The More Things Change . . .

The comic strip Boondocks has been in reruns for the last few years.  This is today's strip, originally form 2004.

Funny that it will probably be true no matter who's president.  Though I think it will be hard to top the absurdity of awarding the million dollar Nobel Peace Prize to a neo-con warmonger.

North

Some of you may recall my exchange with Dr. Walter Block regarding fractional reserve banking being fraudulent.  Block equivocated his way through all sorts of verbal gymnastics, basically stating I was correct, but refusing to back away from his original statement.

Seems Dr. Gary North has the same inability to see his most simple of errors.

Today's email "Tip of the Week" was to be careful when canceling an Amazon.com order.  He doesn't yet have the tip posted on his website:

Gary North's Tip of the Week - November 26, 2011 Amazon's Refunds
==============================

  I ordered an Amazon Kindle last week. Then I canceled the order five minutes later. I then ordered a more expensive unit.
  Yesterday, I received two units. I was charged for both. I will return the one I did not order.
  The units came with no packing slips.
  I will have to pay for UPS shipping to send it back.
  But wait! There's more! Read all about it!
      http://www.garynorth.com/public/8778.cfm
  Warning: If you order something from Amazon and then cancel, maybe you did not really cancel . . . according to Amazon's software. You only think you did. As they say, things are easier to get into than out of.

Gary "Burnt by a Kindle" North

In the article linked, he complains about having to pay shipping to send the item back.  The article includes a screen shot of the Amazon return process.  He had nine options to pick why he was returning the item.  He choose one that admitted he was 100% at fault even though out of the nine options there are at least six where Amazon at least partially admits fault and two of the nine fit his description much better than the one he choose.

Ignoring the fact that he probably didn't click and receive confirmation that the order was canceled, I sent North the following message:

Dr. North,

Just in case someone hasn't already pointed it out, "Arrived in addition to what was ordered" fits your description of events.  Your canceled an order, you ordered something else, you received the item you ordered, you also received "in addition to" your order something you didn't order.  Not only does that fit your description of what occurred, it also admits fault on Amazon's part.

I believe you're letting your irritation with the situation block you ability to be objective.  Your screen shot shows nine reasons to choose from for the reason for the return.  Out of those nine, in addition to the "in addition to" option, the following five show some acceptance of responsibility on Amazon's part for the error:
 - Missed estimated delivery date
 - Missing parts or accessories
 - Different from what was ordered
 - Defective/Does not work properly
 - Different from website description

Not trying to be overly harsh, but your statement, "In short, 'we don't make no stinking mistakes'" is just wrong.  66.6% of the options available have Amazon accepting at least partial responsibility for the error.

Now if you had chosen the correct option, "Arrived in addition to what was ordered", Amazon may have argued that you didn't cancel your order.  At that point you would have been able to write a weekly tip about good or bad customer service (depending upon Amazon's handling of the situation) and bad website design (lack of clear indication that the order was not yet canceled).

Instead of admitting he picked a poor choice, he sent me this reply:

Really? Then I guess I am also imagining this: http://www.garynorth.com/public/8785.cfm It's all my fault.

Instead of addressing the issue at hand, he changes topics.  So I replied:

Yes, really.  "Arrived in addition to what was ordered" exactly fits your description of events.  If your description isn't accurate causing that option to not fit, then that's a different issue.  Amazon gave nine options to choose for why the item was being returned.  Six of those accept responsibility on Amazon's part - contrary to your claim that they state, "We Don't Make No Stinking Mistakes!". 

Nowhere did I state the problem was your fault, much less "all your fault".  Nowhere did I claim Amazon doesn't need more testing of their site.  Nowhere did I state you were imagining things.  Unlike Amazon, you seem to be the one claiming "I Don't Make No Stinking Mistakes!".  Instead of getting defensive, maybe you should learn from a simple mistake and examine the choices and pick a better one next time.

Shockingly, since I wasn't even expecting the first reply much less a second, he emailed:

I see.

I canceled the order.  I explained why I canceled the order when I did so. The software placed the order.

My fault?

I warned people that their orders might not be canceled. I got a letter from a subscriber who said she had experienced the same thing.

They have software problems. They should fix the software problems.

Well, no shit.  They should fix the bugs in their software.  Just like he shouldn't have admitted he was at fault if he wants them to accept responsibility.  For one who complains about individuals repeating themselves instead of actually coming up with a rational argument, I have three words - Pot Kettle Black.

Lets Make a Deal.

Next Meeting - Thursday November 10, 2011

Thursday, November 10, 2011
5:30 to 8:00 pm

Panera Bread
28551 Schoolcraft Road
Livonia, Michigan

Our podcast discussion will be Scott Horton's interview of Charles Goyette.  We will also be continuing with Rothbard's The Ethics of Liberty discussing chapters 24, 25 & 26.  There are three free versions of the book online: html, pdf, and audio.

Next Meeting - Thursday October 27, 2011

While the sidebar has been kept up to date regarding upcoming meetings, I haven't posted meeting info to the blog in a while.  The next meeting will be:

Thursday, October 13, 2011
5:30 to 8:00 pm

Panera Bread
28551 Schoolcraft Road
Livonia, Michigan

Our podcast discussion will be Jeffrey Rogers Hummel's speech at Fee.org's Young Scholars Colloquim titled The Constitution as Counter-Revolution.  For those who prefer, there is a article version of the speech.  

We are continuing are discussion of Rothbard's The Ethics of Liberty.  We are reviewing chapters 20 & 21, discussed briefly at the last meeting and chapters 22 & 23.

20. Lifeboat Situations
21. The "Rights" of Animals  22. The Nature of the State
23. The Inner Contradictions of the State

There is both a html and pdf version of the book free online.

If you prefer, there's also an audio version of the book.

Found this great article on Strike-the-Root ;-)

Big Fat Lies: How Government Fear Campaigns Harm Children's Health

Government caters to those who want to micro-manage your life

A woman in Florida uses the government to exert her will on school-children:

"Peanut Allergy Stirs Controversy at Florida School."

Pentagon claims "financial terrorism" responsible for 2008 crash

"Suspects include financial enemies in Middle Eastern states, Islamic terrorists, hostile members of the Chinese military, or government and organized crime groups in Russia, Venezuela or Iran."

Of course, if we can keep the general public fearful of terrorists, we don't have to worry about them discovering the real root of the crisis.

