Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Richard in California on January 14, 2008:

Just curious Randy ... with all of these responses, has anyone actually sent Bill a gift subscription?

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Nope. And I wouldn't expect anyone to. -rc

Posted by kriselda jarnsaxa on January 14, 2008:

While I have to agree with the general feeling that writing Randy and begging for a free subscription funded by other readers is inappropriate, I am absolutely stunned by the level of presumptions being made about Bill's character!

I initially saw the comment about how Bill could just skip one Starbucks a month in Randy's note and saw other writers pick up on it, and yet NONE of us has any basis from which to assume he ever *likes* coffee, much less that he buys "gourmet" coffee from coffee bars.

And where do people get off condemning him for having another child. NONE of us know the circumstances and whether they were or weren't trying to have another child. Sure, they may have been being reckless or may have even decided they wanted another child even though they might not be in the best financial position to do so. But it's ALSO possible that they weren't trying to have a kid - and were even taking precautions to prevent that - but that the precautions fail. I mean, that does happen, right? And if it wasn't a planned pregnancy, then what were he and his wife to do once they found out that a baby was on the way? Are you just assuming they should automatically go out and abort the child because of tight finances? What if they're pro-life? Should they be expected to give the baby up for adoption, even though they are a family and the baby's full and half siblings live with them? Should couples - including MARRIED couples - in precarious financial situations be forbidden from having sex just because it might result in an inconvenient pregnancy? I don't want people making that kind of a decision for me, and I doubt you would, either.

I also find all of the aspersions being cast at this guy just because he works for the government and the IRS appalling. In order for our government to function, it has to have people do all of the work necessary to keep it going. That means that some people have to work for the government, and, since we are tax-supported government, someone has to work at the IRS. Now, I know that there are plenty of unpleasant or unethical people working at the IRS, but just given the size of the agency, not ALL of them can be buttheads. Yes, Bill's request shows that he lacks some judgment, but I don't think any of us are in a position to judge his entire *being* based on one bad decision (unless that decision were to, say, murder someone - that, I think, is a pretty big clue to a person's true nature in most cases.)

Now, I'm not defending what Bill did, but I'm just stunned as how vicious the attacks here are and the sheer leaps of assumption that are being made in order to attack him. As someone else noted, I expect better from this group.

Posted by Vicki in Utah on January 14, 2008:

Had I not read Bill's reply on here prior to posting, I am sure I would have been a little rude. I am on Social Security due to a chronic illness, have 2 kids at home, and my husband's employment has been shaky the last year. I would have been really offended to think someone would actually ask for a premium upgrade when they have a really good job. I subscribe but have had to let my sub lapse many times because of financial issues. However for Bill to post and reply again after being humiliated, and I would be so humiliated if I were him quite truthfully, then I have respect for him after all. I think it took a lot of guts to reply after being in the premium letter. Hopefully Bill will be able to continue his subscription but if he can't, when he comes back he will appreciate it that much more as I do. Good luck to you and your family, Bill.

Posted by Melodie, Olympia WA on January 14, 2008:

OK, I have to jump in. As a government employee, I feel the need to point out that we're just people. Some of us work our tails off all the time, some goof off as much as they dare, some are scrupulously honest, some not so much, etc, etc. Yes, most of us realize that by taking a public service job we have a public trust and try very hard to keep that in mind in all our spending decisions. But you really can't lump "government employees" any more than you can say "men do this", "women do that", "blacks are..", "asians are", etc. (And yes I know people DO that all the time - but we're TRUE readers -we're supposed to be rational!)

However, I don't agree with Bill's request. I went through a bad time when I had to declare bankruptcy, pay for a divorce, wasn't getting child support, etc. I felt that I needed to retrain myself financially by doing without things I wanted until I could afford them. If my kids had been going hungry, would I have accepted food for them? Of course. Are there people who are in financial difficulties through no fault of their own and deserve a True sponsorship? Absolutely! But I agree, Bill doesn't qualify.

