A tax on taxes and a pox on North Carolina

"There is no pork in this budget for those of you who worry about such things," Hackney said

This is, unfortunately, my local representative's quote and another sign that North Carolina really IS becoming North "Taxolina." That Joe Hackney can be so condescending is not a surprise either. For someone who attends so few sessions and actually casts so few votes, he should really just continue to be seen and not heard. Hearing him does not help his image.

The budget proposal includes a one-cent increase in the state sales tax rate, raising it to 7.75 cents in most locations. It also would impose a 2 to 3 percent surcharge on the income tax liability owed by individuals with a state taxable income of $60,000 or more and couples with a state taxable income of $100,000 or more.

This is a tax on taxes.

They can call it a surcharge if they want but a tax it is. Just as all those illegals in North Carolina costing taxpayers millions if not billions per annum can be called "undocumented" - they're still illegal and still sucking funds from the State. This is how the State plans to pay for it all.

For those who don't read the full article, Health and Human Services is to be cut 29% and education, 10%...so the old "for the children" is nothing more than a lie....

Will have to dig deeper in the paperwork to see if the tax on affiliate sales - which cost many micro businesses their income a month ago - was left in this budget. My guess, based on North Carolina's money-grabbing, is "Yes."

Politician's Brains....

I've come to the conclusion that some sort of warped, Vulcan mind-meld takes place once a person wins political office.

Here's the latest example:
"Perdue wants 1¢ sales tax hike"

According to the article, this increase will be "temporary" until sometime next year. The last time this happened to North Carolinians was during the run of Governor Easley - who is of course being investigated for "good old boy" connections - well after the deeds have been accomplished and the money - gone.

He imposed a "temporary" tax increase in 2001.

We're still paying it. Politicians, during the mind-meld, must lose all regard for honesty, or the truth, or a lie being just what it is, a lie.

In the meantime, spending is out of control and government grabs at taxpayer dollars is about as transparent as I have ever seen it - this is saying a lot.

There has to be a better way to run a country. We, the taxpayers, pump billions and billions of dollars into local, state and federal governments and for what? The "we need more" mantra. And they whip out "the children" like they are really just the poster children for taxpayer fraud.

Anytime they want more money from you...these "children" get mentioned. This has no effect on me since I have no children and I am paying a huge portion of my local taxes for "schools". This is in an area that has LESS non-immigrant children than 3 years ago - but MORE immigrant children and yes, I mean Hispanics and yes, in my town, half of them are illegal or anchor children.

So Governor Perdue, put away the "children" flag...it won't fly here.

Until you cut funding to illegals and you limit government spending, you won't get any additional $$ from me...if I have to move from the State of North Carolina to make it happen.

I'd really like a move to Switzerland but their immigration laws are too strict...

Go figure....

The bright side of living in North Carolina

Where some people DO know how to take care of problems. Too bad none of them hold public office.

Please sign the NC Affiliate Tax petition

Stop this from happening in YOUR State!

In signing this petition, I am formally stating my complete and total opposition to North Carolina Senate Bill 202, specifically Sections 27C.2(a), 27C.2(b), 27C.2(c), and 27C.2(d), which can be found on pages 268 and 269 of the following document: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S202v6.pdf

I firmly believe that these proposed tax changes will directly result in the loss of income for countless small businesses and individuals throughout the state of North Carolina.

I oppose the above referenced sections of North Carolina Senate Bill 202 and do not wish to see these portions of the proposed law enacted.

Protest Here

Blue Nile cuts ties to North Carolina affiliates

North Carolina - the most backward-thinking State in the US.....

This is nothing short of terrorism of North Carolina businesses.

"Amazon 1, North Carolina 0" - You think this is funny?

It appears you do.

Even with a name like Rick Aristotle Munarriz - you apparently do NOT live in the confused and screwed-up State of North Carolina. Since you do not and since you are not out of business this fine Monday morning, please keep your smart-ass reflections to yourself.

You are only making it worse for those of us who have worked hard to build businesses which you, AND the State of North Carolina AND Amazon, apparently do not appreciate.

Associates who have been sending sales to Amazon - some in large volumes for years - have to reflect not only on the brush off we are receiving by the state we unfortunately reside in - we have Amazon to thank as well.

It will be very interesting to see how many "laughs" are to come once this little tax deal idea - ignorant as it is since it decreases taxable revenue income - spreads to all the other little States of Confusion.

Amazon Cuts North Carolina Affiliates to Avoid Tax

Is there a worse state to live in than perpetual confusion?

How about the State of North Carolina? Today, both are the same.

Amazon closed ALL associates programs for anyone located in North Carolina because the ignorant and desperate legislature wants to tax money that can't really be tracked in the first place.