Another installment of "we R doomed"

It's just another day in paradise (I mean, Detroit). Here is a news story about-- you guessed it-- a drug-addicted, single mother, "living" with two toddlers, two cats, a dog, drug needles, a TV (gotta have one of those), and a space heater... in a SHED in the middle of winter.

It fills me with great sadness that a mother puts drugs ahead of her kids, and that the kids are born with little hope of a viable future.

Detroit Public Schools (DPS)

It's amazing how slow government organizations work.

January 1st I posted about assisting a financial analyst from the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) on a report on how to solve the bankrupt Detroit Public Schools (DPS) financial problems.

The financial analyst was excited about the ideas we came up with. He presented the report to the union president who embraced many of the ideas. On January 7th the DFT presented the report to Robert Bobb, the state trustee placed in charge of the DPS. While he liked many of the ideas, Mr. Bobb was determined to stick with his original plan of having the state pay off the DPS debt. This man is paid six figures a year and his big plan is to have the state pay off the debt; an idea that has been rejected more than once. Unfortunately this type of waste is typical of the DPS. The financial analyst informed me:

At one point, several years ago, the District was using at least eight different law firms as well as maintaining their own legal department. It has been a District tradition to spend millions of dollars yearly on outside consultants and attorneys.

During the last three rounds of contract talks, the District utilized numerous attorneys and consultants. The last round of talks that ended in 2009 had more consultants than ever. They put together fancy presentations and were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars even though, in the end, nearly all of the $60 to $70 million in savings to the District came from ideas generated by the DFT at no cost to the District. This past summer, the District paid several million dollars to two consulting companies that made a complete shambles of the hiring and assigning of new teachers and the revamping of the special education program.

January 18, the plan was presented to the president of AFT-MI (the state teachers union).  The plan was well received, but the AFT thought they should continue to try to get Mr. Bobb on board.

The plan was to be presented to the DFT membership at their monthly meeting on January 20.  However,

The meeting never officially started.  The newly elected officers were sworn in to the sound of shouts and boos. Then chaos ruled for the next two hours as Steve Conn and his followers denounced the results of the recount and demanded that either all of the ballots be recounted again by hand, or that there be a new election.  The situation could have gotten even more ugly than it did, but there were three police officers in the back of the auditorium.  Still, it was quite disheartening to realize how thug-like some of our Detroit teachers could act.  Some of those folks are really scary.

The plan was finally presented to the DFT membership February 11.  The financial analyst told me that in spite of the first hour of the meeting consisting of people insulting and shouting at each other, there was complete silence when he got up to address the financial problems.  He stated our plan was well received and actually received a round of applause.






Next week (almost two months later), the DFT finally plans on presenting our plan to the governor.

2011 Predictions

	Carrie		Dave		Dan		Ken		Eric		Rich
Gold	1,420		1,710		1,470		1,700		1,500		1,500
Silver	32		42		38		25		32
DJIA	12,000		12,400		12,650		9,000		11,500		9,500
S&P			1,420		1,330		950				1,150
Nasdaq			2,900		2,900		1,500		2,650
Oil - Brent Crude			130		122		110		80
Bank Failures	187		98		142		140				200
CPI inflation			7		6		9
Unemployment	7		9		9		7

                            

	Alltime High		12/31/10
Gold	1,442.60		1,420.85
Silver	49.45		30.91
DJIA	14,279.96		11,577.51
S&P	1,576.09		1,257.64
Nasdaq	5,132.52		2,652.87
Oil - Brent Crude	147.27		93.31

CARRIE
                           
"This year I will beat everyone, and even DW will have to admit that he was beaten by a girl... and not only that, but a Justin Bieber fan!"
                           
Dow - low 10000 // high 14500 //  end 12,000
Gold - falls in first quarter to 1265 // summer 1475 // end 1420
Silver - 32
Bank failures - 187   
Unemployment (government-reported value) - 7%           
Housing - falls to new lows
Detroit schools - they fail to take DW's suggestions and they suffer the consequences   
DAAG solves the problem of property rights and becomes world-famous. Carrie abhors being a celebrity and uses her new-found riches to buy a secluded forest in mid-Michigan.

                                                           
DAN
                           
Gold           1470       
Silver            38   
Dow          12650   
S&P            1330       
Nasdaq        2900       
Oil               122           
Bank Failures  142       
Inflation (CPI)   6%
Unemployment  9.2%       
DAAG Becomes a temporary political party. Wins every election; then disbands the government... The result? Everyone is SUPER happy and wants to live in the former USA. They end up calling it Real Utopia of America.


DAVE
                           
Dow: high 13,500  low 10000s           
S&P: high 1450   low in 1000s           
Gold will correct to around $1200 during the year
Japanese stocks will do well this decade
Natural gas will do well in 2011
Interest rates will increase.  US Treasurys will drop.
Detroit will declare bankruptcy   
Housing will offer good buys
Euro tanks   


ERIC
                           
Gold $1500, Silver $32, Oil $80  Euro at 1.10
Dow 11500 and Nasdaq 2650
I expect a general asset correction in next month or two in gold but especially industrial commodities.  China slow down keeps oil low.
US equity markets fall in 2011 but still out perform on a relative basis most other countries with possible exception of Japan.


KEN
                           
Bank closings: 140
Gold: $1700/toz
Silver: $25/toz
Oil: $110, but will reach $135 during the year.
U-3 unemployment: 7%
U-6: 17%
                           
IF: CPI-U (includes all items) stays < 5%
DOW: 13,000
SP500: 1400
NASDAQ: 3000
                           
CPI-U will reach 9% this year.  The Fed will stop pumping.
                           
DOW: 9,000
SP500: 950
NASDAQ: 1500


RICHARD
                           
Dow     9500
Russel   650
S&P     1150
Gold     1500
Bank Failures   200
Stagflation


1/3/11 Jim Cramer "I predict Alcoa will be the best performer in the S&P 500 in 2011."
I'd like to add to my predictions that Alcoa's stock (N:AA) will not have a good year.

