This is going to be one of those extra-rambling posts. You have been warned.

Let’s see, should I talk about the idiotic letter I got from the IRS informing me that I might, or might not, receive a tax “rebate” of unclear value at some point in the future to be deposited into one of my bank accounts (unsure which one)? Thanks for sending me that utterly useless letter!

Or maybe I should talk about the “bail out” of investment banks? Or the cry to “bail out” all the homeowners who purchased homes beyond their means? Evelyn was reading an article where someone said that we should help “anyone who faces forclosure”. Heck, isn’t that every homeowner? Illness and job loss have hosed people much more than a shitty mortgage. Does this mean I never have to worry about failing to meet my financial obligations?

Perhaps I’m extra grumpy because I had to make my quarterly estimated tax payment today. That always puts me into a dour mood, especially when I look to see what I’m getting for my money (read: nothing). As a small business person I’d much rather have put that sizeable chunk of change into a slew of new test equipment. Instead, it will go to paying for a machine gun.

Don’t even get me started on our tax system. Isn’t it grand that my blood-sweat-and-tears money gets taxed at upwards of 30% while returns from stocks (capital gains) gets taxed at 15%? What kind of incentive is that to work hard?

It’s interesting that my tolerance for the “do just enough to get by” people is just about nonexistent these days. I think my general response is along the lines of “they can go fuck themselves.” If you aren’t trying to move forward, and you’re just complaining without doing anything about it, then I don’t fucking care.

This is not to say that I’ve become an unsupportive uncaring asshole. An asshole I’ve always been, but my tolerance for people who don’t help themselves is gone. You want to be miserable? Go right ahead. I could care less. You want to be happy and productive? Then I’ll do everything in my power to help.