Of course the brake lights don't work. Come back on the third Friday 13th next millennium!
My permit to drive, issued in Colorado, is good for three years. I just need anyone 21 or older with me. Hair color and gender not so important. My appointment on Tuesday was changed to Monday on Tuesday. I know. You're trying to read too much into this but it's the truth. It really started 3 years ago on my birthday when the Department of revenue asked for an extra $95 from me because they said I was late on my insurance by one day in 1877 and I don't remember much back that far but I gave them the $95 anyway and it took until August of this year to get it straightened out. I took the written test, got in line for a drive test and they said my insurance was not specifically for the car I was driving. It's good for "ANYTHING I drive! I got a print out for my broker in ten minutes. But they said it was too late and I needed to make another appointment for my driving skills test. The appointment was made for September 13th, a Friday of course. I showed up half an hour before and waited in line for an hour. When we went to the car I thought this is too easy. The tester took my insurance card and registration then checked out my lights. The brake lights didn't work! I said of course they don't. I can't have a license!
So I got another appointment for October 23rd at 2:00 PM. I called on Tuesday to confirm the date and time and I'm glad I did because she said it was correct and I got everything together again and pulled in half an hour early. Took it all to head of the local department behind the Big Bad Counter and the big bad whatever she was said I missed my appointment and said there was no way I made an appointment with them. I pulled up my cell phone, hit the redial and her phone rang! She checked again and said I was scheduled to test on Tuesday the 22nd. What was really funny to me was no one was waiting in line. In fact the place was empty. But she heard the phone ring and knew there was a mistake of some kind so she checked again for my name and found it. Finally, I was getting somewhere. Somebody took my name off the list for the 23rd and changed it to the 22nd. I was a day late. They are booked up through December 1st now.
I honestly don't let this bother anymore. I tell my proteges it's their choice - they can be right or they can be happy. Sometimes you can even be both. But not if your brake lights don't work. By the way, there was nothing wrong with my brake lights. This all took place the way it did because my acceptance has taken a couple of body blows the last month or two. But just like the mania of the Brady Bill of 1994, too many chiefs have no idea what the Indians want or even need. This was all taken care of in 1996 and I still have no idea how to purge false accusations let alone prosecutions on the same basis.
But I have a great idea! Everybody, stop renewing your licenses (all licenses) and don't ever send the department of grand theft another nickel. How long can we allow out of control spending by our government to demand more from us. And lastly, where do your taxes go? If you can find a little of it would you please give me the phone number or address? I can't seem to find either.
The Big Questionnaire
Wasn't too long ago we filed for a 501-3C Not-for-Profit for Wayward Sheep and Goats. When I heard about the I.R.S. asking for more information regarding certain applications with phrases that might become troublesome for certain political candidates and their ability to dupe the public, I figured I should check it out. I found a copy of it and then sat down for about a week and filled out most of the application. The questionnaire itself was only 13 pages but some of the answers could take as many as 25 pages to complete. I really do not want to know why the I.R.S. needs to know if we have a prayer before our meetings. How we conduct or training and what that entails should have nothing to do with their business. Oh, just read it and have fun. It's 35 pages I think and I know it's not funny to some but I did it anyway and I still have addendum's processing. Enjoy.
Gasoline Taxes Vs. Exxon Profit, Per Gallon
You might have to read a little more here than wanted but I cannot contain it any longer. Ever wonder about how much a gallon of gas costs and why so high? This is your answer and it might be worth a bad case of the jaws to discover the real reason we in the United States pay so much and where the profits go.
When I first started hauling gas (last time I'll repeat that) regular, leaded gasoline was $0.39.9 a gallon delivered to farms and industry for less than 1500 gallons. It was just going over $0.33 at full service pumps. Look back at my description of the problem with government and consumers due to regulations.
At the time I think taxes in Colorado were $0.07 state and $0.04 fed and all of those proceeds were targeted for highway construction including bridges, road and maintenance. Look on the map for the cost in your state now (2011). The tax in Colorado is more than a gallon of gas was in 1975 and all we could do was blame OPEC! Somewhere in time a government agency made a really poor choice and I'm not talking about getting the fat out of McDonald's french fries.
I delivered fuel for 7 years during the 70s and remember the biggest joke of all. Most of the cost for the finished, delivered product is gobbled up by government so we can keep oil producing countries on our good side. Has that changed?
The jobber I worked for made right between $0.01 and $0.02 per gallon of gas I delivered. Each year, I moved a little over a million gallons. That's what paid my wages to work 10-16 hours a day.
Costs are so much higher today for a really simple reason. It costs ten times more today to drill, pump, transport to refineries, run a refinery, energy to run the refineries, ships, drilling rigs, transportation and basically the whole process of creating affordable energy.
Europe paid around $2.50 a gallon for mo-gas in the early 70s and we were griping about shortages here but were willing to pay a little more but not much. Thank the EPA for protecting us from fossil fuels. Now, what's the alternative? Today Barney Frank mentioned strategic reserves and wondered if we have them why not use them. Give me a break! How much oil is there? Really? I'm guessing we'll run out of oil about the time the ocean levels rise 1500 meters at the rate of .04 mm per year from the melting ice caps, according to Al Gore's friends..
For some reason unknown to me I can't find answers to the main problem. Where do the taxes from fossil fuels go? I was thinking about this a few months ago I came up with the biggest conspiracy of them all. Know why we pay such high taxes on everything? Because gasoline, for the best example, might become obsolete if I find the trick to perpetual motion. Meanwhile, why would government regulators want auto manufacturers to make cars that get better and better mileage when, a car or truck that uses more gasoline makes more revenue for the government no matter how high, or low, the tax is? And if the science still says we are re-creating the world in our own image and it's not good, then let them plug their car into an ear of corn and wait for the flood.
Increase the supply! What could happen? I'd like to drive my hot rod one more time with fuel that costs less some vain plastic surgeries I've seen lately.
There are only two things left to regulate: Ration Government not gas and eliminate stupidity!