2011 Predictions

DOW
Dave - high 13500, low 10000, end 12400
Carrie - high 14500, low 10000, end 12000
Richard - 9500
Eric - 11500
Dan - 12650
Ken - 9000

S&P
Dave - high 1450, low 1000, end 1420
Richard - 1150
Dan - 1330
Ken - 950

NASDAQ
Dave - 2900
Eric - 2650
Dan - 2900
Ken - 1500

RUSSEL
Richard - 650

GOLD
Dave - corrects to 1200, end 1710
Carrie - falls in first quarter to 1265, summer 1475, end 1420
Richard - 1500
Eric - 1500
Dan - 1470
Ken - 1700

SILVER
Dave - 42
Carrie - 32
Eric - 32
Dan - 38
Ken - 25

OIL
Dave - 130
Eric - 80
Dan - 122

Ken - will reach 135 during 2011, but will end at 110

EURO
Eric - 1.10

BANK FAILURES
Dave - 98
Carrie - 187
Richard - 200
Dan - 142
Ken - 140

INFLATION (CPI)
Dave - 7%
Dan - 6%
Ken - CPI-U 9%

UNEMPLOYMENT
Dave - 9%
Carrie - 7%
Dan - 9.2%

Ken - U3 7%

Ken - U6 17%

DAAG
Carrie - DAAG solves the problem of property rights and becomes world-famous.
Dan - DAAG becomes a temporary political party, wins every election, and disbands the government.

OTHER
Dave - Japanese stocks and natural gas will do well this decade. Interest rates will increase. US Treasurys will drop. Detroit will declare bankruptcy. Housing will start to offer good buys. Euro tanks.
Carrie - housing falls to new lows
Richard - stagflation
Eric - general asset correction in next month or two in gold but especially industrial commodities. China slow down keeps oil low. US equity markets fall in 2011 but still out perform on a relative basis most other countries with possible exception of Japan.

Ken - My predictions are based on the assumption that the Fed will stop pumping based on inflation concerns. If inflation stays low, I think we will see QE III, and the markets will end higher (Dow 13,000, S&P500 1400, NASDAQ 3000). But that is not what I am predicting for years end 2011.

Note: If inflation becomes a concern for the Fed, I see no reason why the Federal Reserve will allow debt to be inflated away. They serve the big banks, not us, or the treasury. The long T-bond will continue it's decline (disclosure - Ken has a large position in TBT).

---

Because we are a warm and tolerant bunch, we will accept late predictions up until the next meeting. Those who fail to make predictions by that time agree that they fail at life.

"Is there anything good about red tape?"

Fox 2 local news has a segment called "Job Shop with Murray Feldman" that features companies (or government agencies) that have job openings. Today, the lead-in to this segment was:
"Is there anything good about red tape? YES! It creates jobs." The story went on to say that some branch of government was hiring 300 call center agents to "help enforce compliance" with Obamacare. Unfortunately I couldn't find the clip on channel 2's website.
Should we tell them about the broken window fallacy?

2010 Predictions

Predictions from a year ago:

	NewEd		Craig		Dave		Xorp		Eric
DJIA	14000		13000		9-10k		11200		9500
S&P	1200				1000		1300		950
Nasdaq					2000
Gold	1200		1300		1400		1125		1100
Oil	125		100		100		79		70
Unemployment	10%		9-9.5%				7

The year end actual:
 

	12/31/10		Winner
DJIA	11577.51		Xorp
S&P	1257.64		Xorp
Nasdaq	2652.87		Dave
Gold	1420.85		Dave
Oil	93.31		Craig & Dave
Unemployment	9.4		Craig

Taking three categories, the winner - Dave.

Tied for 2nd - Craig & Xorp.

Followed by NewEdit and coming in last (of those brave enough to make predictions) Eric.

One may argue that my 2000 prediction on the Nasdaq was way off.  However my full prediction was that the Nasdaq would rise to 2500 then fall to 2000.  The Nasdaq closed above 2500 on 4/14/10, hit 2530 on 4/23/10, then proceeded to drop to 2091 on 7/2/10.  After nailing my prediction, the Nasdaq went on a 500 point rampage the last four months of the year.  The Dow & S&P acted similarly, coming very close to hitting my predictions of 12000 & 1300 for highs and 9000s & 1000 for lows.

Though they weren't included in our predictions, there were 157 bank failures in 2010 compared to 140 in 2009 and 25 in 2008.

Best & Brightest continued

The genius psych major deleted her FB posts. For a good laugh I cut & pasted them below.

She reminds me of Laurence Vance's axiom, "If [govt proponents] could spell correctly, use punctuation, and write worth a darn then maybe we would take them a little more seriously." Honestly, I feel sorry for her.



Forwarded conversation
Subject: Helga B. commented on Daniel W. Livingston's status.
------------------------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 7:43 PM

Helga wrote: "David-you are the prototype of someone who is headed for danger. The anxiety/depression sufferer who juggles numbers all day; stuck in a monotonous life so he fills it with grandiose imaginings. nothin incoherent about my post, even if it was filled with errors, the message is quite clear to you I'm sure. you need a good therapist. STAT. I have a degree in Psychology and 10+ yrs working with ppl of all abilities and limitations. your kind, the most dangerous because their is an imflated ego that is tough to get past. I hope you do. Peace be with you."

----------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 7:47 PM

Helga wrote: "I agree...one killing at a time would not be as big a news, but if it were to this scale with non-politicians...YES IT WOULD BE...the college capmus shooting did not involve politicans and they were covered just as much. when large numbers of ppl are involved in things,they make the news ....even the miners being resuced did...and it wasn't even in the US. I watched every one of them lifted up. Anyhow David...you need help. your thinking way way out; don't hold yourself in higher esteem because of it. you know darn well gov is needed...bet you'd call the cops (gov funded and run) if you needed them...you know your fantasy anarchy world can not exist. get yourself straightened out."

----------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 7:54 PM

Helga wrote: "so funny...a guy who makes his living processing papers to be turned into the gov (taxes)...with anti-gov rhetoric. how ironic."

----------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 8:02 PM

Helga wrote: ""govt is legalized violence" yes, police may shoot back if threatened...everything else about gov is aimed at stopping violence. Domestic violence laws; elder abuse laws; Adult Protective Services. I am anti-war because I beleive in this day and age there are other ways to deal (stop trading with enemies; stop buying their products) with enemies that sending our young to die...aside from war....I do not see how gov is legalized violence. you are way out there David and it is that kind of BS that makes someone who is probably intelligent a waste...A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE. Put your efforts to good use if you claim to be a Christian. There are laws upheld throughout the bible. Why be another loose cannon in society?"

