I remember a conversation I had in college with my then-boyfriend. We mused about how different life must be for someone who is extremely good-looking. What would it be like to stand out in the crowd? Living in the U.S., I have always blended into the population. In the few months I have been here in Mexico, I have gotten a little taste of what is it like to look different. And I'm not sure what to think about it...
It's not that I have gotten better looking, or have been doing anything different in recent months; it's that Mexico City has a very homogeneous population. Virtually everyone here is Mexican with the stereotypical dark-brown eyes, black hair, and tan skin. There is not a lot of ethnic diversity. I am a blue-eyed, brown-haired, pink-skinned American freak who also happens to be 4 or 5 inches taller than the average Mexican woman. As a result of this, I garner a lot of attention from Mexican men. Every day as I walk to work, men on the street openly stare. Some try to talk to me. (It's probably better that I don't understand what they are saying...) Cab drivers honk "wolf-whistle" horns. (No, not kidding!) At the Starbucks in my building, every guy working there knows me, knows what drink I want, and will usually stamp my frequent-flyer card twice when I am paying. The three men who work at my hotel know me by name, and I am fairly certain one of them wants to date me. Then there was that occasion where I had to keep removing a coworker's hand from my knee at a happy hour.
At first, I was really offended by the open stares on the street, and a little put off by some of the other attention I was getting. Then I found it amusing. Now I hardly even notice. Sadly, it is easy to get used to this kind of attention (however creepy it may be). Each time I return to Dallas, I get a reality check. It is a bit deflating to have a man look right through me or let a door slam in my face. So, I guess I'll 'enjoy' the novelty here in Mexico as long as it lasts!
Mexican men are paying attention!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Why was I born in America? Any way to change that?
I am watching the U.S. vice presidential debate right now. Sarah Palin just pronounced "nuclear" as "nucular". She looks like she is in the interview section of a beauty pageant. "I just want world peace...you know, for the kids..."
What is wrong with us? How did we get so stupid? The best example of this is the recent collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (they sound like your great aunt and a dish prepared with elbow macaroni, don't they?) and the bailout the taxpayers will have to shoulder. This makes me mad...
It makes me mad because so many self-indulgent people couldn't delay their gratification long enough to have enough money to really afford their house in an obvious real estate bubble.
It makes me mad because people don't know how to read well enough to figure out that the word "ARM" on your mortgage document is not talking about the link between your shoulder and your hand.
It makes me mad because people let mortgage brokers and real estate agents tell them how much house they could afford.
It makes me mad because I actually looked at the reality of my income and bought a lot less expensive house than I could have "afforded" according to my mortgage qualification.
It makes me mad because I make my mortgage payment on time every month.
It makes me mad because my bank failed last week.
It makes me mad because all the taxpayers (even the ones who make their mortgage payment on time every month) will be penalized for this.
And, finally, it makes me mad because, for the first time in my life, I am truly embarrassed to be an American.
Before the rant begins let me say that I have sympathy for people who have lost jobs or are in default of mortgages due to circumstances beyond their control. However, I don't think they are in the majority...so here goes...
I think we are regressing to the 1970s...an unpopular war...high gas prices and shortages in some places...economic ruin...and, perhaps in the near future, high marginal tax rates. I mean, $700 billion is not getting paid back with the tax rates we have now. No matter who wins in November, there must be tax reform. Anyone who truly believes that our current policy favors the middle class must also be interested in buying some oceanfront property in Arizona. McCain may own some, but he isn't sure. Our tax policy disproportionately taxes income from labor (wages, self-employment) over income from capital (dividends, capital gains). (I know...I'm a tax accountant...I get really worked up about this stuff...indulge me.) My favorite example of this comes from a tax return I was peripherally involved in preparing a number of years ago. The taxpayer had a multi-million dollar adjusted gross income for that particular tax year. My adjusted gross income for that same year was under $100,000. The multi-million dollar taxpayer's effective tax rate was about 15% due mostly to the preferential dividend and capital gain rates. My effective tax rate was over 20% because nearly all my income was wages and self-employment income. If you add to that the 7.65% I pay in FICA and Medicare payroll taxes, my ETR was almost 30%. (Not even going to discuss self-employment tax here...) Oh, yeah, Mr. Multi-million doesn't have to pay payroll tax because, well, no payroll, only investment income. Granted, the multi-million-man paid more actual cash tax than I did. However, why do I get to keep only 70 cents on the dollar as a solidly middle-class salaried employee and Mr. Multi-million gets to keep 85 cents? Would someone like to argue this with me? Please, I am dying to know why my effective tax rate is higher than someone making over 20 times more than I do.
The last time I checked, we were supposed to have graduated, progressive tax brackets based on ability to pay. But instead, the Shrub pushed through tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the extremely wealthy. (If I start on the inheritance tax, I will be typing all night. I'll stick to income taxes for this rant.) And people don't want to lift these preferential tax rates. It's curious. This seems to be related to the mind-set that got us into this mortgage mess. I believe it is called "The American Dream". I think a lot of people fail to realize that The American Dream is a possibility, not a birthright. We may not actually have money. But we deserve it, because darnit we are American! So, let's just act like we have money. You know, fake it 'til you make it. We'll charge everything to credit cards, lease fancy cars, and buy houses we can't really afford. Oh, and since there is a chance that we might really be wealthy some day (somebody has to win the lottery, right?), we better keep those tax rates in place.
