NEW TAX DEMANDS STAND UP AND BE COUNTED

THE SON TIMES

The Gateway Gospel of Destiny

NEW TAX DEMANDS STAND UP AND BE COUNTED

by Luke A. Possil

Dateline: Bethlehem, December 24, 2017, 02:01:20--In what is being touted as the greatest gift of the emperor, a new tax reform bill is introduced. First a census will determine equitable taxation rates for the many regions of the burgeoning empyreal Roman global economy. Increased revenues will provide funds for distribution and development of goods and infrastructure of all Roman citizens.

Senator Brute Pompisassi announced today, “This new taxation program will benefit Roman citizens everywhere. This census will define, once and for all, just who is a Roman citizen because we do not want our resources to be wasted on those who want to benefit from our great empire but do so without becoming Roman citizens. All residents must return to their places of familial origin in order to determine how many resources are necessary to meet the needs of the true Roman deserving and to find ways of limiting those great resources for Roman citizens alone. It is time to recognize the greatness that is Rome and to rebuild the status of Roman citizenship. We must make Rome great again.”

In attempting to determine the effects of this “great gift” on the common person, this reporter followed a couple on their journey from the hill country of Nazareth back to their Davidic homeland of Bethlehem. As a way to protect their identity, they have asked to be known only as Joe and Mary.

Until beginning this journey to the family home, Joe, a journeyman carpenter, was working as a daily laborer on any project he could find. He is engaged to Mary and was trying to make a home for the two of them in Nazareth. Most of his work has been for Roman landlords who sometimes shorted his pay or even neglected it entirely. Joe continues to work in hopes of making ends meet, but, because he is not a Roman citizen, he has no recourse when this happens.

Now, because of the census, Joe has not worked for some time, and he is using his meager savings for expenses on the road. His family roots are in Bethlehem so to Bethlehem he had to come. It makes no difference to the government that he has lived in Nazareth for the greater part of his life.

Mary, Joe’s bride-to-be, seems too young to take on the burdens of the world. She is a dreamer who looks to the day when the hungry will be filled; when the lowly will be lifted up; when health care is available to all people; when the value of a person is recognized by virtue of their being, not whether they carry the right papers declaring them to be a citizen of Rome. She looks for the day of real equality, where the hoity-toity will get their hands dirty in the work of life. She is one of the disaffected and kindles a fire of rebellion within herself. Mary says that it is her hope for the future of the world that she carried this baby.

Transportation is always a challenge for Joe but especially when he began this trip with a pregnant fiancée and desiring to bring his tools with him on the chance that he might find a short job along the way. He is thankful he was able to borrow a Kawasaki Mule pickup truck. While unreliable, it got them here.

When they finally arrived in Bethlehem, No Vacancy signs adorned the facade of every motel and inn that was within their limited budget. At the last motel they were told of hobo camps and abandoned caves outside of town. Joe and Mary headed into the countryside and found a somewhat suitable cave. It had obviously been used by nomads in the past because there was an empty feeding trough.

Joe was able to find wood for a fire, and they lived rough hoping the official day of counting would be soon. While they waited, Mary went into labor and delivered a fine, healthy boy. With grasses and a shawl, Mary made a bed in the feeding trough that protected the young child from drafts and wildlife intruders.

The Son Times has not learned definitively how the news got around (some claim divine intervention), but the attorneys from Shepherd, Shepherd, & Shepherd, whose corporate motto is, “We fleece no one”, came to offer their professional services after hearing about the newborn. Their opinion is that, although the child will be able to claim Roman citizenship because he was born on solely-owned Roman land, Joe and Mary were technically trespassing and are liable to legal sanctions.

One Abel Shepherd claimed that because of the influx of so many people at this time and the blatant disregard of property rights that there is likely to be no forgiveness of trespassers. He was concerned little when Joe mentioned to him that there isn’t even forgiveness among the trespassers for those who trespass against them, but in Shepherd’s capable hands, he was certain that a mutually amicable settlement could be reached if Joe and Mary would be willing to retain his firm for a very modest amount that should not exceed more than 10% of Joe’s amortized annual earnings for the next twelve years.

One of the other Abel Shepherds thought that a case might be made for naturalizing the whole family based on the need for carpenters at this time and the long history of Roman contracts that Joe had already worked on. Was Joe able to show check stubs or other receipts to validate his work history?

The youngest Abel Shepherd offered to file tax papers for Joe and Mary with their newest deduction, alleviating part of their tax burden for the year because Mary had clearly given birth to the child before 1 A.D. He also thought that they might be able to get a child care credit if they could prove that the child was enrolled in a certified Roman childcare center. He could bring those forms on the following day.

Somewhat dazed, Joe signed papers. The Shepherds returned to their offices rejoicing in their newest contract, quickly reporting to the courts all that they had seen and heard, notifying the court of cases yet to be filed as soon as they were Abel.

Although these brilliantly conceived government programs start out promulgating benefits for the common people, it is that very population that suffers most from the emperor’s “magnanimity”. We live in a time when the emperor is gathering more tax money than ever before, and the personal wealth of those who administer the resources of the empire continue to grow substantially while the poorest of the empire are relegated to financial indenture or imprisonment and abject slavery without social safeguards. The needs of the government always trump the need of the common people.

The tax plan of Rome already allows senators and other governmental-essentials tax free status because they have devoted their lives to the work of the public good. This newest taxation program will only increase the wealth of those who administer the funds of the nation.

Pompisassi defended the situation, “Of course the greatest benefit will come to the wealthiest of the empire. We started out with the most, and therefore we will receive a greater share. Then of course, if we are to build a greater Rome, more money will need to go to the manufacturing of military weaponry, equipment and salaries. We intend to let the world know, not only are we the best, but we will continue to have the best equipment money can buy. After the salaries of the military are paid, then there are the needs of civil infrastructure. Roads need to be built, aqueducts need to be constructed, in order for governmental travel to be expedited and the Roman bath houses to have enough water for Roman citizens. There is a great need for sending the plumbers to build the Watergates, diverting water to where it is most needed. When all of that is accomplished, we will be able to again consider the needs and welfare of those undocumented in our midst. In the meantime, their labor is appreciated as we rebuild the greatness that is Rome.”