Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

March 14, 2008

 Today’s Announcement

Prayer Request:  Hey, how does it go. If it wasn't for bad luck , I had no luck at all. Tuesday, i did spend most of the night in the emergency room at the hospital. My heart had went out of  rhythm. I thought that I was having a heart attack. However , thank God that was not the case. Yesterday, I had Jesse's car hauled into  a shop. Well, the engine was ruined after all. Now they're wanting to replace the engine with a used one. So far I had a lovely week. How about you?

Beth, Furface1948@aol.com

Don’t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.  Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today’s Stories

  WILL THE TAX STIMULUS PLAN REALLY HELP POOR AMERICANS?

Duane Bates

It looks like the $ 150 billion economic stimulus plan agreed to by the White House and Congress will put a maximum of  $1,600 into the hands of a married couple with two kids who earn less than $150,000 per year. The plan that the Senate still has to formally approve also includes $30 billion in incentives for businesses.  About 23 million tax filers who do not earn enough to have any Federal income tax due, but pay Social Security taxes have been included in the plan. Some economists believe the stimulus pan may too little to late, but it is moving toward approval and implementation.

While any additional income is welcomed by any individual or family that falls in the bottom 50% of tax filers, those who earn about $30,000 per year or less, I have to question the distribution of the tax rebates.  If an individual or couple earn more than about $103,000 per year they are in the top 10% of all tax filers.  If the earnings are about $62,000, the individual or couple are in the top 25% of all tax filers.  In other words, 75% of all tax filers, single or married, earn less that $62,000 per year, and 50% earn less that $31,000 per year.  In 2005 the average income for the 66 million tax filers in the bottom 50% was $14,529. 

Of the 66 million tax filers in the bottom 50%, 42 million have no Federal tax liability because their total income was below the total of their personal exemptions and standard deduction,  $24,300 for a married couple with two kids. In addition, about 22 million tax filers in this category receive money back from the Federal government in the form of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  In 2006 22 million tax filers received $44 billion in EITC payments. In 2007 the maximum EITC payment is $2,853 for qualifying households with one child and $4,716 for qualifying households with two children. In order to receive these maximum payments the qualifying earned income cannot exceed $15,400

If we add the $15,400 in maximum earned income, the $4,716 in EITC and the maximum tax stimulus payment of $1,600 for two kids together, the family will have a combined income of $21,716, barely above the poverty level for a family of four.

My wife and I are retired and will receive $1,200 under the tax stimulus plan.  I would much rather receive nothing and see the distribution of the $130 billion be more heavily weighted toward the millions of really poor families in the US.  I believe the cutoff should be reduced to $100,000 and the payout amount based on a reverse distribution basis: the less your earned income, the higher the rebate. The best way to ensure that the economy is stimulated is to give the money to the people most likely to spend it immediately

Duane Bates

batesduane@yahoo.com

 ~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

 Mad Hatters All

Tim Kevin
-
I think maybe one should try
Sometime before we all die
To somehow try an discern
Or one day ponder an learn
-
Why we're all on such a wild tear
Running here, to who or to where
Why or for what reason it matters
Before all our lives are just in tatters
-
Always checking on who may be keener
Lookin' to see whose grass is greener
Doesn't really seem to make much sense
if you fall on your ass climbing the silly fence

By The Irish Warlock

irishwarlock@webtv.net

Copyright © 2004, All rights reserved

 ~**~**~
 

- If There Were An Extra Day A Week I'd Spend It

Tim Kevin
-
Talking to faraway friends on the phone
Giving my soul time to catch up an atone
Lettin' the wind run wild through my hair
Listenin' to music that plucks my
heartstrings bare
-
Remember a love an bask in it's glow
Rockin' my baby to sleep soft and slow
Dancin' in the kitchen to an old music tune
Sippin' honeysuckle nectar from flowers
by light of the moon
 Be swept away by love til it seems unreal
Show someone how much love I can feel
Lunch in a quiet forest sittin' upon a log
Playin' hide n seek with a lover in the fog
-
Replenish an store a supply of patience
Lettin' one benefit from my experience
Taking the time to read a good book
An maybe go wading in a bubbling brook
-
Have no interruptions to our quiet solitude
Refuse to be rushed an let none intrude
Write a how-much-you-mean-to-me letter
Run thru woods with a young Irish setter
-
Lay in the grass and Indulge in a dream
Gather wildflowers by a flowing stream
Feel, heal, touch, caress an offer my love,
Watchin' the sky counting white clouds above
Kiss a stranger and fall in a trance
Relishing the thoughts of a new romance
Go into the storm and dance in the rain
Be alive, no pretenses, no stress, no pain
-
Share a candlelight dinner with a friend
Laugh so hard that in double I'd bend
Watch a romance film with tissues handy,
Maybe even enjoy a little forbidden candy
-
Have a party with good friends I know
With wine, laughter and candles aglow
Look at the night sky with stars so bright
Share a warm bath after by soft moonlight
-
Put on some soft, comfy, cozy, cotton
And fall fast asleep, til all time is forgotten
On sheets freshened by sunshine an dew
And dream a passionate dream of you

by ... Irish Warlock

Copyright © 2005 -

Irishwarlock@webtv.net

~**~**~

 
 
-
 
  
-
by ...... IrishWarlock

irishwarlock@webtv.net
 

Readers Feedback

~**~**~

Carol, - the mistake that comes back to haunt you -
    Be patient my friend.  This mistake will not follow you forever.
Sadly, this data driven world has lost some of the human touch.
Now numbers on a sheet get more attention than a person's personal story.  If you stay patient and keep calmly explaining
what happened, though, eventually this problem will fade away.
    Let me know how it works out.  I will keep you in my prayers, Joe

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.