTax Book" by Neal Boortz (several examples here come from that book). I have some copies if you want to borrow them. Let's do this!

Introducing...Jonas Paul Jensen!

The name game is over and the name that has emerged victorious is the only one that we had not thought of prior to going to the hospital. We were somewhat caught off guard since Alice was scheduled for a c-section next Monday and even that was a week early, so we thought we had more time on the name. Well, he came early and has been Moby ever since. Ironically, the whole Moby joke is what got us thinking of Jonas because, in keeping with the whale theme, we had some friends mention "how about Jonah?" We actually liked it, and then when considering Jonas it just seemed right. After researching the name and discovering it's meaning is similar to Jonah (dove; gift from god) it also means the doer of God's will and accomplishing. We really liked that and Jonas officially made our list of several names. After narrowing it down to two similar names (not Jonah and Jonas), we sat on it and ended up feeling like Jonas should be it. It really felt like it was right for him and not so much just to please us, the parents. We both really liked the other name, and it was hard to let go of, but only because WE liked it and WE wanted it whereas we feel naming a child should be about doing what is right for them. Of course we know very little about new children, so we prayed a lot that the Lord would help us out because He, of course, knows all about that child--what he will accomplish in life, what talents he brought with him, his personality traits--and so we look at the naming of children as more discernment than choice, trying to discern what name the Lord feels is most appropriate for him rather than simply choose what sounds best. That said, however, it will still at least be a name the parents like because, well, if you don't like it then it won't make the initial list in the first place! So grab some names you like and then begin discerning! Anyways, what was the other name we wanted, you may be wondering. I'll tell you, but only over a steak dinner as payment for that information. I'll give you a hint, we could use the same nicknames with both (J.J. and Joey) which is why it was easy to switch from the first to Jonas. And as for the middle name, Paul, that is Alice's dad and likewise her brother's name and we've known pretty much for a long time that Paul would be the middle name.

Baby Moby is here!

"Call me...Ishmael." Yesterday, October 5, at 11:36 PM, our little white whale left his mother's womb and entered this earthly domain to begin his mortal sojourn. Weighing in at 8 lbs. 4 oz., he is a healthy little boy who can now begin to gain strength as he prepares for his date with destiny and a man named Ahab. Little Moby, as he is fondly being called, looks pretty much like Tommy did but even more like his daddy than Tommy. Though Tommy weighed in a full pound heavier than little Moby, why, you may be wondering, are we so affectionately calling our smaller of the two babies what we are. Well, the answer is simply--when Alice's water broke last night, we were watching Moby Dick on TV. Since we haven't chosen a name yet, I took that as a sign that we should name our boy Moby. All the nurses agreed that was a wonderful idea and so he is named....actually, they laughed in sheer surprise and audacity at such a comment...I mean, come on, naming your son after a white whale? They kindly suggested Ishmael, Ahab, or perhaps the (finally) normal sounding Richard. All were soundly vetoed. So here we are, left with an adorable little boy without a name. He sure is cute. Tommy absolutely adores him....his first visit today was a huge success. Tommy kept giving his new baby brother kisses, hugs, and petting his fuzzy head. Tommy also practiced his words by repeatedly reminding everyone in the room that his baby brother does indeed have eyes, ears, a nose, and a mouth, as well as indicating to all present where those features are located. I'll give more info later, but just know that for now everything went well, Alice is recovering great, and we welcome any visitors who wish to drop by--come by anytime!