The Writer's Life 3/24 - Running

Ted Cruz came out swinging yesterday as he announced his candidacy for President. His calls to abolish the IRS and repeal Obamacare will resonate with conservatives and draw fire from the liberal media. I don’t believe either aspiration is radical, especially the first. There has to be a better way of collecting taxes than the convoluted method now in effect. I believe a flat tax would be fairest. A national sales levy might hit middle and lower income people too hard. Cruz’s candidacy may be moot. Although his mom is a U.S. citizen, he was born in Canada while his parents were working at an oil field. Such a circumstance has never been broached by those who decide these issues. Still, it is refreshing to see someone unafraid to air controversial views. It will be interesting to see how the press attacks Cruz. Of course he will be cast as evil. Will they dare to call him dumb when one of their own, liberal icon Alan Dershowitz, has said Cruz was "the smartest student he ever had"? The famous lawyer was one of Cruz's instructors at Harvard.


Speaking of taxes, it is no surprise that residents of NY have the highest state burden, 12.4%. Coupled with the federal rate, which is in the mid 30's, that means nearly half of the income of many New Yorkers goes to the government. Connecticut is second in terms of state levies, New Jersey fourth or fifth. Is it any wonder residents are fleeing?



There was a spooky item worthy of The Twilight Zone or The X-Files in today’s Weird But True column in the NY Post. A quarter of the people in a village in Kazakhstan have fallen into a deep sleep for days and awakened complaining of nausea, dizziness, severe headaches and memory loss. Has something leaked into the drinking water? Is it something in the air? Whatever it is, it’s scary.



I had Virginia and Villanova advancing a long way in both of the NCAA pools in which I participated. In the one at ESPN there are five million contestants ahead of me. I only scored a fraction above 50% in wins/losses. Although three of my Final Four teams, Duke, Wisconsin and Kentucky, are alive, I doubt I can ascend to a respectable finish. Wait ’til next year.


My thanks to the kind folks who bought books today at my usual nook, and to those yesterday on Bay Parkway, whom I neglected to acknowledge.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/pdxwsnt

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/