Moral Collapse. Don’t We Recognize Evil?

Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists. ~1,400 deaths, ~3,500 wounded and ~200 taken as hostages. Thousands of rockets were sent as armed attackers entered Israel. Civilian men, women, and children killed in their neighborhoods and homes. Hostages face more indignities like torture and rape.

Where are the protests supporting the victims? 

Instead we see protests supporting attackers. We see fake news stories like ‘500 Gazans killed in hospital bombing’ repeated in a race to be first to report stories. Everyone jumping to the conclusion Israel committed a war crime.

A bomb hit a parking lot outside hospital (not the hospital), est. deaths ~50 to low 100s, damage was too small to be Israel air strikes, and likely a misfired rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad shooting at Israel. (Have you seen any retraction or corrections?)

Ukraine was invaded by Russian military forces from all directions. Indiscriminate bombing killing men, women and children. Captured women raped and men castrated. Children kidnapped and taken away from families to foreign country. 

The war is less than 2 years old and people want to cut off aid to Ukraine. “Negotiate a settlement. Give them Crimea.” We gave Putin Moldova in 1992, Georgia in 2008 and Crimea in 2014. Did that stop Putin from invading the whole country? Prevent other terrorist attacks or invasions with the knowledge victims will be supported and wrongs will be righted despite the cost. You can’t negotiate with killers.

Influenced by Douglas Murray in The Telegram article “The aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel exposes the West’s moral collapse” which I found on MSN (google it). He points out Europe, Australia and US have more pro-Palestine protests. Some even saying ‘Gas the Jews”. 

Anti-Semitism is alive and well. Not recognized as a moral failing. We need to stop it.

I don’t blame the average Gaza or Russian citizen for their leader’s decisions. Often the knowledge is kept from them. My faith tells me to love everyone. Matthew 5:43-44

I Stand with the Jews. I Stand with Ukraine. 

 

Time to Vote for Moderates

Primary season here and a hellish news all week. Hamas terrorizing Israel. Republican House of Representatives self destructing with no majority leader.  And little opportunity of electing one soon.

 

The extremes of both parties are damaging democracy. Left wing extremes are supporting killing, hostage taking, rape and torture of children, women and seniors. 

 

Right wing extremes are supporting shutting down the US government despite the difficulties will create for disabled, employees, and seniors. Why? Because they aren’t getting their way. (they sound like children)

 

Enemies of the US are considering they can ignore US threats. Putin is convinced the west will withdraw from Ukraine before they can win the war. He is playing the long game of war.

 

How do we end this nonsense? Vote for the most moderate candidates running locally and nationally. Doesn’t matter if they lose. Eventually the word will get out we won’t accept people who can’t govern across the aisle.

 

Government is here to support the public. Not the other way around. 

Tax Preparation Software Review 2022

Tax time is here and if you had withholdings on your pay or made over $12,950 you have to file taxes. The easiest way is online with tax website and you have a lot of choices. You can file taxes easily without any upgrades offered to you. If your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is under $73,000 and you use the standard deduction, filing your federal taxes are free. 

 Reviewed tax programs based on ~20 years of filing tax returns online while running businesses or an employee. Prepared tax returns for family members and friends since 1978. Encountered several challenging situations was able to solve and file using different programs. Finished my taxes in 2.5 hours despite state filing and complexity of situation. Takes time to look up all the forms required.

 

Don’t overpay to have taxes done. Approximately 90% of filers only need standard 1040A. Discounts for filing are everywhere from banks, credit cards, credit unions, financial websites, group and employee discounts. Saved $50 this year alone on federal and state filing taxes.

 

AGI is your gross income less 401K/HSA deductions plus interest & investment income. If your income is over $73,000 you can shop several programs below. Standard deductions of $12,950 for singles and $25,900 for married couples are what most people need. Itemizing is possible if you have higher expenses for business, medical, mortgages and charitable deductions.

 

On the IRS.GOV home page click the box “Do Your Taxes for Free”. Click the box “Choose a Free File Online Product”. Then you can read which programs you qualify for. IRS.GOV provides “Lookup Tool” to prequalify you showing which programs work for you.

https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

 

Tax terminology is confusing. Publication 17 “Your Federal Income Tax (for Individuals)” provides a Free reference (PDF) explaining in plain language more detail what you to do in each tax section and box no if you have questions. Is my bible from preparing my taxes on paper. Between Publication 17 and Google have figured out several complicated situations correctly.

 

Recommend all these programs:

 

FreeTaxUSA.com - did my sister’s taxes in about half hour. One year she needed to cash in a savings bond requiring filing Schedule B Interest form. FreeTaxUSA has simple navigation between sections and help explanations were short and easy to read. Comfortable to use. If you have any experience with a 1040A, provides basic support. State return costs $14.99.

 

CreditKarma.com - expanded into tax preparation. Federal and state returns are free provided you sign up for an account. May not be able to use if you need a few special forms. No personal support like more expensive programs. A good choice if you made over $73,000.

 

TaxSlayer.com - Not used but gets great reviews. $0 Simple tax return including state tax return. If you don’t qualify for free starts at $17 plus additional for state return. Premium is $37 and Self Employed is $47. Works for most people comfortable filling out forms with basic support.

 

TaxACT.com - used for sister’s returns many years. Program for those who are comfortable filling out forms with basic support. Highly recommend. Lot of discounts available.

 

TurboTax.com Online & Phone App - Using almost 20 years now and is my favorite. Software suggests deductions you may have missed. Excellent online and community support if you have questions. Professional support is available too. eFile is painless. If you have business, investments, side hustles and itemize worth the money. Upsell offers get annoying! Highly recommend TurboTax. Lots of discounts available.

 

H&R Block Online & Phone App - One of the largest nationwide tax preparer organizations. Their training is the standard CPAs take annually to know tax law updates. Have not used myself, but Dad and Mom worked for H&R Block after retiring. Reviews are good too. Online provides Free, Deluxe, Premium and Self Employed levels that are higher priced. If your situation is more complicated well worth the money.

 

CPA/Tax Preparers - If you have multiple businesses, investments or rental properties well worth the investment for advice, professional contacts and guidance. Recommend my former CPA in CA any day. Wish had income and those investments to use one.

 

Online tax programs are updated daily, very accurate, and catch errors or typos. E-filing and direct deposit is the way to go to get your refund in weeks. Most of us a simple process of 1 to 2 hours. Start with all your forms to fill out data. Know you can do your taxes easily at minimal cost.