Golf pro Phil Mickelson, a native Californian, has been socked by the tax man. Given the rates instituted at the start of the year, he will be surrendering about 62% of his earnings to the federal and state governments. Yesterday he spoke out about the injustice. Today he regretted making such a personal matter public. Only strident leftists would blame him if he left the state. Such a rate proves that the biggest thieves are in politics. Mickelson earned 47 million last year, and it is estimated that his net worth is 180 million. Not even a 50-50 split is good enough for government hogs. And the thinking is not restricted to this side of the Atlantic. French actor Gerard Depardieu is moving from France to Russia to avoid the policies of Socialist leader Francois Hollande, who proposed a 75% levy on millionaires. How ironic is that? I don’t blame those who believe they are being treated unfairly from going elsewhere, as those who fled tyranny have come here. The United States was born as a result of a tax revolt. The extravagant spending of government is leading to oppressive rates that won’t even begin to lower the deficit. The next few years will be interesting. The relative calm that characterized America from the mid 80’s until 9/11 is a distant memory. Socialism seems inevitable. Let’s hope it will work as well for us as it does for Norway and Sweden. It doesn’t look too promising right now.
The Harbaughs are getting a lot of ink this week, rightfully so. Their dad, Jack, was the head coach at Western Michigan, my alma mater, from ‘82-‘86. His record was 25-27. John was one of his assistants. He fared much better at Western Kentucky, 91-68, winning the 1-AA national title in 2002, his last year in coaching. One of his sons will be a world champion on Super Bowl Sunday. Great job, sir.
Last night I had another vivid dream that had me chuckling as I woke. There was a row of black trucks filled with recycled metal. I was on top of one of them, riding along to make sure a certain gizmo kept working. The foreman, who I’ve never met in real life, was the boyfriend of a woman I was crazy about decades ago, whom I still think about frequently. And this was just the first part. I think I can analyze all but the gizmo aspect. In essence, I recycle the books people donate to me by selling them. Since my friend Marilena was kind enough to visit and buy a couple of my own books yesterday, my subconscious was probably longing for the other woman to stop by, and the presence of the foreman was there to remind me that she is probably married or involved with someone. From there things got wacky. I was in a park and the other woman I was crazy about in my lifetime, 17 years younger than me, was playing volleyball - topless! She is one of the last women who would so something like that. Then she asked me to play soccer, which I told her I hated. Nevertheless, we went about kicking a ball through lush grass. I suppose this was reiterating my belief that my age really was a factor in our not being together. I wonder if I will see either woman ever again.
The pedestrian bridge that spans lower Sheepshead Bay, damaged by Hurricane Sandy, has been re-opened. It is part of my Tuesday route on my morning walk. Unfortunately, Delmar Pizzeria still seems weeks from returning. It was cold, the wind howling. It looks like the floating book shop will be on hiatus at least through tomorrow.
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Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
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