----------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 8:03 PM

Helga wrote: "what a crock of sht"

----------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 8:10 PM

Helga wrote: "read Walden Two David...or perhaps you have already...and then close the book and be doen with the fantasy, because such a place will never exist. it did not in biblical times, it will never. Gov regulates everything; if a doctor ever saves you life or that of a loved one, thabk your gov because it set standards for that doctor to get his license...stop with the mindless anarchy crap. put effort into good governing rather than the idea of no governing. or are you going to just handle the entire country for everyone (good grief)"

---------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 9:02 PM

Helga wrote: "The media covered the college campus shootings and no gov employees were harmed there. The media covers things when they are on such a grand scale. The anti-gov stance is BS. Gov is not legalized violence; it sets domestic violence laws; elder abuse laws; police may only use force as a last resort; it serves and protects. Don't be a nutbag; a mind is a terrible thing to waste. What a waste of effort...read Walden Two (a governmentless utopia) I studied it extensively when I studied Social Psychology (my BA is in Psych), infact I kept the book bcs I enjoyed it and still have the A paper I wrote on it....but then close the book David; close the book on the fantasy because such a place has never existed and never will."

----------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 9:44 PM

Helga wrote: "I'm not a psychologist; I work with adults with disabilites and have for over ten yrs. I deleted those post, but am glad you read them. Why delete them? bcs it saddens me that ppl like you exist and I have realized it is near impossible to get through to your type. Your issues are clear and I certainly hope you get help for them...such an incredbile waste of a mind. The number cruncher type like you often see thing in balck and white and can't see shades of grey. The best thing for you would probably to volunteer in some sort of social service organization funded by the gov so you can see the other side of the coin. I have no need to defend myself to you and ...if you know psychologists, I wish you would have opened yourself to their services....very inflated ego for you to suggest psychs are "messed up"...in what capacity have you encountered them? Or are you just trying to insult me...I dedicate my life to the wellbeing of ppl with disabilites David. I'm tough...no muber cruncher can penetrate that on some fb posts. Get help. It is obvious you suffer w anxiety and depression issues, but your success wil be didcated by your willingness to be trreated; highly unlikely from what I can tell."

----------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 9:47 PM

Helga wrote: ""muber cruncher"....hahaha yeah, I type very fast so typos abound.. I'm sure it's legible though. Ppl anti-authority are the most dangerous type in any and all societies."

----------
From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 10:03 PM

Helga wrote: ""Proving once again that govt work attracts the best and brightest of society is this Facebook post. Internet forums, especially one like Facebook, aren't the best media for in-depth rational discourse, but still." SO THIS IS WHAT YOU DO HUH DAVID...YOU TAKE PPLS comments out of context on fb and post them to your anarchy blog page? I'm not a gov employee you a**..I work for a nonprofit that helps ppl who are living with severe limitations. You think you have me pegged somehow huh? You are a disgrace to America."

----------

From: Facebook
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 10:09 PM

Helga wrote: "You certainly are a " Slippery Pencil" alright David. If you want to post something post a link to this entire dialogue..so ppl can read YOUR part...like how you posted "The shooting of a few govt employees is far from a national tragedy, it's blowback.""

----------



Hey genius, I did post a link to the entire dialog. However, since you deleted your 11 idiotic posts, it's not really the entire dialog you desire.

Govt Employees - The Best & Brightest of Society

Proving once again that govt work attracts the best and brightest of society is this Facebook post.  Internet forums, especially one like Facebook, aren't the best media for in-depth rational discourse, but still. 

Helga B.: wtf??? The is no utopia like in Walden Two...I SURE AM GLAD I LIVE IN A LAND WITH GOV AND LAWS. ppl need boudaries. "force and coercion" whatever the F you want to call it. visit a prison and learn what kind of heinous crimes go on even wit...h boundaries. consider places with less of them..nations in Africa, for ex, where women are mutilated because their are no laws protecting them..who wants to think of their mother, sister, daughter's parts sewn shut by some crazy villagers...anarchy. that is some wicked twisted thinking. noting more immoral than someone who knows nothing about the human psyche preaching F'in anarchy. sick sick sick. FIND WHERE ON EARTH THAT TWISTED SHIT WORKS AND MOVE THERE PLEASE. I've been in social work for 10+ yrs and known parents to beat their mentally ill childen thinking they can BEAT mental illness out of their child...until DYFS stepped in....gov law boundaries...Social Workers like me ALL A VITAL NECESSITY.....see a therapist please..before you go wacko on us. (http://www.facebook.com/BacchusA2/posts/188990977794597)

 These people are scary.

QEII Explained

Detroit Public Schools (DPS)

Three weeks ago, Mish predicted that the city of Detroit and the DPS system would both file bankruptcy in 2011 (http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/12/detroit-mayor-plans-to-halt-garbage.html).

In the three weeks since Mish's article, The Detroit Federation of Teachers (the local teachers union) has prepared a report to present to the DPS titled "The Detroit Federation of Teachers Proposals for Paying Off the Detroit Public Schools Legacy Deficit coauthored by P. F., Financial Analyst and David Weigel, CPA."  Yes, in what could possibly be the most shocking event in my life, a teachers union requested my input on averting a financial crisis. 

While it may be too late no matter what they do, my most beneficial suggestions - abolish the whole system, make the parents responsible for the children, let the free market provide solutions, declare bankruptcy - are not included in the report.  Suggestions of mine were: competition/school choice, charter schools, cutting bureaucracy, pay cuts, teacher accountability, embracing Teach for America, and revamping health insurance benefits.

Sadly, due to bureaucracy and union politics, I doubt any of the suggestions will see light of day.  We'll have to wait and see.

Lessons from a snow storm

Highway 402 in Ontario between Sarnia and London is shut down due to snow. This is of some interest to me because I used to travel along that road several times a month during college.

According to news reports on CBC and other Canadian outlets, between 300 - 400 drivers are stranded and waiting to be rescued by the military. However, police, military, and other government institutions are having trouble rescuing anyone because they claim their plows are getting stuck, their helicopters can't land in blowing snow, etc.

This made me think two things:
1) Be as prepared as you can so you don't have to rely on someone else for rescue! Have blankets, food, flashlight, shovel, portable radio, etc. in your car.
2) Note that local farmers are taking out their tractors and snowmobiles, rescuing people, and letting them stay at their houses. Note how much you pay in taxes to fund the snow plows, helicopters, and "emergency shelters" that no-one is using anyway.

