Beware of the Tax Creep

Folks, I’m not a wealthy man. In fact, my phone would hardly ever ring if it were not for bill collectors. Thank you barely English speaking phone call center employees.
I’m also an animal lover. I tend to like helpless four-footed critters over the two -legged kind, who will not fend for themselves. Where am I going with this one? Who knows? I am writing against deadline and winging this by the seat of my pants.
Oh yes, I remember my train of thought now … I’m sure you readers have heard of “bracket creep.” I assume you heard this because a very expensive and extensive scientific survey has shown that the readers of this paper are of above intelligence. What I’m really referring to is “tax creep.” No, I do not mean the IRS agent who audits Tea Party members and other conservatives. I’m talking about “sales tax creep.”
Here’s an example: For many months now I have been feeding two stray/feral cats — Bob Tail and White Blaze I call them. Please do not tell anyone about this because I do not want to lose my reputation as a cold-hearted Neanderthal. I will not say where, but at 6:20 a.m. or so every morning you can find me behind a local shopping center come rain or almost shine. I know the cats could live without my aid, but Bob Tail especially enjoys my canned food and my company.
My little waifs enjoy the house brand of canned food, which I purchase on a daily basis. I vary the flavors daily and I know which cat prefers which one. Here’s the rub. I used to buy one can a day and split it between them. Recently, they seem hungrier and so I have stepped up my purchase to two cans a day. One can of the grocery store generic brand costs 40 cents (.43 cents with tax). However, two cans comes out to a total of 87 cents. I have kidded my usual checkout guy, Marcus, and said that I should make two separate purchases to save the penny.
Were I dictator (and your vote would be appreciated), I would remove all sales taxes from dog and cat food. The wife of a good friend of mine runs an animal shelter in the midlands and has told me of all the animals the place has received since the recession set in. Many people just cannot afford to feed their pets and their families. With all the government waste and fraud out there, could we not find a painless way to replace this specific sales tax and possibly save an animal from being abandoned or put down?
Under the current Washington administration, food stamp usage has exploded to never before seen levels. Will pet food stamps be far behind? Come to think of it, it might not be a bad idea. I personally would rather see my tax dollars go to a needy canine or feline than some of the obese individuals I see in the grocery line talking on their “free” phones while waiting for their sodas and chips to be rung up on their EBT cards.
Well, I will get off my high horse now- always was afraid of heights. Until next time, take care of your animals and beware of the tax creep.
James David Altman lives in West Ashley and has been a contributing columnist for several publications. He’s the son of the late former S.C. Republican House of Representative of John Graham Altman III. You can reach him at rabidreb@gmail.com