How Americans Are Made

[g5000]

Some years ago, my oldest daughter acquired her first job. Dairy Queen.

High school all day. Work all night.

She'd come home every evening tired, bedraggled, and covered in Blizzard slop on her apron.

Then came her very first paycheck. This was a big moment for her, as it is for everyone.

Then she saw for the first time how much tax had been withheld and ask WTF that was about.

As I explained all the ways our tax money is spent, she turned into Rush Limbaugh right in front of my very eyes and shouted, "FUCK THE POOR!"



True story.

My daughter is the archetype conservative model. She works her ass off and is socking away every dollar she can to pay for college. She wants to be a dental hygienist for some reason, even though she could easily be president one day. And I don't say that out of bias. Everyone says it. I try not to lecture her about "wasted talent". If her life goal is to be a dental hygienist, so be it. Besides, that's a much more honorable profession than being a politician.

Our state has a deal where they pay for your first two years of college, but my daughter missed the application deadline. Dammit. So she's on her own, with tuition prices rising faster than Bitcoins.

There are only an extremely few slots available in the dental hygienist college track. The competition is fierce, but my daughter is fiercer.

Nonetheless, I suggested to her she have a Plan B. Some other career option, just in case.

Oh hell no, she said. That's accepting defeat before you even start.

I love this kid so much.

If you ever see a tiny redheaded Irish girl blazing past you at the speed of sound, that's probably my daughter. And she'll clean your teeth like they're her own.

 

[IM2]

I remember slinging papers at age 9. It felt really good to have 100 bucks back in 1970.

 

[g5000]

I remember slinging papers at age 9. It felt really good to have 100 bucks back in 1970.

That was my first job, too.

I still remember the German Shepherd staked in a customer's yard who bit a chunk out of my ass.

After he did it, he looked as befuddled as I felt.

"Sorry, kid. I have no idea why I did that."

 

[sparky]

"FUCK THE POOR!"

lol g5......from the mouths of babies ....... ~S~

 

[Dante]

I love bullshit threads, this being one of them.

Others work hard.

Gotta love those Americans flooding the streets with encampments and dying of od in the streets

 

[g5000]

One of my annual springtime complaints is that no kids are knocking on my door to cut my grass.

None. Zip. Not a one.

And I know they're out there. I see them on the school buses I get stuck behind.

School buses which stop on EVERY corner, because god forbid a kid walk more than a block to and from their house these days.

I'm not the guy shouting "Get off my lawn!" I'm the guy waiting for them to be ON my lawn.

Every boy I knew, including myself, were sweating our asses off mowing lawns as a major source of disposable income.

 

[IM2]

That was my first job, too.

I still remember the German Shepherd staked in a customer's yard who bit a chunk out of my ass.

After he did it, he looked as befuddled as I felt.

"Sorry, kid. I have no idea why I did that."

I remember running from dogs too. I was lucky.

 

[IM2]

I love bullshit threads, this being one of them.

Others work hard.

Gotta love those Americans flooding the streets with encampments and dying of od in the streets

I've always been glad to pay taxes.

 

[TNHarley]

I can still remember my first check at 14. What a day that was!
Been working ever since.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Some years ago, my oldest daughter acquired her first job. Dairy Queen.

High school all day. Work all night.

She'd come home every evening tired, bedraggled, and covered in Blizzard slop on her apron.

Then came her very first paycheck. This was a big moment for her, as it is for everyone.

Then she saw for the first time how much tax had been withheld and ask WTF that was about.

As I explained all the ways our tax money is spent, she turned into Rush Limbaugh right in front of my very eyes and shouted, "FUCK THE POOR!"



True story.

My daughter is the archetype conservative model. She works her ass off and is socking away every dollar she can to pay for college. She wants to be a dental hygienist for some reason, even though she could easily be president one day. And I don't say that out of bias. Everyone says it. I try not to lecture her about "wasted talent". If her life goal is to be a dental hygienist, so be it. Besides, that's a much more honorable profession than being a politician.

Our state has a deal where they pay for your first two years of college, but my daughter missed the application deadline. Dammit. So she's on her own, with tuition prices rising faster than Bitcoins.

There are only an extremely few slots available in the dental hygienist college track. The competition is fierce, but my daughter is fiercer.

Nonetheless, I suggested to her she have a Plan B. Some other career option, just in case.

Oh hell no, she said. That's accepting defeat before you even start.

I love this kid so much.

If you ever see a tiny redheaded Irish girl blazing past you at the speed of sound, that's probably my daughter. And she'll clean your teeth like they're her own.

.




Sure thing.











.

 

[Natural Citizen]

I can still remember my first check at 14. What a day that was!
Been working ever since.

When I went to the local bank to cash my very first official paycheck I was 16.

I went in and cashed it, already had my license so felt like I was all legit and shit.

When I got home I realized that I lost my wallet.

A week later, my wallet was in the mailbox, excpt the money was gone.

It was like 200 bucks, too.

But at least I got my wallet and muh paperz back.

I think I left it on the counter. I had to have.


The local bank where I lost it...

 

[TNHarley]

When I went to the local bank to cash my very first official paycheck I was 16.

I went in and cashed it, already had my license so felt like I was all legit and shit.

When I got home I realized that I lost my wallet.

A week later, my wallet was in the mailbox, excpt the miney was gone.

It was like 200 bucks, too.

But at least I got all of my wallet and muh paperz back.

I think I left it on the counter. I had to have.


The local bank where I lost it...

View attachment 1073021

That sucks! But we all have done it..

 

[Natural Citizen]

That sucks! But we all have done it..

eeeyep...

 

[Robert W]

I remember running from dogs too. I was lucky.

Dogs are such racists.

 

[g5000]

Dogs are such racists.

Some are trained to be.

 

[g5000]

I've always been glad to pay taxes.

When I was on active duty, we once rescued some dipshit hippy Americans from a combat zone.

They all said they would never complain about paying taxes again.

 

[Dante]

I've always been glad to pay taxes.

Me too.

Paying our way.

 

[Robert W]

When I was on active duty, we once rescued some dipshit hippy Americans from a combat zone.

They all said they would never complain about paying taxes again.

Sure, they didn't pay Federal taxes then and my guess is not right now.

U.S. households that paid no income tax 2022, by income level​

Published by Statista Research Department, Aug 21, 2024
In total, about 59.9 percent of U.S. households paid income tax in 2022. The remaining 40.1 percent of households paid no individual income tax. In that same year, about 47.1 percent of U.S. households with an income between 40,000 and 50,000 U.S. dollars paid no individual income taxes.

 

[IM2]

Me too.

Paying our way.

That's right. These right-wingers are a bunch of whiners who want something for nothing.

 

[IM2]

When I went to the local bank to cash my very first official paycheck I was 16.

I went in and cashed it, already had my license so felt like I was all legit and shit.

When I got home I realized that I lost my wallet.

A week later, my wallet was in the mailbox, excpt the money was gone.

It was like 200 bucks, too.

But at least I got my wallet and muh paperz back.

I think I left it on the counter. I had to have.


The local bank where I lost it...

View attachment 1073043

That looks like a nice area.