Storm strands drivers near Sarnia
Storm strands hundreds
Military called in to handle motorists

From WOOD TV, Grand Rapids, MI:
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/michigan/Pop-goes-the-tax-payers-Bridge-Card-

A govt educated leech uses her food stamps to purchase 42 bottles of soda pop.  She walks from the checkout to the automated bottle return area and proceeds to insert 42 unopened bottles of pop into the machine collecting $4.20 in bottle deposits.  As pathetically idiotic as this is, the story gets better. 

Cans and bottles are crushed when inserted into these machines.  Being unopened and full of carbonated beverages, these 42 bottles explode upon being crushed.  Consequently, pop spews all over the bottle return area and gums up the machine.  Now, one would think the average person would notice this on bottle number 1.  But not this welfare queen genius, she continues inserting the remaining 41 bottles.

The article records the reaction of one customer, who obviously is also govt educated. "'I just can't believe somebody would do that,' said Hardings customer Brenda Wilkerson."

Michigan Cities Set to Default on Bonds

From Bloomberg:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-30/property-tax-collection-plunge-may-make-michigan-towns-borrow-or-default.html?cmpid=msnmoney


Cities and towns across Michigan have had property-tax collections plunge as much as 20 percent in the past year, the steepest drop since a 1994 state tax rewrite, forcing scores of communities to choose by March whether to borrow to pay bills or risk default on bonds.

The municipalities rely on property taxes for as much as 60 percent of their revenue, according to the Michigan Municipal League. State support typically makes up an additional 20 to 35 percent of city budgets has been slashed by almost a third in the past year.

The end of a three-year federal stimulus that sent $3.1 billion to Michigan -- a sum roughly equal to two annual budgets for Detroit -- will force “fundamental decisions,” according to a memorandum from the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency.

“This gets real bad in about 90 to 150 days,” said Robert Daddow, deputy executive of Oakland County, which has a per-capita income 147 percent of the state average. “The question becomes whether they can secure enough cash from banks and whether banks are willing to lend in a credit-crunch situation.”

The value of taxable housing in Oakland County, which is home to the headquarters of Chrysler Group LLC, fell about 12 percent this year, Moody’s said in a Nov. 23 report. It will drop 10 percent further in 2011 and 5 percent more in 2012, Moody’s said.


Challenged Region
“Declining housing values and a growing unemployment rate within the county demonstrates the county’s exposure to the challenges in this region,” Moody’s said.

The state in October trailed only California and Florida in its number of foreclosure filings, according to RealtyTrac Inc., an Irvine, California-based data firm. A total of 19,288 properties in the state, one in 235 households, got a default or auction filing or were seized by banks last month, the company said. The rate was up 17 percent from a year earlier.

“It’ll take us a decade or more for cities to be collecting what they were a decade earlier,” Summer Minnick, director of state affairs for the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Municipal League. Some have seen property-tax revenue drop by a fifth, she said. “Right now, we have several communities on the brink of severe problems.”


At the Edge
The recession has pushed many U.S. communities to the edge of Chapter 9 bankruptcy, or, in the case of Vallejo, California, into it. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, averted a bond default only because the state accelerated an aid payment.

Under state law, Michigan has the final say on whether a municipality can enter bankruptcy. None ever has, according to the state Treasury Department. Detroit said in March it was considering moving toward a filing. Hamtramck, where General Motors Co. manufactures the Chevrolet Volt, has also pressed state officials for a bankruptcy, saying that Detroit, which largely surrounds it, owes it money.


Bond Request
Southfield, an Oakland County city with what Moody’s in 2008 called a “satisfactory financial position,” estimates $19.9 million from its general operating-tax levy this fiscal year, a 16.7 percent drop from three years ago, when it budgeted for $23.9 million. Its administrator and treasurer asked the state Legislature in September for permission to sell $50 million in bonds to cover operational costs.

A Southfield general-obligation bond maturing on July 1, 2023, was valued on Nov. 29 at 100.736 cents on the dollar to yield 4.195 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The security was insured by Financial Guaranty Insurance Corp., whose parent, FGIC Corp., sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August after suffering losses from the drop in the U.S. housing market. The bond-insurance unit wasn’t part of the filing.

Brad Reynolds, chief investment strategist for LJPR LLC in Troy, Michigan, is “keeping an eye” on the cash crunch, he said today.

“I see a lot of red flags, but hear very few fire alarms,” said Reynolds, whose firm holds about $100 million in municipal bonds, 90 percent of them from Michigan issuers.

Under a 1990 law, a Michigan governor can declare a financial emergency for a city and install a manager to run its business. Of the seven such declarations, four have occurred since December 2008.


Facing Collapse
“Hundreds of jurisdictions” in the state may face financial collapse in the next three to five years, Rick Snyder, Michigan’s newly elected Republican governor, said Nov. 19.

Nationwide, the value of defaulted municipal securities fell to $2.48 billion through October, compared with $7.28 billion in 2009 and a record $8.15 billion in 2008, according to Richard Lehmann, publisher of Distressed Debt Securities Newsletter.

Lehmann told Bloomberg News last week there may be a “new wave” of defaults in 2011 as federal economic-stimulus aid declines and budget pressures mount.

The number of local governments on Michigan’s three-year-old financial watch list, which measures stresses by debt, tax collections, cash flow and population changes, totaled 68 in 2008, the most recent accounting.


Rich and Poor
Cities on the state Treasury Department’s list include the industrial centers of Detroit, River Rouge, Jackson and Benton Harbor. Suburbs are also in danger, Minnick said.

“These are upscale suburban bedroom communities that had new homes and tremendous price spikes,” Minnick said. “Some are communities you would not have expected.”

The Michigan Legislature has cut revenue-sharing payments to localities by almost one-third in the past year and by $4 billion in the past 10 years, the Municipal League said.

The financial strain on cities is compounded by voter-approved constitutional limits on the growth of property taxes, which restrain annual increases to 5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

Falling property-tax collections will create gaps starting next year in the “hundreds of millions of dollars” for cities and townships, said Eric Scorsone, senior economist for the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency.

Michigan counties reimburse local governments for unpaid property taxes and charge fees and interest as the county attempts to collect delinquent amounts for three years, Scorsone said. If the county cannot collect, the city or township can be billed for the uncollectable tax value.


Blindsided
Scorsone said the financial liability is “certainly going to be a big number and it’s going to hit a lot of places that aren’t aware of the problem.”

“A lot of governments are going to get squeezed pretty hard,” Scorsone said.

