Stuffleufagus

Today on Twitter I suggested that I am tired of all the political hate, and that I didn’t really care for either candidate, and that I wasn’t going to vote in the Presidential Election.  Mostly though, I don’t like either political party.

Neither are “people serving” - and both are “self-serving”.

I don’t know why this was received with such fanfair - especially by my ex-fellow panelists on NewsGang Live, a show I was “dis-invited” from tonight - simply because I stated that NOT voting is an option that might be realistic for people to consider - for MONTHS I have stated that I am a libertarian (with a small “L” - NOT a member of the party).  Actually, I was asked not to come on and talk about NOT voting.  Since it is prety much a political show (and Obama Rally) now, that basically means, “don’t show up”.

But why the hate?  Because I decided NOT to support Obama?  Sorry - that is MY decision - and I have as much right to Tweet about it as I do anything else, and as much of a right as anyone else has to Tweet in favor of their candidate.

But I did NOT accuse John McCain of being a traitor on Twitter today, and I did NOT call Palin a “bitch” on Twitter today - others did.  “Friends” of mine did.  I didn’t bash them.  I didn’t ban them from a show or suggest they have no business Twittering their opinions.  I didn’t even unfollow them. I DID react to them though - they made me realize that if you vote in this election based on HATE, you fail.  If you get others to vote based on HATE, you fail.

They just helped me decide that I didn’t like how politics works - and even, to some extent, how they are working politics.

So I won’t be on NewsGang Live anymore - which is fine.  I haven’t been on much lately anyway, and the last dozen times were just about politics - I enjoyed it more when it had a broader audience/subject matter.  I DID have a lot of fun on NGL though.

I’m really disappointed in the American political system, and how powerless we Americans feel to fix it.

Neither candidate is for “change” - they both just want “their version of change”.  Real change is drastic, and would destroy our two party ssytem - so they have no reason to “change” anything.

So I checked out of the ugly political debate, and I will check out of the election.  Sorry.  I have a right to.  And I have no obigation to vote for a candidate I cannot support, and in this election, I find little to like.

And don’t tell me I “have a duty” - I have served on Active Duty for this country and I have AT LEAST earned the right to not fucking vote for people I don’t fucking like - don’t you fucking think?

So be it. Hate me for not voting.  Hate your ass off.  I won’t hate you for it

But I was also accused of “voter suppression” which firstly, I think is a felony and thus a dangerous “McCarthyism-like accusation”, and second, is just *rude* to suggest.  I am NOT going to manipulate others into not voting, prevent people to attend the poles, etc, etc.  Just going to share my opinion that voting for a bad canditate isn’t any better for not voting for one at all.

Deciding NOT to vote, and even encouraging others NOT to vote is NOT voter suppression.  And I was persnally offended at the suggestion.  Especially since a “friend” suggested it.

written by rob

My simple definition of “cloud computing” is:

Something a computer does that MY computer doesn’t do.

That could be computing, or storage, or application execution, web hosting - doesn’t matter - it just isn’t done by MY computer.

SaaS is the cloud as much as web hiosting is the cloud.  The cloud is what is online, from photos to backups.   Soon enough the cloud will have standards, just s WiFi has them.  And I saw how WiFi grew.  I rode that pony. The cloud is bigger.

But it needs standards.  Soon.  At least in nomenclature.

Rob

written by rob

To say our state Dept of Transportation has an image problem is a huge understatement.  What they have is an EGO problem. 

They think we work for them. They think my money is their money.  They think I (and any other concerned taxpayer) am an idiot.

You can’t even sue them when their projects destroy your property – so I guess they actually ARE above the law. 

Perhaps that causes the arrogance they exude at every opportunity. So maybe it isn’t really their fault at all.

No, scratch that – they an are arrogant, power-corrupt operation that needs reeled in.  And that is exactly what I will be looking for in the next candidate for Governor  I vote for.  And I’ll be looking for the same “Tame TxDOT” quality in ANY state representatives I vote for – be they Congressman or Judges.

So I was quite pleased to see I am not alone in my displeasure with TxDOT.

