Taxes

Yes, it's that time in the U.S.. Appropriately, Sarah Palin will be doing her shrewish vixen act here in Boston today for the Tea Party enthusiasts. Scott Brown will be absent. In fact, all the legitimate GOP candidates will most likely be hard to find. I am happy to observe that Sarah P.'s propensity for racist and birther remarks don't play well with most Massachusetts folks.

However, I do have something critical to say about our tax system, especially the Federal tax system. In making a well-meaning attempt to make a tax payment today, I decided to pay the IRS on line. The payment I was making was not associated with tax-prep software. Well, boys and girls, Uncle Sam doesn't do computers well. Someone needs to show him how to use an i'Phone.

The registration process at the special Web site is like learning a secret handshake for some arcane society, like The Sacred and Esteemed Order of the Holy Mongoose. I was eventually forced to call an 800 number and speak with an efficient rep, who seemed on the verge of either crying or screaming at any moment during our conversation. And I was being nice.

Now, we hear daily about the huge Federal deficit ($1.5 trillion, approx.) and the huger national debt ($12 trillion, approx.). The Republicans have become particularly obsessed with it all, which is odd, since the Republicans also fund the Tea Party enthusiasts, who rail against easily fixing the deficit by levying taxes. Funny times we live in.

One would think logically that a government strapped for cash would bend over backwards to grease the wheels of any tax payment vehicle. Not the case. Some time from now, after I have done three hand stands and bowed thirty times to The East, I may have in hand a mystical number which will then allow me the privilege of completing my Web registration, which will perhaps allow me to pay the government some money on line in future.

I've mailed them a check for now, but, to my horror, I am beginning to think those Tea Party enthusiasts aren't quite as nutty as I once believed.