The fall in property-tax collections comes even as Michigan is beginning to emerge from a long economic slump. The University of Michigan on Nov. 19 forecast a net increase in jobs in 2011, the first gain in more than a decade. The state’s economic activity in September reached its highest level since June 2008, driven by resurgent manufacturing, according to a Comerica Bank report.


Dangerous Mix
Meanwhile, the combination of foreclosures, falling tax revenue and unfunded municipal pension liabilities is becoming unmanageable, said Charles Moore, senior managing director at Conway MacKenzie Inc., which works with municipalities on financial restructuring.

“I think there’s a very high likelihood we’ll see defaults in 2011 and I expect it will only increase in 2012 and 2013,” said Moore, based in Birmingham, Michigan.

Communities are trying to persuade the Legislature to refinance their bond debt that was initially sold on the assumption that property values -- and property taxes -- would continue to increase at pre-2008 levels, Minnick said.

“I hope we can do the refinancing so we can prevent defaults. I don’t know if, at the end of the day, that will be enough,” she said.

But they give us insurance for that now.

In July, I spent 3 days in the hospital.  A bill hasn't arrived, but a few days ago I received an "Explanation of Benefits" from my insurance company.  The charges from the hospital were $24,103 (this doesn't include charges from the emergency room's physician and anesthesiologist, physical therapy, follow up doctor visits, etc.).  The insurance provider discount for being in the network was $9,265 for a net balance paid to the hospital from my insurance of $14,838.  The first item on the insurance summary is "Accommodations - Room & Board" of $3,900.  $2400 after the provider discount.

I've read numerous stories of people born in the 1940s, 50s, & 60s finding the hospital bill from when they were born.  After a week long stay in the hospital with no insurance, their parents paid cash in the $50 to $60 range.  Adjusted for inflation that is less than $1000 to as low as $370 ($60 in 1940 to $50 in 1960).

I mentioned the above info to a friend to help illustrate how everything the govt does ends up leaving us worse off.  She stated, "yeah, but they give us insurance for that now so we are better off".

Some days it is hard to be thankful.  Happy Thanksgiving anyway!

Linux And Anarchy - Daily Anarchist

Linux And Anarchy - Daily Anarchist

How can you feel violated by airport security?

A friend's facebook status update and comments (I also know those who wrote the first three responses, the fifth response is mine):

I haven't flown recently, but I don't understand why people are so upset about the pat downs and body scanners at the airport. It's for safety! If you've ever had a gynecological or prostate exam, how can you feel violated by airport security? Is there anybody out there who's been through it that can explain?

• I don't get what the big deal is either. I was scanned twice in the last week and it took about 5 seconds. I didn't feel violated.
• agreed...
• ~ I get scanned AND the pat down EVERY time I fly becauseI have metal in my body...I just wish that I had my choice of people to pat me down - like maybe a cute marine...
• I agree with you, Jen. Actually, I feel worse for the people DOING the pat-downs than the ones GETTING them!! Yuck!!

•      Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of security knows that anything the TSA does is not for security, it is for control.
  

       Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of common decency or God given human rights would be concerned over either procedure.

This country is a lost cause.

Disagree with LRC about TSA porno scanners

I've been reading with interest the LRC columns and blog entries regarding the porno scanners. While I, too, refuse to subject myself to such grossly humiliating invasion, it seems that several of the LRC writers hold mixed and/or contradictory premises.

Either the airlines are private companies who are themselves victims of TSA rulings, or the airlines are quasi-private agencies subsidized by and complicit with the governmental rulings.

In the first case, it does not make sense to punish private companies who, in order to continue to provide any air service at all, are forced to obey the privacy-invasion laws. Yet Kathryn Muratore is doing just that (see here, here, and her new blog here for more background). In short, she purchased tickets to visit relatives across the country before she was aware that the TSA scanners would be introduced at the airport from which she was departing. When she found out about the scanners, she expected US Airways to either refund her ticket or to pay for a rental car so she could drive to a non-scanner airport and take a connecting flight. If airlines are private entities that are forced to obey the TSA rulings, then a ticket refund is a double-assault against the company.

She takes it a step further by expecting Orbitz, the third party agency from whom she ordered the tickets, to provide the refund. Orbitz has nothing to do with the TSA rulings; Orbitz is the "wrong tree" upon whom to express the grievances.

Then Muratore writes,

"Because of [my husband's] work schedule, he cannot commit to any of the alternative travel arrangements that I am considering. That is why, if I don't get a refund, I want to be on the same flight... with him."

Not only does she demanding an alternative flight, but she expects the alternative flight to be the same one that her husband is taking. Yet her original flight was separate from his, so why does it matter if her alternative flight is separate from his? Travel companies are in the business of selling tickets for airline flights, not in the business of coordinating family schedules.

Arthur M.M. Krolman further extends this punishment of a private company unrelated to the airline. As most families get to Disney World by flying, he writes to Disney,

“Now that you are aware that children must submit to nude photography or inspection of private parts in order to enjoy the Disney experience (and on the way home), your silence on this issue may be seen by many as passive agreement with this new pathway to your business…”

Does Dunkin Donuts passively agree with brute force because they serve food to policemen? Does Toys ‘R Us passively agree with public education because they sell toys to public school kids? Does Amazon passively agree to Marxism because they sell books on the philosophy? If Mr. Krolman is consistent, he will have to answer “yes” to these questions, in which case he will be unable to participate in society. Because our economy is mixed rather than free, I can think of no business that is entirely morally clear. Is Krolman willing to make the decision to leave society and live in a cave? To the extent that he is not, then, by his own admission, he is guilty of supporting government intrusion.

Disney responded to his letter, indicating that, "We don't regulate what the airport rules are regarding transportation security administration."

Krolman writes a second letter,

“My children, like thousands of others, are regularly enticed by Walt Disney Company advertising to request a trip to Walt Disney World. Other companies, like McDonald's for example, advertise to children too. Ronald McDonald, Playland and Happy Meals are enticing devices to get kids to plead with their parents to pay a visit to McDonald's. But unlike the Walt Disney Company, McDonald's Corporation does not solicit children to go to their business in full knowledge that they will be surprised with a dose of ionizing radiation and inspection of their private parts on the way. … Bad for business or not, and regardless of your power to regulate the United States government, please accept this letter as my request that you cease advertising to my children about visiting Disney World with no warning of the ionizing radiation and gross indecency they must expect on the way to your business at the airport.”

