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Posted on 01/13/2003 7:58:28 AM PST by Dick Bachert
During a rebroadcast of a Clark Howard show (WSB-AM in Atlanta), Clark spent some time describing yet ANOTHER bit of insanity in the tax code.
For those not familiar with this document, it is so named as it is written in some sort of indecipherable “code” understood ONLY by a hunch-backed creature kept chained in the basement of the Capitol Building in Washington. The creature is brought forth during periodic tax legislation “mark-up” sessions to translate already virtually incomprehensible “lawyerese” into this totally incomprehensible “code.”
Howard – apparently having retained the services of the creature for purposes of translation – disclosed that one of the reasons we see so many more 10,000 # gas-guzzling SUVs (with which I have no problem) on the roads is – the tax code.
In what MAY be a classic case of unintended consequences (or an equally classic intended loophole for a specific class of citizen), it seems that business owners, professionals and some who buy one of a dozen or so of the specific vehicles listed in the code may write off the cost of same on his taxes. This, of course, permits those of us who drive those stupid little economical vehicles to subsidize their behemoths.
Originally INTENDED to give a tax break to (read that “social engineer”) farmers for certain large trucks needed in their businesses, this section of the “code” is apparently so badly and loosely written that it contains a loophole big enough to -- drive a subsidized SUV through. Seems that some of the creature’s more alert brethren, aka “tax attorneys”) found that their non-farmer clients could hitch a ride at the expense of us dummies out there who can’t or won’t consort with these alien life forms.
So we have the spectacle of the government encouraging folks to car-pool – knees on their chests -- in Yugos and use LESS petroleum based energy on one hand while encouraging the growing herd of street legal monster trucks on the other, from one of which, one Ariana Huffington may be screaming about subsidizing terrorists.
Clark wrapped the segment by saying that he’d gotten hundreds of emails on the subject. Not from folks outraged at this further tax code idiocy. From folks asking how THEY could get THEIR FREE SUV! His advice? Spend an hour of clock time with your tax guy to make sure you cover your butt before driving through this particular loophole.
Anyone else think it’s long past time to drive a stake through the heart of the creature and his minions?
If you do, get everyone you know to visit http://www.votr.org to sign the petition found there.
Some members of the political ruling class may not be very bright and may be ethically challenged but THEY DO KNOW HOW TO COUNT! And when they feel the heat, they SEE THE LIGHT! And the “heat” in this case is millions of signatures from outraged citizens.
OK...someone tell me what kind of SUV's these "dozen or so" are....I'm looking for a new car....LOL.
Apparantly it's because these big SUV's are intented to get a lot of use at industrial sites and the wear and tear warrants accelerated depreciation. But I am no accountant or laywer so I cannot verify either way.
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