El – Page 2 – El’s View from the Crow’s Nest

I remember the MacMullen family reunions

I think the last time I was in attendance at one of these was maybe 1963, or earlier. My maternal grandmothers family, the MacMullens used to hold a “clan gathering” (family reunion) every year at Kankakee River State Park. This always occurred on the Sunday closest to the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which celebrates the giving of the Torah to Moses and therefore to Israel. Now days Moses is said to be the first person to download data from the cloud unto a tablet.

I know what you are thinking: a Scottish clan? Jews? Yep. Like many European Jewish families, my grandmothers family was chased around the continent a bit. From somewhere in the Balkans, the Bonewitzes<sp?> were chased away, probably as the result of a pogrom or pogroms, and eventually landed in the Scottish Highlands. There they changed their name to MacMullen and adopted that clans tartan, as well as a boatload of Scottish custom. So the MacMullen clan gathering was a mixture of Jewish and Scottish cultural adaptations.

I remember the men wearing kilts with matching kippah, some wonderful BBQ chicken, burgers, and assortments of salads, chips and deserts. There was a little train ride that carried kids all around the park. There were bagpipes and Highland Games including the tug-o-war, the hammer throw and tossing the caber. The Rabbi from our synagogue on the south side of Chicago was also in attendance.

I remember some of us discovering that if you ate a lot of angel-food cake you could drink all the Coca Cola you wanted without getting sick.

A Scots-Jewish “kippah,” made from the official Jewish tartan

I don’t remember attending one of these after Shavuot 1963 (when I was going to turn 10 years old). Whoever was the organizer of this even either passed away or got sick or just stopped. So this has become a fond but very vague memory after all these years.

Why do we pay taxes? Two answers

I saw this on Facebook today:

The author of this meme doesn’t seem to understand the purpose or benefit of taxation. Rather, they seem to believe that taxation is some sort of punishment. I’ve seen this before. It is a popular notion among Ayn Rand devotees (aka: Libertarians).

WHY DO WE PAY TAXES? Two answers:

ANSWER ONE:
Taxes fund public services and infrastructure that benefit society.
Here’s a breakdown of why taxes are paid:

1. Funding Public Goods and Services:
Essential Services: Taxes finance fundamental services like national defense, law enforcement, fire protection, and the justice system.
Infrastructure: Taxes are used to build and maintain roads, bridges, public transportation, and other vital infrastructure.
Education: Public schools, universities, and other educational programs are funded through taxes.
Healthcare: Taxes support public healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
Social Welfare Programs: Taxes fund programs that provide assistance to those in need, such as unemployment benefits and welfare programs.

2. Promoting Social Well-being:
Public Safety: Taxes help fund police and fire departments, contributing to a safer environment.
Parks and Recreation: Taxes support the maintenance of parks, libraries, and recreational facilities.
Environmental Protection: Taxes can be used to fund environmental conservation efforts and address pollution.

3. Ensuring a Functioning Society:
Government Operations: Taxes pay for the salaries of government employees and the cost of running government agencies.
Economic Stability: Taxes can be used to manage the economy and promote economic growth.
In essence, taxes are a collective contribution that enables a functioning and prosperous society by funding the essential services and programs that benefit everyone.

ANSWER TWO:
Why you would not want to live in a country with no taxes

While the prospect of living in a country with no taxes might seem appealing at first glance, there are several reasons why this might not be a desirable or even viable option in the long run.

Here are some key considerations:

1. Reduced or Non-existent Public Services:

Limited infrastructure: Countries without taxes might struggle to fund essential infrastructure like roads, bridges, public transportation, and reliable utilities (water, electricity, internet).
Poorly funded education: Public education systems may be weak, understaffed, or even non-existent, potentially impacting the future prospects of residents and the overall workforce.
- Inadequate healthcare: Access to affordable and quality healthcare might be severely limited, forcing individuals to rely on expensive private care or travel abroad for treatment.
- Weak or absent social safety nets: There may be a lack of social welfare programs to support the elderly, disabled, unemployed, or those facing hardship.
- Limited public safety and security: Law enforcement, emergency services, and a functioning justice system might be underfunded or unreliable, potentially leading to higher crime rates and reduced security.
2. Economic Instability and Uncertainty:
- Reliance on volatile revenue sources: Countries without taxes often depend on alternative revenue streams like natural resource extraction (e.g., oil, gas) or tourism, which can fluctuate significantly and create economic instability.
- Lack of investment in long-term development: Without a stable tax base, governments may be unable to invest in long-term economic growth, research, and development, potentially hindering future prosperity.
  - Potential for corruption and inequality: A lack of transparency and accountability in the absence of a well-defined tax system can create opportunities for corruption and exacerbate wealth inequality.
  3. Quality of Life Concerns:
  - Lower overall quality of life: The combination of limited public services, potential economic instability, and a lack of social safety nets can negatively impact the overall quality of life for residents.
  - Increased personal expenses: Residents might have to pay out-of-pocket for services typically funded by taxes, such as education, healthcare, and even basic infrastructure maintenance, leading to higher living costs.
  - Potential for social unrest: A lack of basic services and economic opportunities can lead to social unrest, instability, and even political upheaval.
    In conclusion: While eliminating taxes can seem appealing in theory, the practical implications of living in a country with no taxes are significant and can lead to a diminished quality of life, economic instability, and a lack of essential public services. Most developed nations rely on tax revenue to fund vital infrastructure, social programs, and services that contribute to a stable and prosperous society.

There are some countries that do not have an income tax:

Every tree is precious

The Redwood rain forest once covered an area starting just inside the Oregon/California border, running south to about San Luis Obisbo, and East-West from the Pacific to the Cascade Mountains. That was solid forest, 744 miles long, about 150 miles wide (111,600 square miles). A squirrel could travel from tree top to tree top and never have to hit the ground. This forest teemed with Grizzly, Deer, Elk, and Black Bear, and Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Condor, Snowy Egrets, and many, many more. Salmon and Steelhead were abundant in our streams, and there was probably a sizeable population of banana slugs. Indigenous homo-sapien tribes lived and worked and grew old and thrived, without impacting the environment. Some of these tribes believed that the giant trees were gods. Then the white man came. Today, less than four percent of this forest is left, most of it in Humboldt, DelNorte, and Mendocino Counties. So, every tree is precious ,,,,,

A couple of years ago there was a tiny stand of Redwood that stood on two lots, off Harris between Sequoia Ave and Girard Court. There is some kind of PG&E station there, which could hardly be seen with the trees. They clear cut that little stand. The stumps are quite visible. The owner of the West part threw up a fence, and now has a travel trailer parked inside. I’m guessing he lives there and someday he’ll build a house. I don’t know what PG&Es excuse was. At the time it made me sick. I still drive past there and kind of mourn.

A few years back I published a petition on the Move On site, calling for a 200 year moratorium on the harvest, sale, and manufacturing of goods from the Redwood rain forest.

Save what remains. Sign this petition:

SAVE THE REDWOODS

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