To be consistent, he will also have to assert that McDonald’s needs to warn kids about trans fats, video game packages need to warn kids about seizures, and cigarette packages need to carry a lung cancer warning. LRC ought to be ashamed for posting this drivel.

Both Muratore and Krolman hold that some aspect of the first premise is true. By appealing to the companies’ profit margins, they indicate their belief that the airlines are private industries that are concerned with staying in business.

Now, suppose that premise is not true. Rather, airlines and the travel industry are government-supported entities that benefit from privacy intrusions. Paradoxically, Muratore and Krolman also seem to believe this premise, as indicated by other parts of their letters. In her second letter to US Airways, Muratore writes,

“Don’t tell me that this is not your fault: you are, by definition, complicit in the TSA actions. The airline industry has not stood up for your customers in decades by allowing warrantless bag searches, the frisking of passengers with medical devices, as well as the more recent humiliations and inconveniences of airline travel in the last decade.”

I find it confusing that she acknowledges these repeated invasions, yet admits to subjecting herself to them by flying in recent years. If she were truly against fascist industry, as libertarians and/or anarchists allegedly are, it is unusual to become alarmed only now, only once the body scans are in place. All ye who bemoan the porno scanners, yet have continued to fly for the last 10 years—despite having to take off your shoes, despite having to throw away your water and lotion and scissors, despite being subjected to massive delays and exorbitant taxes and fees—it is through your continued financial contributions to the airlines, and therefore through your most grievous fault, that the privacy invasions and terrible service have escalated to the level of porno scanners. The time to boycott was years ago.

Another puzzling statement from Muratore’s second letter to US Airways is this: “… I was in tears earlier today as I contemplated the corner that the airline industry has backed me into.” If one admits that airlines are part and parcel with the government and that this is a bad thing, how can one in good conscience simultaneously act like a government collectivist by believing one is entitled to fly? In reality, the airline industry has not “backed” anyone into any corners. Flying is not a right, and we are not owed a flight just because an airline exists. I do not believe it is rational to mourn the loss of the ability to fly, when flying is not an entitlement in the first place.

So my appeal to LRC and Mises writers and readers is this:

Do you believe that the airlines are private companies, and are hapless victims of TSA policies? If so, it is morally appropriate for you to not fly in order to avoid the scanners. However, be aware that you are harming an innocent company by doing so.

Do you believe that the airlines are fascist companies, who are willing participants in the TSA scanner policy? If so, why have you continued flying for the last 10+ years, why do you eat agribusiness food, why do you have your money in banks that received bailouts, why do you buy cars from Chrysler and GM who received bailouts? It seems rather unprincipled to support these companies for so long despite the knowledge that they are part of the fascist system, and only to begin to complain once you are directly inconvenienced.

I'm Allowed to Rob YOU!

Urban Gardening in Detroit

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He Looks So Normal

Today's Pearls Before Swine strip. 

If Bernake said this...

it would have really been funny.



There are certain uncertainties. These are things we are certain that are uncertain. There are unusual uncertainties. That is to say, there are things that are unusually uncertain. But there are also uncertain certainties. There are things we are certainly uncertain of.

Iraq, the Modern Day Crusades?

I had a discussion this weekend regarding the war in Iraq. The individual tried to justify the war based on their belief that Islam is a religion of war and violence, and that the war was going to protect Christians from Islamic persecution. They compared the war today with the Crusades of centuries ago.

I then asked a simple question:

If this war is supposed to protect Christians from Islam, then why is our military defending Sharia law in Iraq?

Article 2 of the Iraq constitution states:

First, Islam is the official religion of the State, and is a foundation source of all legislation.

A. No law may be enacted that contradicts the established provisions of Islam.


I also reminded this individual which presidents state department helped draft that constitution...

The debate ended in utter silence.

My favorite Stefan Molyneux two minute spiel

The state is a agency of coercion, the government takes money through force, through taxation, the government steals form the future through national debts, the government uses force to impose its will on everyone. As long as we view the government as some semi-paternal benevolent agency that’s there to help and protect us, we are going to keep running into its proposed solutions. Until and unless we can see that the government as an agency of violence, that the government points guns at people to get things done, until we can see the government as the gun in the room. We will not be able to put down the gun in the room and begin to explore voluntary and peaceful ways of helping those who are in need, the poor , the sick, the old.

Until and unless we can see the violence inherit in the system that we live under. We will not be able to put down that gun and begin negotiating like civilized human beings about how we are going to solve social problems, and stop attempting to pass laws and regulations which throw people in jail, which steal money from people. Violence will never solve problems, violence will only and forever profit the few at the expense of the many. Seem to solve things in the present while creating more problems down the road. So until we can see the gun in the room and put it down things are going to get worse and worse and worse. Until we let go of our addiction to violence in solving problems, which will never ever solve problems at all.

Next Meeting - Thursday 7/8/10

The next meeting will be:

Thursday July 08, 2010
5:30 to 8:00 pm

Panera Bread
28551 Schoolcraft Road
Livonia, Michigan

Discussing Stephan Kinsella's Against Intellectual Property (concentrating on pp 45 - 61) and Eric Garris' interview of Alan Grayson (posted below).

http://antiwar.com/radio/2010/06/29/alan-grayson-2/

Scott Horton Interviews Alan Grayson June 29, 2010

Email This | Print This | Share This | Comment | Antiwar Forum

This interview was conducted by Antiwar.com director Eric Garris.

Florida Congressman Alan Grayson discusses building Congressional support for his “War is Making You Poor” bill, bipartisan cooperation with Ron Paul on the “Audit the Fed” bill, why it’s harder than ever to justify the continuing war in Afghanistan, Obama’s broken campaign promises and disappointing leadership and why Grayson has become the top target of Republicans for the 2010 House elections.

MP3 here. (19:01)

Congressman Alan Grayson was born and grew up in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City. He graduated with high honors from Harvard College, worked as an economist, then returned to Harvard. In four years, Alan earned a J.D. with honors from Harvard Law School, a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Government, and finished all of the course work and passed the general exams for a Ph.D. in Government. His master’s thesis focuses on gerontology. He went on to be a founding member of the Alliance for Aging Research.

In the early 1990s Alan took leave from the practice of law and started a business. He was the first President of IDT Corp., a telecom/internet company, which is now a Fortune 1000 company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Congressman Grayson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008, serving Florida’s 8th district.

