The Tea Party protests on Thursday brought to mind Samuel Johnson famous quote, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Johnson, of course, was not referring to real patriotism, but to the false patriotism that uses patriotic feelings for nefarious ends. Although the astroturf Tea Partiers and their corporate organizers appropriate all of the trappings of patriotism, their goals are far from patriotic.
While most people would like to keep as much money as possible, it takes a particular kind of greed and lack of patriotism to want all of the benefits that America offers without having to pay anything or make any contribution. I can’t say I particularly enjoy paying taxes, but it isn’t because I begrudge paying my fair share for the myriad things I am given as an American citizen.
My gripe is the bookkeeping, and I think that is true for most people. The reality though is that I shouldn’t even object to that. In reality, filing taxes forces me to keep records and review them at least once a year. I should do that anyway, but I doubt I would without the incentive of getting money back from the IRS.
And the truth is that most of us do get money back. I’ve gotten mine now, which brings me to my next patriotic duty – shopping. But in the most patriotic way, of course.
In February my government informed me that I had a patriotic duty to stimulate the economy, and it provided incentives to encourage that – the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). I feel that it is my patriotic duty to take advantage of as much of the stimulus money as I can figure out how to, so I will be doing my duty to stimulate the economy.
Unfortunately, I hate shopping worse than I dislike paying taxes. Nevertheless, the Illinois cash for clunkers appliance rebate weekend, my tax refund, the Energy-Star rebate in the ARRA program, and the huge puddle of water in the bottom of my 30-year-old Whirlpool refrigerator combined to motivate me to shop.
I don’t live in Illinois, but thanks to WGN cable network, I am aware of their rebate program that started on April 16 and was projected to be out of money by 6:00 pm the same day. That’s $6.5 million in less than 11 hours. That motivated me to check out my state’s program (they are all a little different). Fortunately, we didn’t go for the one-day blitz, so I can still get $250 for buying an Energy-Star compliant fridge.
So I dutifully checked online to find out what refrigerators are covered by the rebate, then I checked my state rebate site to find out which vendors are approved. Vendors must agree to take back the old appliance and dispose of it in an approval disposal facility to be eligible to participate. I then spent most of last night online checking out models and specifications. I consulted Consumer Reports; I read reviews. From that I distilled a list of 10 acceptable refrigerators and the 10 local vendors.
Today was shopping day. And after hours and hours looking at a dizzying array of refrigerators with so many different specs it would be impossible to count, what did I find? Well, I found that not one single one of the vendors carried even one of the models I had selected. That would probably be because I had sensibly selected models That did what I wanted for the least cost.
That is NOT what the vendors intend to sell me. We are now at an impasse. I strongly object to spending an extra $1000 to get a $250 rebate. But I do want to get an energy-conservative refrigerator. And I still have that puddle of water in the bottom of my fridge.
But I know the vendors have a soft spot – just because it isn‘t on their floor doesn’t mean they can’t get it. And they would rather sell me something than nothing. Tomorrow, negotiations begin.
Tonight, however, we have something much more pleasant – some of the top comments of the day. But before you rush off, a word from our sponsors. . . .
We have so many insightful and powerful diaries written here at Daily Kos. Our diaries inform, inflame, impassion, and even entertain. We Kossacks have strong voices and an even stronger will to be the change we wish to see in this country.
One of the richest, and perhaps most under-appreciated, areas of thought come in the form of comments attached to these diaries.
Here at Top Comments we strive to recognize and promote the talent of this community by highlighting outstanding comments found throughout the day by the diarist, and through nominations at made at topcomments at gmail dot com by your fellow Kossacks.
These nominations are subjective, and certainly not complete (as no one can read the complete site on a daily basis!). But hopefully they will serve to shine a light where deserved, and to give the reader a good starting point in finding conversation on the site.
Tonight’s Top Comments. . . .
From Jazzmaniac:
This comment by deben is priceless.
From Miep:
BenderRodriguez explains how to be a nice guy.
From JanF:
This comment about the status quo and getting from Here to There by NCrissieB in her Saturday Morning Feature will make your head spin. Who's on First?
From noweasels:
Who, exactly, are the teabaggers? Dallasdoc, not surprisingly, nails the definition.
