Gonna be honest, I have not been contact traced in quite some time. Miss those days.
My favorite government argument for sales taxes is that they are optional for the taxpayer. That is kind of true. Similar to being half pregnant. The same people that say “if you don’t buy anything locally, you can avoid the tax,” are the same people that then argue for use taxes that tax your mail order purchases and declare to you nonstop that you need to shop local. Make it all make sense.
The Landmark “30 Years Ago” last week recounted the story of former Platte County Sheriff’s Deputy Pat Clark displaying some “illegal substances,” marijuana that was described back then as producing a “euphoric” state. I still remember teams of cops cutting down ditch weed and then proudly displaying it for the world to see as if they’d captured Bigfoot, and now you can buy actual good weed at storefronts all over the area.
Don’t blink, folks, life comes at you fast.
I bet some of those cops would like to have a few of those “eradicating drugs” days back.
I’ve never been a big weed fan, so legalization didn’t do much for me. I’ve never felt “euphoric” about anything, to be honest. I do know that it must be much stronger these days because I can literally smell it in cars that pass me on the interstate. Makes me crave a bag of Doritos.
I am a libertarian at heart and think most drug and vice laws are a waste of time and the longer I live that seems to make more sense to me, as society slowly eliminates the forbidden fruits of prior generations.
I had a college roommate that once cut some ditch weed and tried to dry it out. He thought he was Freeway Rick Ross with pot bags spread out across our kitchen table. He was not. Apparently, dope smokers from the 80’s didn’t get their product from the ditches of Nodaway County, who knew? Gotta admire the entrepreneurial spirit though.
Don’t mistake my libertarian streak for liberal weakness. On fiscal matters, I’m still a Ronald Reagan Republican. Give me a red tie, some trickle down economics, huge defense budget and I’m a pretty happy person. Don’t judge me. I just wish we had some fiscal conservatives left in elected office. Just don’t tell Nancy that “Just Say No” didn’t work.
Speaking of no fiscal conservatives left. Has the tax increase for young people been implemented in Platte County yet? The senior tax freeze law that is championed by Republicans and Democrats in Missouri should be winding through the bowels of government in the next year and young people can rejoice in paying more of the tax load.
Luckily, the young people will be picking up the property tax tab for grandma and grandpa who have a paid-off house, pension, social security, and a gob of cash in the bank because government panders to old people for the primary reason that old people vote.
My only advice is to try to grow old.
(Guy Speckman can be reached desperately trying to grow old)