Totally unrelated to the next meeting, but it's been a month since I've bragged.  I am kicking ass in this year's market predictions.  The Dow and the S&P 500 didn't rise quite as high as I predicted, they may end up lower than I predicted, and gold may end up higher than I predicted, but compared to the rest of the predictions, I'm spot on.  Especially my prediction that the Shanghai Index bubble will pop.  Down 26% so far this year.  Richard is once again being beat by a girl (which is really sad considering the girl predicted Dow 14,000).

US Social Forum

Due to the fact that I never watch the news, I was completely unaware that the US Social Forum was being held in Detroit and Tuesday afternoon 10,000 people marched through the streets of Detroit to kick off the festivities. 

This excerpt from a Democracy Now report grabbed my attention for two reasons.  One, the atrocious grammar and how stupid the person sounded (though that ends up being a factor of transcribing a live on the street interview and she sounds much closer to average intelligence in the video) and two, the comparison to New Orleans.

I’m here in Detroit with the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New Orleans, Louisiana. When I came to Detroit, I was kind of surprised, because Detroit looks a lot like New Orleans, in such a state of disrepair, with so many abandoned buildings. And I was shocked by that. You know, I didn’t realize it. I know that there were some financial difficulties, but it’s such a similarity. And it’s sad that across our country we still have the same sort of disproportionate disparities, you know, and it’s a little frightening.  (http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/23/over_10_000_march_in_detroit)

Detroit looks like New Orleans, a city wiped out by a freakin hurricane.  Unfortunately the attendees of this idiotic forum will never understand that it is a result of all the government programs they're pushing that has caused this. 

Government thugs

Currently I am at my BF's house while he is at work. Moments ago the doorbell rang. I ignored it. It rang again. I thought it might be important so I opened the door hesitantly.

There was an intimidating-looking man who flashed a government badge at me. I supposed he was from the census, as the BF has not participated in even the head count and has been visited by the census once already. Instead, he grunted, "US Customs and Immigration Enforcement."

"Oh! Woah!," I babbled, or some such nonsense, because I was immediately intimidated by his intimidating-ness. Apparently I looked as frightened as I felt because he said, in a much more friendly fashion and with a slight laugh, "Don't worry, it's okay." (This made me realize that I need to work on remaining calm and collected when in engaging in any 'friendly chat' with a government agent. I know that you should never talk to the police, etc., but it is hard to respond calmly in a real situation, for the government workers do hold the power.)

He asked if I knew the neighbor Phil. I said "No, I don't live here." He left. Then he walked across the street to another house where a man was outside working on his truck. The agent talked to him for less than a minute and seemed to get no information.

Government thugs are on the prowl...

Buying politicians who can grant you a legal monopoly

If the facts of this Detroit Free Press article are true, Matty Moroun is far from the kind of entrepreneur I admire. Rather, he is like James Taggart from "Atlas Shrugged": a leech who uses government power in his favor, and a bully who buys lobbyists to continue working in his favor.

Evil = a state using public money to build a bridge
Evil = a private individual buying off politicians to vote against a bridge, when that new bridge would remove his monopoly over US-Canada border traffic

Garden

Probably should have done so a month ago, but I expanded the garden today.  Now I have lettuce and peppers in addition to my one non-producing raspberry plant.  For the time involved, I don't really see this as saving a lot of money but we shall see.  If you're doing this Alpha Strategy stuff on the level of Jack Spirko it's probably worthwhile, but I'm not sure on a small scale.

The Senseless - an update

It was a dark and stormy night. Actually, it was a bright and sunny afternoon and I was sitting here eating dinner. Suddenly there was a knock on my door. Since I have no friends and I hate being interrupted during dinner, I ignored it. The person knocked again. Since I hadn't heard a car drive up I figured it was the neighbor boy coming for his payment for mowing my lawn. I made the mistake of answering the door. It was... a big ugly old census man! He breathed loudly, had a beard, and looked like he couldn't walk 1/4 mile to save his life. In other words, he was your ideal government employee.

He told me he was from The Census Bureau and had "a few questions that shouldn't take you no more'n' 5 minutes."

First he asked me to verify my address. Rather, he did not know what my address was. He had a stack of forms-- because apparently lots of people on my street didn't mail back a response-- and asked me which of the addresses was mine. "Is this [house #1] or [house #2]," he asked. I did answer that question.

Then he gave me a paper that included instructions for how to answer his questions. He asked me how many people lived here as of April 1st and if any of them lived elsewhere or had another address. I was polite in answering these so he seemed surprised when I would not tell him my name. He said, "Ya know, yer' required by law to answer these questions." I said, "No, I'm required to participate in the head count and that is all." Then I smiled sweetly. He said, looking puzzled, "Ya know, another lady just told me that!" He wrote, in big letters, REFUSED on the bottom of the page.

I proceeded with his questions politely, but would not answer much else. He asked for my birthdate and I said I would tell him the year but not the exact date. Then he said, "Yer gonna hafta do the math for me on that" in regards to figuring out my age. Then he said, "You know, you include more information than this on the IRS form." There are so many things I could have said in response, but I remained silent. He wrote REFUSED on the bottom of that page.

He told me that his supervisors were going to send him back to my house in a few weeks since I was not participating fully. I said that I understood that he was just doing his job and fulfilling his job expectations, but that I would not provide any additional information a second time around so it would be futile to come back. He said, "They'll send me back anyway."

Next he asked my race. I said "only Caucasian." He asked if I was Hispanic. I said no. He said, "Yeah, they're asking this so they can get more money for the Hispanics for going to school." Thrilling.

Then he had to check a series of boxes asking if I lived elsewhere during the year due to college, military, nursing home, etc. I said "just check no for all of those." He said he was required to read them to me individually.

Then he said, "I don't suppose you'd be willing to provide your phone number." This guy was perceptive.

He then told me that he would have to ask my neighbors to be proxies and have them answer the questions about me. Luckily, my neighbors know nothing about me except my first name and that I am that mean lady who always yells at their barking dogs to shut-up.

Finally the guy thanked me for my time and drove away to my neighbor's house all of 50 feet away.

Two thoughts:
1. I should have come up with wacky answers but in the spur of the moment I never think of witty responses.
2. For safety reasons, I should have told him at least 2 people lived here. :-( If he comes back that's what I'll say. It could be funny to give different answers than last time and say "Yes, I forgot that another person was living here on April 1st." More likely, I just won't answer the door again.