From sardonyx:
In sboucher's diary GA House: State Arts Council on Guillotine, Dbug tells how arts (and fishing) got dedicated funding in Minnesota.
From Nurse Kelley:
algebrateacher started a pornish thread in WYFP tonight. Read the whole thread!
From me:
Julie Gulden knows exactly who fits this description:
- Glibness and Superficial Charm
- Manipulative and Conning
- Grandiose Sense of Self
- Pathological Lying
- Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
- Callousness/Lack of Empathy
- Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Tonight’s Top mojo . . . .
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, and C&J comments:
1 - But the radar is needed to prevent ........Keith Pickering.....111
2 - Schools photographing children.....platypus60.....109
3 - ahhh I don't see the problem.....dougymi.....109
4 - It doesn't have to be porno to be creepy......shpilk.....105
5 - Party of No has cost taxpayers $1.32 billion.....Kitty.....99
6 - I thought this just about summed up their.....sceptical observer.....98
7 - The Sunday shows should be blanketed.....Sherri in TX.....86
8 - I am.....Hawkjt.....85
9 - He is timing it perfectly. After a year and odd.....amk for obama.....80
10 - All those assertions and not a single link........Clive all hat no horse Rodeo.....78
11 - thanks for staying with this story.....Uberbah.....72
12 - I think he's precisely correct.....Dallasdoc.....70
13 - In memory of a good girl.....Missys Brother.....67
14 - Agreed......luckylizard.....67
15 - You sound so afraid... seems sad. And please.....The House.....66
16 - The only other choice in your poll.....ontheleftcoast.....66
17 - The Mind Boggles.....greenskeeper.....64
18 - Unfortunately, "properly" is the operative word.......markthshark.....64
19 - Cannabis cured my blindness.....hangingchad.....63
20 - Desperate use of the passive voice:.....geomoo.....63
21 - see if I have this straight.........quityurkidding.....62
22 - I vote "above average" for.....Crashing Vor.....61
23 - Honestly.....cartwrightdale.....60
24 - someone.....bluesteel.....58
25 - I think the technology used to track.....Deathtongue.....58
26 - Links to any of your assertions, please?.....Snud.....57
27 - Which reminds me.....Keith Pickering.....57
28 - Yay! It's Caturday!.....Norbrook.....56
29 - I stopped giving alcohol a chance.....anastasia p.....53
30 - You're using special education to prop up this........APA Guy.....53
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1 - Tip Jar.....Brainwrap.....526
2 - Tip Jar.....DWG.....314
3 - Tip Jar.....ukit.....272
4 - I gave alcohol a chance.....xxdr zombiexx.....271
5 - Tip Jar.....Kitty.....242
6 - Tip Jar.....laflaur.....233
7 - Tips Go Here.....Muzikal203.....206
8 - Tip Jar.....HRCDemographic4Obama.....179
9 - Another important number: 350 ........A Siegel.....148
10 - Tip Jar.....ekyprogressive.....115
11 - But the radar is needed to prevent ........Keith Pickering.....111
12 - ahhh I don't see the problem.....dougymi.....109
13 - Schools photographing children.....platypus60.....109
14 - It doesn't have to be porno to be creepy......shpilk.....105
15 - Happy Birthday to Hate Mail.....oxfdblue.....103
16 - Scritchie Jar.....triciawyse.....101
17 - Party of No has cost taxpayers $1.32 billion.....Kitty.....99
18 - I thought this just about summed up their.....sceptical observer.....98
19 - your thoughful responses are welcome.....teacherken.....93
20 - The Sunday shows should be blanketed.....Sherri in TX.....86
21 - I am.....Hawkjt.....85
22 - a precious life lost.....TrueBlueMajority.....85
23 - Tips for the Other %95, and the real.....TrahmalG.....84
24 - He is timing it perfectly. After a year and odd.....amk for obama.....80
25 - All those assertions and not a single link........Clive all hat no horse Rodeo.....78
26 - Weeping cherry.....Frankenoid.....78
27 - thanks for staying with this story.....Uberbah.....72
28 - In lieu of tips........indiemcemopants.....72
29 - I think he's precisely correct.....Dallasdoc.....70
30 - In memory of a good girl.....Missys Brother.....67