Yet another reason to keep idiot politicians out of education

With all the revelations about the massive fraud perpetrated on the world by global warming eco zealots, it’s a surprise they have any credibility left.

But apparently – proving once again that global warming is an eco zealot cult – some legislators in South Dakota want to force public schools to teach said eco zealotry alongside real science…

…you know – much like religious types want creationism (cleverly packaged as “intelligent design”) taught alongside evolution in science classes.

Now, for the record, I don’t mind religious education in public schools – BUT NOT TAUGHT AS SCIENTIFIC FACT.  If a child and the parents want said child to take a class about religion – no matter what religion – I have nothing against this.  I do, have a problem, however, with people who want to pass religion off as science and want to teach it side-by-side.

Much like I have a problem with global warming being taught along side real science as a “scientific theory.”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of
Representatives of the Eighty-fifth Legislature of the State of South
Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the South
Dakota Legislature urges that instruction in the public schools
relating to global warming
include the following:

            (1)    That global warming is a scientific theory rather than a proven fact;

            (2)    That there are a variety of climatological, meteorological, astrological, thermological,
cosmological, and ecological dynamics that can effect world weather phenomena and
that the significance and interrelativity of these factors is largely speculative; and

            (3)    That the debate on global warming has subsumed political and philosophical
viewpoints which have complicated and prejudiced the scientific investigation of
global warming phenomena; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature urges that all instruction on the theory
of global warming be appropriate to the age and academic development of the student and to
the prevailing classroom circumstances.

Oh and by the way?  ASTROLOGICAL?  WTF????

The debate on global warming is about politics.  It’s about power.  It’s about the power to destroy.  It certainly shouldn’t be taught in schools as “scientific theory.”  Given the amount of fraud – both intentional and erroneous – involved in this issue, politics need to be kept out of science. It’s caused enough problems already.

Free market solutions

When I woke up this morning, there was a comment in yesterday’s Turbo Tax post on Washington Rebel from someone claiming to be the VP of Turbo Tax.  My initial reaction was, “Yeah.  Right.”  I’m not in the habit of clicking on random links provided by commenters on any of the blogs I write for.

However, upon doing a bit more research, I decided to take a chance.

Sure enough, Bob Meighan IS the Vice President of Turbo Tax.  Sure enough, the link was legit.  And sure enough he contacted me immediately upon reading my comment on his site and promised to investigate and try to resolve the problem.

I’m floored. This is the last thing I expected, and I’m gratified to know that Mr. Meighan cares about his company enough to personally get involved in one individual’s problem.

I also look at this experience as a success for free market capitalism.  No government intervention necessary.  No regulations. No formal complaints to any kind of authorities. I had a problem. I couldn’t get a resolution. I took it public. The Vice President of the company stepped in to protect his company’s reputation, and ultimately, its profits. 

Politicians tend to treat profits as evil.  But profits are ultimately a gauge of your work ethic, of the way you run your business and your commitment to your customers.  Profits are an indicator of the value of your work.  Bad business practices will ultimately affect your bottom line.  Taking the effort to make things good will ultimately improve your reputation and keep customers coming back.  This goes for any business, not just Turbo Tax.

I guarantee you that no Senate testimony and consequent legisleech involvement could be as bad as the kind of losses Toyota will suffer in the marketplace unless they take immediate steps to fix the problem!  The market works.  Once word got around about the serious problems with Toyota cars… once the lawsuits started rolling in, I guarantee no legislative involvement would have been needed (not that this will stop the legisleeches in any way).

True profits are a bottom line measurement of how well you do your job.

I would like to thank Mr. Meighan for at least taking steps to help me resolve this issue… and helping to further underscore my faith in free market capitalism.

I’ll post updates if a resolution is reached.

Top reasons NOT to use Turbo Tax this tax season

Did Geithner use Turbo Tax?  Maybe!

1 – They’re incompetent. They make mucho mistakes, they claim to check for errors, and they screw the pooch, for which you will wind up paying out the nose

I was a deployed Soldier in 2006 and 2007.  A Soldier deployed to a hazardous duty zone.  My now-ex husband used Turbo Tax to file our taxes for those two years.  He followed the instructions precisely, and Turbo Tax supposedly checked his work.  We got refunds for those two years.

Seven months ago, the state of Virginia contacted me and informed me that I owed them $1500.  That’s right - one thousand, five hundred dollars.  My first reaction was “WTF??????????”  My ex called the state Department of Taxation and was informed that Turbo Tax was wrong. We owed money, and they expected $1500 from us, including interest and fees.  My ex then called Turbo Tax, and they promised to carefully study the case and take care of the problem if the error was on their part.

After we sent them copies of all returns and all other relevant paperwork.

OK.  Fine.  The paperwork was sent.  They promised to get back to us in 6 weeks.  We waited.

On another note, I talked to my tax preparer this year, and he informed me that he corrects more mistakes on Turbo Tax returns than he cares to mention.  Would have been nice to know two years ago…

2 – They stall.  Turbo Tax people are much like health insurance companies. I think they just keep you hanging until you just get sick and tired of it all and quit harassing them.

We waited six months.  They did not get back to us.  In the meantime, I had arranged a payment schedule with the State of Virginia, and was dutifully making my payments, while awaiting an answer from Turbo Tax.  An answer that never came.

My ex finally called them to see what the problem was.  They claimed they never received one piece of paperwork.  They claimed they contacted him about it. They claimed they needed that piece of paper to process our case. 

He says he doesn’t remember receiving that communication.

OK… mistakes happen, I suppose.  So he dutifully dug up the one piece of paper they claim they needed and faxed it to them.

