Some Celebrities Are a Joke

I was watching a special on TV the other day that was supposed to be about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and it was, to a point. Half of the special dealt with another water crisis in Detroit.

They were showing people in Detroit who were living without water at all. One in particular, a woman living in squalor with her young daughters, had to walk up the street with her daughters to get water in buckets and bring it home just to wash, flush the toilet, and to cook with and drink.

One woman, who was interviewed, pointed out that the water company was down the street shutting off someone’s water. “Every time you see the water company on the street you know somebody else is getting their water shut off,” she said.

The most prevalent reason for these conditions was nonpayment. For whatever reason, these people could not pay their bill. One woman’s bill was in excess of ten thousand dollars. How the water company let it get so far is beyond me, but, “it is what it is”.

So, I’m watching this program when the first commercial comes on. It’s Brad Pitt doing his pitch for an organization that wants to bring fresh water to people half a world away. I broke out in spontaneous laughter. It was truly an LOL moment. Hey Brad, did you watch this special. How about doing a 30 second spot for the people in Detroit, and while you’re at it, break out the check book and pay this lady’s water bill.

Whenever there is a crisis in another country it seems there is an outbreak of concerts, commercials, and ad campaigns to raise money for the poor victims of whatever tragedy that occurred in whatever country.

You have celebrities who go out of their way to raise money for people in foreign countries. How about the people in this country? Are there no hungry children, orphans, or victims of tragedy in this country? Do Katrina and Sandy ring a bell? How about Joplin and Greensburg? Where are the concerts, commercials, and ad campaigns? I guess it’s not posh to help your own.

Joe Bayona

Social Security Contributions

A recent letter claimed “your employer contributed to your Social Security.” That’s not true, only an employee pays for their Social Security, but half of this is untaxed and called the “employer contribution”. You can refer to Form 1040SE for the self-employed, or a reference book like “J. K. Lasser’s Income Tax Guide” for the details. Employees only contribute on their first $118,500 in wages or income. Some suggest this limit should be raised.

President Eisenhower signed the bill to allow the self-employed (like farmers and owner-operated businesses) to join Social Security and benefit from a national retirement plan. President Reagan signed the bill to tax the formerly untaxed Social Security benefits at up to 85% of the benefits. The limits for this taxation haven’t been raised for over thirty years, although the value of a dollar keeps declining.

Ronald A. Sobieraj