Today is our last day in town until we depart for California for two weeks. We’ll be hittin’ up L.A. for a few days, then drivin’ up the coast to San Francisco, then drivin’ back down to catch a plane back home. For two weeks, I’ll have a totally new place at my fingertips to explore. When my dad first told me about this now highly anticipated vacation, the first thing that popped into my mind was the new opportunity I would have to do something I’ve been wanting to do for a good while now, a little dream of mine, if you will. Camcorder in hand, it’ll finally be time to create that video I’ve always thought about. After all, opportunity will meet the camera with beautiful scenery, deep images, busy streets, classy restaurants, and the countless experiences that my family and I will endure. Having it all on tape will give me an outstanding base for what will hopefully be a very impressive family video. We will indeed see, but until then, wish us well on our much needed family vacation.
So, as every one of my blog-readers know by now, I have been working for Office Depot over the summer. As my first job that that federal and state government have been aware of, I’ve now begun on a much-dreaded journey that will only undoubtedly become worse–paying taxes. When I received my first pay check, I was shocked to find out that the number written on the check was quite different than what I had calculated for my pay. Oh wait, there was no mix up. I had just forgotten to subtract taxes out of my estimate, and let me tell you, as a “poor college student,” every dollar counts. By now, I could have bought an iPod or computer monitor (two things I’ve been wanting to buy for a while now) with the amount of tax that has been withheld from my paychecks. Granted, taxes are necessary. I realize that. But this much? Since I am not completely financially independent yet, it is not a burden, but I think about the future. I think about those average starting salaries for chemical engineers. I was so excited to hear that I would be earning around $70,000/year straight out of college, but wait, subtract around $20,000 from that… that’s what I’ll really be getting. What a drag. I could buy two decent cars with $20,000. It gets worse. With what’s going on in the federal government, I can only look forward to even higher taxes for programs that will never benefit me (or 90% of the other Americans). In fact, the latest tax burden that will most likely get through Congress might even cost me a job in the future. My point? There are many, but let me just say that things would be so much simpler and more efficient if people didn’t have to pay so many taxes. I know that I for sure would not be doubtful about my economic future if I knew I would be able to keep more of my hard-earned cash. But Sam, that tax money goes to help people in need. Oh really? You might think that, but…… Plus, did I give anyone permission to redistribute mine? But that’s all a topic for another day.