We have four boxes with which to defend our freedom...

...the soapbox, the ballot box, the jury box and the cartridge box. -(can't find the original source, lots of people take credit for it. This exact version is from a Georgia politician named Larry McDonald.)

Stepping on soap box.

I cannot take one more commerical about tax preparation. This has nothing to do with taxes. A post about my feelings on taxes and the 60% of the country that doesn't even pay taxes but has the gall to try and dictate how tax money should be spent...well, that is a post for another time.

This is a post about how STUPID Americans can be. This particular commerical, (I don't generally watch commercials but on hulu+ they force you to watch them and you can't skip them, perhaps a future soap box is needed for that topic) features random people shouting out monetary amounts from their windows and front porches. They are excited about their tax refunds and that pisses me off. Why? Because people think the government is giving them an annual bonus! IT'S YOUR MONEY PEOPLE! You are the idiot that gave the government an interest free loan for a year. And I get it, you like the little surprise cash flow to go on a vacation or buy a flat screen tv. But guess what? Even if you would have put that money aside in a simple savings account earning 1% interest you would be better off! I have friends who like the refund because it their forced savings plan that helps them pay off debt. If you're reading this blog I want you to know that while the government was getting your little 0% interest loan, you were paying 15% on your credit card debt.

So this year, use the withholding calculator and change your deductions. Have some discipline and take that money and either invest it or put it toward debt. Until we as American citizens can exercise fiscal responsibility, why should we ever expect our elected politicians to so?

Stepping off soap box.