I'm actually working at a real job

[Great Rumbler]

Seriously! Well, it is just part-time and only until mid-December, but it pays and I'm doing real work so shut up. It's at a CPA firm in Texas and for the past couple of weeks I've been working on a client's 1040.

It's kicking my rear, by the way. I hate that thing.

[Dark Jaguar]

When you say "a client" do you mean but one person, or an entire company, or country?

Also, I'm interested in your thoughts on this. http://scienceblogs.com/goodmath/2008/09...stupid.php

[Great Rumbler]

When you say "a client" do you mean but one person, or an entire company, or country?

It's a married couple and the husband's sole proprietorship.

Also, I'm interested in your thoughts on this.

It's a complete disaster and something that shouldn't have ever happened. It's also symptimatic of the way a lot of businesses think these days, that is "We can do whatever we want as long as we make a lot of money", which is the same line of thinking that sunk Enron and others just a few years ago.

And, unfortunately, it's mostly the working/middle class that pays the price for that greed.

[Dark Jaguar]

Ah, so the math guy has generally the right idea?

Yeah, it's really ridiculous. The problem with thinking of the free market as a cure-all is you basically treat "the market" like it's a god unto itself that is wise unto all things and can solve everything itself. The market is very good at saying what people want to buy, and that's useful. It also generates wealth, and that's good too. I certainly don't think communism is any sort of good alternative. However, the "let it alone" completely hands-off market fails for what, in a sense, is the same failing of communism, that anyone can abuse the system. Also in both cases, those doing the abusing think they are in the moral right, as though someone completely broke actually has freedom worth calling by the name when a near-monopolistic company gives them only one choice.

[Great Rumbler]

Now I'm working on an old woman's 1040. She has lots of $5 and $10 checks to Dollar General and the like.

[Fittisize]

Real important work indeed!

[etoven]

Now I'm working on an old woman's 1040. She has lots of $5 and $10 checks to Dollar General and the like.

Ewwww. Old people money! It must smell like crusty vagina, and Vicks vapor rub. I bet she has allot of Walmart receipts as well, doesn't she?

[Great Rumbler]

I think I only saw one check to Wal-Mart, but so far I've only gone through one month.

And I'm only handling bank reports, so no odd smells.