We waited again.

We’re still waiting.

He called.  Several times. They had him on hold for so long, he finally gave up.  He emailed them.  They claimed they never received the paperwork he faxed them.  From a government fax.  The kind that usually gives you a confirmation that your fax went through – at least every government fax I’ve ever used does.  This time they didn’t even bother claiming that they contacted us about the missing paperwork.  They did no such thing.

You know how your health insurance company will deny your claim, put you on hold when you call, give you the runaround, deny your claim again, and stall until you get sick and tired of dealing with them and just pay your bill?

Yeah.  That’s Turbo Tax.

3 – They lie. Their claims that they contacted us regarding this missing paperwork ring hollow, especially in light of the fact that the paperwork was faxed to them again from a government fax machine, and they still claim they don’t have it.  They didn’t bother contacting us, and I don’t believe they bothered the first time around either.

I realize that this is tax time, and they’re busy.  But you know what?  Customer service doesn’t end when their product is purchased and the taxes are filed.  We’re out $1500 because Turbo Tax screwed up, and then refused to take responsibility for their mistakes.

Instead they just choose to claim they never received the necessary paperwork and avoid accountability altogether.

Nice, Turbo Tax.  Real nice.

Well, since you refuse to deal with the problem you created, choosing instead to simply give us the runaround, I have news for you.

I will publish this publicly, and I will spread the links far and wide.  I’m not saying my little problem will bankrupt you.  I’m sure that’s not the case.  But I will certainly make sure that as many people as possible know how duplicitous, lying, pathetic and incompetent you people are.

Oh, and by the way, I’m apparently not the only one who has issues with Turbo Tax.

And apparently I’m not the only one who has had issues with the State Tax filing either.

In other words, Turbo Tax – YOU ARE REPULSIVE!

I’m beginning to think Tim Geithner had a good excuse.

What Republicans DON’T need

For those of you unaware, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) was going on this week.  For the first time, the annual conference included GOProud – a conservative gay organization – as one of its co-sponsors.

I say GOOD FOR THEM!

The principles of academic and financial freedom, personal responsibility and limited government are not and should not be limited to those who have relationships with members of the opposite sex.

I fully agree with the short speech Alexander McCobin of Students for Liberty gave here.  If you care about freedom, then this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Not so according to one narrow-minded shitbag from California, of all places! Ryan Sorba, representing Young Americans For Freedom Wholesale Ignorance in California, was booed from the minute he stepped up to the podium. Why? Because he saw it fit to condemn CPAC for including gay conservatives in their ranks!

Sorba was rude, ignorant and immature. He called out members of the audience and finally was booed off the stage for his arrogance and insolence.

This ought to tell you a lot about the young conservatives today.  As my friend Rachel Mills wrote on Facebook this morning, “I think conservatives, especially younger ones, are sick of being associated with hate and intolerance. And guess what? In politics, the bigger tent wins. I read that Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University stayed home out of protest simply because GOProud was going to be there – and still we had record attendance. I’m happy for the hateful to boycott.You’re not missed one bit.”

I agree with Rachel 100 percent!

I know I’m sick and tired of being associated with rancid assbags who are so shortsighted, that they exclude and vilify allies who hold the same principles as they do merely because they choose to fall in love with and spend their lives with someone of the same gender!  Freedom applies to everyone and is critical to everyone – not just those of whose life choices you approve!

I’m glad that freedom of speech we all have exposed Sorba for what he really is, an ignorant jerk, who is hardly representative of conservatives around this nation!  And I’m glad Falwell and his band of uber-fundamentalist fucktards boycotted CPAC. 

Republicans don’t need them.

O’Reilly on guns

I never liked Bill O’Reilly.  I may agree with him on some issues, but I find his radio show irritating, his style pushy, obnoxious and unintelligent, and his television show unwatchable. I know many of you will disagree, and you are free to do so.  I, however, am convinced that if you invite someone to discuss issues on your show – be it someone with whom you agree or not – you need to let them speak and not obnoxiously interrupt them with your own screechy screeds. That is what O’Reilly does.  Having done radio shows for several years, both in the military and civilian world, I find his style objectionable. 

That’s just me. Your mileage may differ.

I do, however, find his latest contention that somehow the weather suspends the Bill of Rights to be abhorrent.

Watch.

So apparently the same government that has trouble keeping peace in times of emergency and has absolutely no obligation to protect individual citizens from violence should have the authority to suspend their right to take care of themselves and use effective tools to do so.  It’s during emergencies and disorder that we need firearms for protection the most!  Ask the Korean shopkeepers who used firearms to protect their businesses after the LA Riots, when the “authorities” couldn’t keep control of the situation.  Ask anyone who has ever had to wait for the police to arrive and had to defend their own lives.

Hell, even the emo libtards at Democratic Underground think he’s a dimwit!  And that’s saying something!

Having been on the outskirts of
Hurricane Charley a strong Category 4 hurricane which hit Florida in
2004, and living through numerous strong tropical storms I can strongly
say that when you might need a firearm the most is in an emergency.
Florida has a long track record of dealing with hurricanes and never
has confiscated firearms from honest citizens.

Plus, the
courts ruled that New Orleans was required to return the confiscated
firearms to the rightful owners and Louisiana and other states passed
laws prohibiting the confiscation of legal firearms during a state of
emergency.

Bill O’Reilly may be a favorite voice of conservatives but he is in no way a friend of gun owners.

First, I find myself agreeing with Hillary Clinton, and now the DUmpster crowd.  Hell must REALLY be freezing over.

Thanks, O’Reilly!  Did I mention you’re a repugnant tool?