The confidence of the Legislature and the public are very important to us," says Lippincott. "We still have work to do, but we are confident that our ongoing efforts to improve the transparency and accessibility of TxDOT are making a positive impact. We look forward to our continued work with the members and staff of the Sunset Commission.

Commission releases scathing report on TxDOT - Austin Business Journal:

written by rob tags: TxDOT

Appraisal is defined as, "An expert or official valuation, as for taxation."

Which makes it apparent that what Bexar Appraisal District (BAD) is doing is absolutely the latter part of that definition.  They are not offering an "expert valuation", just an "official valuation".

To offer an expert valuation one must actually a) have knowledge in the subject matter and b) examine the subject.

So let’s look at how Bexar Appraisal District set the new valuation for my house. 

First, we must understand the Texas Property Tax Code, which states (in my words):

The  maximum increase in a homeowner’s assessed value is 10% per year times the number of years since the property was last appraised.

What that means is that if you did not get a property tax increase in 2007 (and you did not appeal), they can increase it 20% in 2008.  If your last increase was in 2004 (and you did not appeal any of those years between), they can increase your taxes 40% in 2008.  This is what our government calls a "cap".  I call it bull-cap.

Before I continue, and to make sure this post has more value then just a rant - if you pay personal property taxes in Texas, you must appeal your tax assessment every year - even if it did NOT increase.  If you appeal, and lose, then the next year the maximum increase is 10%.  If you do not appeal, your maximum next year increase is double that!

Plus, if everyone appeals every year we will break the system - they will be forced to fix it.  I know the cure might be worse than the problem, but I honestly don’t think that is very likely (or even possible).

To re-enforce why I believe this, let’s look at the "magic math" that my "assessors" performed when re-evaluating the annual taxes on my property (property they have not actually visited in at least 6 years):

"What would we have to assess this property at to make damn sure we get every penny of the ten percent increase we are allowed to charge?  $49,060?  Cool.  Assessment complete."

I DO NOT believe that was the intent of the "cap" passed by the Texas Government, and I do not believe that a "Tax Assessor" should be allowed this reckless, negligent, blatantly self-serving and morally criminal behavior.  Using the maximum value you can find to extract the absolute maximum amount of taxes is not performing an assessment. 

It is performing a theft.

It is also clear that no professional assessments are being done whatsoever.  Computer software is calculating how much the Government can take from you.  And then they take it.

The more I learn about our Property Tax system the more embarrassed I am that we have such a fundamentally misnamed, and morally bankrupt Government Agency.

Finally, I am actually talking to an Attorney about this - my thought is that the Bexar Appraisal District is not performing it’s stated function, which is:

Within this site you will find general information about the District and the ad valorem property tax system in Texas, as well as information regarding specific properties within the district.

Bexar Appraisal District is responsible for appraising all real and business personal property within Bexar County. The district appraises property according to the Texas Property Tax Code and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP).

Bexar Appraisal District is responsible for the fair market appraisal of properties within each of the following taxing entities:

Instead, all they are doing is employing computer software to calculate the maximum possible revenue extraction from the tax-payers which fall under its jurisdiction.  This argument will be part of my appeal to BAD.  I will challenge them to demonstrate any mechanisms employed to "assess" my property.  I will also file a Freedom of Information Act request to see the internal workings of the computer software being utilized by BAD to set, monitor, adjust, analyze, or report on any aspect of the property valuations BAD has set for my residence.

written by rob tags: Bexar Appraisal District, property taxes

Yes, behind that mask I can only assume I will find the Bexar Appraisal District - my local property tax appraisal goons.

You think I am being harsh?

My appraisal went up $49,060.  On a house valued at less than $200K! In one year!  That is a 26% increase year over year.

And yes, I can and will go fight this.  But I shouldn’t have to.  I will waste days preparing for the meeting, and hours waiting around for my "appointment".

Food, gas, housing - everything is costing more, yet our taxing authorities continue to take more, and more.

Bexar Appraisal District.  Even their acronym is BAD.

How much of this do these people think we can take before we pour the tea into the harbor again? 

I’m all for boarding that boat now.

"No Quarter!"

written by rob tags: Bexar Appraisal District