So,

"In an e-mail Amazon sent early Friday morning to North Carolina affiliates, the company informed them that their accounts would be closed as of June 26. "This is a direct result of the unconstitutional tax collection scheme expected to be passed any day now by the North Carolina state legislature (the General Assembly) and signed by the governor," reads the message."

...with the stroke of a pen - or rather before, since Amazon acted on Friday, June 26th, many self-employed, independent business owners in the State of North Carolina, are out of business this morning, June 29th, 2009.

We can't go to the State for unemployment of course since most of us are self-employed. What better segment of the WORKING, income-tax-paying citizenry for the State to attack?

Living in North Carolina with it's over-indulgence of illegal immigrants was bad enough.

This is quite probably, enough to make many legitimate and legal businesses - take their tax money and run...to another State...

Siler City Sanctuary

The good old, ever-present with their hand out, Hispanic Liaison....

And here they are again - recipients of the latest tax dollar handout in Chatham County, North Carolina where the Board of Commissioners recently decided NOT to "participate" in the ICE assistance program (after being "talked to") by the Hispanic Liaison people but NOT in an open forum with county citizens.

So first, we don't want these poor Hispanics to be "profiled" - meaning they can be as illegal as hell but we don't want to bother them. But today they get a grant (read taxpayer dollars) of nearly $140,000 to fight their OWN gang problems!

So my tax dollars can NOT be applied to getting some enforcement in this county against those perpetrating illegal activities, but they CAN be used to stop their gang problem in THEIR community.

It is also noted that the local law enforcement agency got $70,000 in THEIR fight against crime - one HALF of what the Hispanics were able to grab.

The Hispanic Liaison is sucking dry every tax dollar not already given away in food stamps and free health care - for illegals. I've already stopped donating to United Way since they give them money too - probably NOT what most people donating to United Way had in mind...

Disgusting....

Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Electronic Monitoring Initiative $70,000.00
Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County Latino Youth Gang $51,556.68
Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County Assistance to Latino Victims of $87,500.00
County Total: $209,056.68

The (II) CLU

"The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina wants about 2,000 of the 40,000 or so pages gathered at the Alamance County Sheriff's Department in response to the ACLU's request for documents related to the 287 (g) immigration enforcement program."

Or the"Illegal Immigrant" Civil Liberties Union as they are known in NC.

But they are now whining about how much they have to pay to have these documents copied.

I, an individual and a LEGAL RESIDENT paid 25 cents per page while fighting a proposed quarry in the county next to Alamance. Not sure why the ACLU thinks they should pay less.

ACLU - you are so transparent. Your "fight" is nothing more than to protect people who should not be in the country - how ridiculous a purpose is that?

Country Hearth Wood Stove - Review

$600 savings in the first year of use!


People living north of the Mason-Dixon line won't believe it, but North Carolina gets COLD in Winter.

Having purchased a rural cottage on a lake in the Piedmont region of North Carolina a few years ago, and having observed the "excess resource" of wood already available on the property - buying a wood stove seemed a smart move. I am not disappointed.

This little stove - Century Hearth Model FW240007 - really cranks out some heat - and I mean HEAT - not just warm air!

A good link for a description of all the bells and whistles of this stove is at Vermont Castings.

You'll either need to understand and be very handy with the installation requirements or have someone do the tough stuff - like cutting a hole in the roof and assembling the proper pipe, etc. You'll also need to carefully follow the code for distance from walls and have a fireproof mat for your floor. As you can see in the picture, the mat protects the ceramic tiles on the floor.

Other items of importance to novice users will be the need for a blower fan. Otherwise, you'll have a 90 degree area right around the stove and not enough heat moving through the rest of your home. This particular model's coverage is up to 1500 square feet of living area.

Don't forget to buy an ash bucket which will soon feel like an appendage. The good news is that carting the bucket back and forth inside and out will do wonders for your ability to move from 90 degrees to 5 degrees in a timely and efficient manner. A little use of the biceps is never a bad thing either. Exercise with a purpose!

This is not a purchase for those who like to just sit in a warm house during Winter. It's a fair amount of work - even if you have wood available as I do on my property. You still have to haul the wood, tend the fire, clean the stove and the pipe - and plan for those times when the stove has cooled and so has the house. If you can project-plan this into a daily process though, I highly recommend it as a viable option to gas, oil, or electricity for home heating.

From an economic standpoint, since heating my house is normally accomplished by propane and a gas pack unit, I estimate my expenses this first heating season will be cut in half - in this area and at current propane rates - a savings around $600 for one season.

I purchased this stove at Lowe's for around $480, end of 2007. The other items needed to complete installation brought the total cost to just under $1500, (double-walled pipe is not cheap.) I am very pleased with the return on investment of this purchase.

If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to ask...

Enjoy!