PS my TRUE subscription goes to my home computer where this message came from. And yes, I pay taxes, too.

Posted by jeannemarie, new jersey on January 14, 2008:

i think some of us might have felt a little sorry for bill if he didn't have another child on the way. if you struggle to support three step kids, why have a 4th and even a 5th. maybe we should all send him the money for a vasectomy instead.

Posted by Chris, Melbourne (AU) on January 14, 2008:

Actually, I agree with the sentiment that "it shouldn't hurt to ask". However, I also believe that it shouldn't hurt to respond with a firm "No" in circumstances like this. As to then publishing it - why not!! There've been times when I have been vicariously embarrassed by the stupidity of someone who in some way "rubs off on" me (a fellow Melburnian, or in whatever way connected with me), but that doesn't change the fact that stupidity is stupidity wherever it is. So if this post has any form of utter stupidity in it, I'd expect to see some bitingly witty criticism underneath it - because that's what Randy's good at.

I've been a Premium subscriber for... hrm, a couple of years now, not sure exactly how long. There've been a few stories that I've disagreed with, or thought that the person's stupidity didn't really deserve quite so harsh a writeup, but to be honest I think that a lot more people are dealt with pretty mercifully. There's a HUGE amount of stupidity out there that, simply because it isn't funny, doesn't get called out like this.

So Bill... the fact that your case got published doesn't mean you were any more or less stupid, deserving, poor, or anything else. It just means that it was more funny. I'm right there with Randy in thinking that a letter like that from irs.gov warrants a check to see if it's a joke!! Thanks Bill, you are part of what makes True as good a read as it is. :)

Posted by Greg in Seattle on January 15, 2008:

I keep getting e-mails from some guys in Nigeria who need help moving some money into the U.S. and will pay a pretty penny for it. Maybe I can pass on their addresses to you and you can pass them on to Bill. :-)

Posted by phil, texas on January 15, 2008:

I wish this response post was the one where he was asking for help. I would have considered it. It gives me a totally different feeling towards him. When reading the letter you publish, all I was thinking was: Stupid, you're doing it to yourself, etc. No way would I have helped him.

But saying that, it took guts to post and I helping to look after 3 kids that are not yours is noble. And yes I'm reading and posting this while at work. But I'm salaried, average 50+ hours a week, got called about problems while on my last vacation, so fire me. :-)

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Yep: you saw that I changed my mind about Bill from his second note too. It did take guts for him to come back, hat in hand. And as you saw, I commended him for it. At this point, I'd even accept a gift subscription for him. -rc

Posted by Henry in Connecticut on January 15, 2008:

That's what the free subscription is for. But wait, Bill wants more than he can afford... and I can understand his feelings exactly. That's how I got over my head in credit card debt. Guilty as charged.

But I didn't declare bankruptcy. I paid off every cent I owed, and it took a darned long time to do it, too. I still have a credit card; it's for emergencies, particularly when I'm out of town, but I haven't used it in over a decade.

Now, how many people who are criticizing Bill (and, rightly so, I believe) will be willing to stand up and admit as I did, that they wanted more toys than they could afford?

NOTE: I didn't need to use my card; I bought toys for myself with it. If you got into Credit Card Hell for medical or other unavoidable reasons, this does not apply to you.

My point is that I think that many people in this country are in trouble for the same basic reason as Bill: we've wanted more than we could afford.

Yes, I think the begging is offensive, but I don't think that is the core issue.

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Good points, Henry. Sure: we all have wanted something we couldn't afford. The question is, "then what?" Sometimes I've saved for it. Sometimes I've financed it. But most of the time I say "Oh well, maybe someday." (And then was glad I didn't buy it!) It's simple maturity, but unfortunately it seems like recent generations haven't been taught much about it. -rc

Posted by Robert, Tokyo, Japan on January 15, 2008:

I guess this was his attempt at "compliment with a touch of comedy". This proves it, the IRS has no sense of humor!