Oh, so you want me to do everything?
Well, I just
couldn't keep it to myself, so I sent a copy of the poem, "a vision of
what it could be, and meet our goals" to all my bosses I could think of.
At the time, asking for feedback or input. I didn't give one to Harvey, as I
needed to have Pat do that. She did.
The paper came back with several
paragraphs, pro and con, written along the margins. On the top page, which had
no author’s name, was the scribble of Harvey. It said, “I think this came from
Howard Beatty”, thanks.
Eunice, please mail.
Shortly
thereafter, I was appointed, fairly officially or at least as official as it
can be, to be the Project Manager (or, as Pat were prefer to think of it, the
Project Leader) of changing the environment of our work place from message
reaction to pro-active intervention.
I, of course,
hastily accepted, understanding both the mission and the scope. Now, as I've
said, they want me to show them how to be, and what to do, and I know they KNOW
NOT, but I'll do it
anyways
because once, just once, just maybe, maybe, it could come out like it should
be.
That, of
course, I now realize, is up to me.
For some
reason, or reasons, we've had to pay taxes to both the fucking State of New
York and the Fed's during the past two tax seasons, shall we say. Ever since we
sold the "rental property", and lost the interest deduction from that
mortgage, we've paid. I made a change in deductions, from 5 to 3 and gave up
about $200 per week, starting in June of 1997. Alas, we still owe
Prompted my
by outrage, and lack of money with which to pay, what I would call "an
accounting error", the following letters of dispute were filed by said
writer, here engaged.
For your
dining and dancing pleasures, I give you my Tax notes to the IRS from 1997 (a
response):
April 14th,
1998
Dear
Department of Taxation:
Again this
year we must pay, and again I can't help but wonder what I'm getting for the
excessive taxes I feel we must pay.
Our taxable
income for this year was $67,056. Due in tax was $3800, against which I paid
$3,339, hence a balance of $461 PLUS a $4 charge for penalties from last year.
If I
calculate how much it cost us to live here per week it comes to about $73 just
for the privilege of being a New Yorker (your shrinking population is a CLUE
others, perhaps, have come to the same conclusions).
At the moment
we do NOT have an additional $465 to pay to you but, hopefully in May I will
receive a bonus from work (no more raises for people of my age and color), and
will promptly fork it over to the likes of you.
Howard Beatty
375 Rugby
Avenue
Rochester,
New York 14619
April 14th.
1998
Dear IRS:
This year,
like last, we must continue to add more of our dollars to your collection
though we've paid what I at least consider more than our fair share. Our
adjusted gross income of $82,056, less various deductions, affords us the
opportunity to pay $10,149 in tax against a taxable income of $55,351. to a
government who, according to the national news broadcasts cannot account for
billions, of dollars it has collected and spent on something.
I find it
ridiculous that we must now "borrow" from my wife's retirement
account to pay you an additional $1,681 above the $10,149 already dolled out.
Alas, we seem
to have no other choice.
We have been
informed by my wife's retirement plan that she may apply for these funds in
June, and that it should take approximately one week or so to process the
request.
We propose,
therefore, to forward to you “due” funds in the month of June.
Howard Beatty
375 Rugby Avenue
Rochester, New
York
14619