Many of these people also pronounce "nuclear" as "nucular".
IRONY ALERT! How many times do you hear republicans go on about smaller government? How many of these same republicans are having their @$$es bailed out by...the GOVERNMENT on this mortgage takeover? I think if you are republican and you believe in small government that doesn't "interfere" with the people, you should politely decline the bailout and pay back your mortgage in full tomorrow. You saved all that money in tax with those 15% preferential tax rates, right? What do you mean you don't have any home equity or savings? You are homeless now? Gee, too bad so many shelters had to close during the Bush reign... Well, I would give you a couple bucks so you can get a piece of cardboard and a Sharpie to write "HOMELESS PLEASE HELP" while you sit on the corner of Mockingbird and Central. But, I only get to take home 70 cents on the dollar, so I'm a little short.
No matter how unpleasant, keep paying attention because it's history in the making!
What is wrong with us? How did we get so stupid? The best example of this is the recent collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (they sound like your great aunt and a dish prepared with elbow macaroni, don't they?) and the bailout the taxpayers will have to shoulder. This makes me mad...
It makes me mad because so many self-indulgent people couldn't delay their gratification long enough to have enough money to really afford their house in an obvious real estate bubble.
It makes me mad because people don't know how to read well enough to figure out that the word "ARM" on your mortgage document is not talking about the link between your shoulder and your hand.
It makes me mad because people let mortgage brokers and real estate agents tell them how much house they could afford.
It makes me mad because I actually looked at the reality of my income and bought a lot less expensive house than I could have "afforded" according to my mortgage qualification.
It makes me mad because I make my mortgage payment on time every month.
It makes me mad because my bank failed last week.
It makes me mad because all the taxpayers (even the ones who make their mortgage payment on time every month) will be penalized for this.
And, finally, it makes me mad because, for the first time in my life, I am truly embarrassed to be an American.
Before the rant begins let me say that I have sympathy for people who have lost jobs or are in default of mortgages due to circumstances beyond their control. However, I don't think they are in the majority...so here goes...
I think we are regressing to the 1970s...an unpopular war...high gas prices and shortages in some places...economic ruin...and, perhaps in the near future, high marginal tax rates. I mean, $700 billion is not getting paid back with the tax rates we have now. No matter who wins in November, there must be tax reform. Anyone who truly believes that our current policy favors the middle class must also be interested in buying some oceanfront property in Arizona. McCain may own some, but he isn't sure. Our tax policy disproportionately taxes income from labor (wages, self-employment) over income from capital (dividends, capital gains). (I know...I'm a tax accountant...I get really worked up about this stuff...indulge me.) My favorite example of this comes from a tax return I was peripherally involved in preparing a number of years ago. The taxpayer had a multi-million dollar adjusted gross income for that particular tax year. My adjusted gross income for that same year was under $100,000. The multi-million dollar taxpayer's effective tax rate was about 15% due mostly to the preferential dividend and capital gain rates. My effective tax rate was over 20% because nearly all my income was wages and self-employment income. If you add to that the 7.65% I pay in FICA and Medicare payroll taxes, my ETR was almost 30%. (Not even going to discuss self-employment tax here...) Oh, yeah, Mr. Multi-million doesn't have to pay payroll tax because, well, no payroll, only investment income. Granted, the multi-million-man paid more actual cash tax than I did. However, why do I get to keep only 70 cents on the dollar as a solidly middle-class salaried employee and Mr. Multi-million gets to keep 85 cents? Would someone like to argue this with me? Please, I am dying to know why my effective tax rate is higher than someone making over 20 times more than I do.
The last time I checked, we were supposed to have graduated, progressive tax brackets based on ability to pay. But instead, the Shrub pushed through tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the extremely wealthy. (If I start on the inheritance tax, I will be typing all night. I'll stick to income taxes for this rant.) And people don't want to lift these preferential tax rates. It's curious. This seems to be related to the mind-set that got us into this mortgage mess. I believe it is called "The American Dream". I think a lot of people fail to realize that The American Dream is a possibility, not a birthright. We may not actually have money. But we deserve it, because darnit we are American! So, let's just act like we have money. You know, fake it 'til you make it. We'll charge everything to credit cards, lease fancy cars, and buy houses we can't really afford. Oh, and since there is a chance that we might really be wealthy some day (somebody has to win the lottery, right?), we better keep those tax rates in place.
Many of these people also pronounce "nuclear" as "nucular".
IRONY ALERT! How many times do you hear republicans go on about smaller government? How many of these same republicans are having their @$$es bailed out by...the GOVERNMENT on this mortgage takeover? I think if you are republican and you believe in small government that doesn't "interfere" with the people, you should politely decline the bailout and pay back your mortgage in full tomorrow. You saved all that money in tax with those 15% preferential tax rates, right? What do you mean you don't have any home equity or savings? You are homeless now? Gee, too bad so many shelters had to close during the Bush reign... Well, I would give you a couple bucks so you can get a piece of cardboard and a Sharpie to write "HOMELESS PLEASE HELP" while you sit on the corner of Mockingbird and Central. But, I only get to take home 70 cents on the dollar, so I'm a little short.
No matter how unpleasant, keep paying attention because it's history in the making!
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