Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by John from Texas on January 15, 2008:

I would like to take a moment to say thanks to Bill for posting here in the face of some pretty harsh (understandably) criticism. As Randy said, it took guts to do that and I appreciate the fact that you stood up and took responsibility for your words. I sincerely wish there were more people in this sad little world of ours that would take responsibility for themselves and their actions, however misintentioned or misguided. So, well done, Bill. Well done!

Posted by Carol, Brampton, Ontario on January 15, 2008:

I'm on a government disability, but I would *never* suggest that someone pay for an upgrade to the Premium newsletter. While I would enjoy reading it, I can't afford it, and what I can't afford, I really don't need that badly. If I absolutely need something, then I start rolling spare change; it goes into the savings account, and gradually builds to the point I can afford it.

As much as I like reading "This is True", Randy,the rolled up change is earmarked already. I pay for what I need - I guess I'm just old-fashioned.

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You're my kind of reader, Carol. -rc

Posted by Karen CT on January 16, 2008:

One thing I would like to point out is that Bill did not mention whether or not his wife works. If so, his income is considerably more than 50k. He did not mention the ages of his step kids. If any of them are old enough to work, then there is even more income.

Posted by Kathy, WA on January 16, 2008:

I live on $623.00 monthly disability having been crippled by polio as a child back in 1954 and I cannot afford a premium upgrade either, but I don't beg others for charity. I simply go without and enjoy what the basic subscription provides in laughs and ironic twists. The best things in life are free (I keep telling myself)!

Posted by Kurt, Bangkok on January 17, 2008:

Randy: as usual, you showed excellent judgment in this instance.

I am most assuredly NOT an IRS-basher. Though my overall tax load is heavy, at about 40% (counting from local up through federal), my experiences with various levels of tax authorities haven't been very happy -- except with the IRS. Once they gave me a refund I didn't have -- and even when it got down to the namby-pamby time (I had screwed up and not filed returns from abroad for THREE years) they credited my tax liability with the unwarranted refund. And waived all penalty and interest to boot. (I'm talking tens of thousands of dollars here, all told, not chump change.) Another time, they contacted me and my sister to tell us they had overcharged us on inheritance tax, so were making a substantial (again, think in terms of several 10's of thousands).

I think I've established my bona fides of not being anti-IRS.

The guy who wrote may have other problems -- over-extended credit cards? caught up in the sub-prime crises? something he didn't mention (alimony or child support payments, perhaps?)?

Now, if you, Randy, were to PERSONALLY ask me to sponsor someone's subscription, just one person (well, okay, maybe two or three), I almost certainly would, though we've never met. I read you as a straightforward, honest man, and my bulls*** detector is in working order. (Remember I live in Bangkok and deal with expert liars every single day. They make American scam artists look like . . . well, I can't think of an adjective, as "rank" doesn't come anywhere near how amatuerish American scammers are).

An idea just struck me, though it would require DOD cooperation, if it's legally able to do so. I myself am friends with some active-duty personnel I would gladly sponsor. Maybe -- IF DOD will and can go along (for verification purposes) -- you could, if you wished, solicit sponsorship for hard-case, military personnel. You know, the 20-year-old Marine serving in Iraq with two kids and a wife, with a private's or corporal's rank. Which means a low salary. (Our military pay scales at lower echelons are simply unforgivable. Raise my taxes another ten percent and give it to them.)

And don't you damn well die before *I* do!!!

Mekhong Kurt, WebMaster
http://BangkokAtoZ.com, Bangkok's Voice On The Web

Posted by Andrew, Scotland on January 17, 2008:

It's curious to see the black-or-white division on this issue - but then, it seems that middle grounds are rare these days.

Can Bill afford a subscription? I don't know. I don't particularly care - that's his business. But five sprogs can't be cheap to raise, and taking in foster kids and trying to give them the best childhood possible is a laudable thing.

Anyway, there are two things I particularly wanted to comment on:

Firstly, someone referred to Starbucks as selling "gourmet" coffee. Now, I'm Swedish - I know good coffee. And Starbucks isn't gourmet, not even close. Oh, it's good, but nowhere near great. The only way to get it anywhere near strong enough is to get an espresso (still too weak, though), and even then it's served in some sort of minuscule thimble arrangement.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, one thing I've always wondered about is - and I'll happily cop to a degree of generalisation here - this curious thinking Americans seem to have that only those who serve in uniform are serving their country. Being ex-military myself, I'm an avid supporter of the armed forces, and I'm thinking of joining the police, but there are other jobs that do just as much for the general public for far less recognition.

Municipal services, for instance - the people who make sure our rubbish goes away, that there are stripes on the roads, that the lawns in the parks get mowed. They get sod all money, and to most of us, they're invisible.

Telephone companies? Granted, in more and more countries they're becoming privatised, but imagine where we'd be without phones. People working for phone companies serve their countries as well.

Even the IRS - or Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs as we call them - do their bit. Oh, we hate them - at least they don't take half your gross income, like in Sweden - and we pick on them, and so on, but they serve their countries. Without taxes, we'd have no roads, no health care, no schools... no money to pay the uniformed services...

Most people who work in civil service don't get paid much. And saying that "they already get our money"... Well, no they don't. Does anyone seriously think the underpaid clerk who records delivery of your cheque gets to keep the cash? Your taxes go to the roads you drive on, not (usually) to keep filing clerks in Bentleys.

Civil servants of all stripes serve their countries with just as much dedication as soldiers. Sometimes less money, sometimes more, and of course they're not usually shot at on a daily basis. But they serve their countries.

Maybe Bill can afford premium True, maybe he can't. Maybe he deserves it, maybe he doesn't. But - speaking, remember, from an ex-military point of view - suggesting that only people who put their lives on the line are serving their countries and/or deserve help and charity is both wrong and, frankly, rather offensive.

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I never said they were the "only" contributors serving their countries, I used them as an example of who I would have a program for if I were to create one for "underpaid government workers". -rc

Posted by Sarah, Michigan on January 17, 2008:

The living wage for a family of four to live comfortably in Grand Rapids, Michigan is $45,000. This doesn't provide any safety net, long term savings, or extra cash. It can be as much as $70-$100,000 in some communities.

Think about how much it really costs to live in this country before you freak out at Bill for ASKING for a subscription. Bill wasn't rude, demanding or insensitive and it isn't our business to judge if he can or cannot afford a subscription.

I think that posting Bill's letter was incredibly inappropriate if you are only going to put this guy on the chopping block.

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You might consider actually reading the entire post, with update, and the comments before jumping into the fray. It is obvious that you didn't do so. -rc

Posted by Sue in Seattle WA on January 19, 2008:

I, too, work for the IRS. Quite a few of us government workers enjoy This is True. Wittiness is always appreciated. I'm glad Bill opted to have the free subscription given to someone in the service. As for salaries with the IRS, they can be really low for new employees, especially in the service centers. Randy, keep up the great work!

Posted by Alan, New Mexico on January 19, 2008:

I'd like to say I'm impressed with not only the quality but also the variety of your readership and their views. Not to mention their willingness to share their opinion with you and other readers, whether they agree with you or not! Kudos!

Now on to Bill. As you mentioned, you don't know exactly how his shoes fit, nor do you really need to. He asked, you responded, both of you were polite (at least, I didn't find anything offensive), and ultimately everything has turned out for the best. In my opinion anyway.

Now for something a little closer to home for me. As a servicemember I applaud both your and Bill's willingness to donate this free subscription to a servicemember or cop. I also agree with Andrew about the huge diversity of those considered civil servants. I'm sure you've had plenty of free subscribers ask for the upgrade, and I'm sure SOME of them perhaps deserve it. I don't envy the position you've been placed in at all. Do I think a civil servant deserves it more than a struggling young single mother living in Chicago? Nope. On the contrary. I have this great job where I get to travel and go places I'd never have gone as a civilian, meet people from all over the world, and carry the distinct honor of serving my country. When my child needs urgent, life saving medical care I have insurance that not only covered medical expenses, but also allowed me to be there throughout the entire experience.

I couldn't ask for more. Certainly not a free upgrade.

Posted by Heather, Houston on January 20, 2008:

I'm a full time college student, I work full time, and I'm a full time mommy. My husband is a "government employee" who will be returning to Iraq for his third tour in a few weeks. We don't have the extra money to pay for a subscription but I would never even think to ask for a free one. Hopefully in a few years we will be able to afford it but in the meantime I will live with the free subscription.

My thoughts are a subscription to anything is a Luxury and if you can afford it go for it, if you can't then save up for it don't beg someone else to pay for you.