Pleasant Enough Morning

Got to attend a Chamber function today, where they honored Congressman Rodney Davis. He gave a talk on a tax reform plan that he'd like passed.

It was a pleasant time, though he did that trick where no matter what question you ask he's still just going to share what he came to share. Which was fine by me, that's actually what all of them do, so I expected it.

Not pictured: Me with the Congressman and
local business leaders!

It was actually kind of cool to watch these impossible segues where it was almost like a magic trick to get from "citizen's actual question" to "answer to the question the Representative had prepped for". I must say, he did it well!

It was funny that all the business men and women there had signs that said their name and then "President" of "AAA Company" and such. President, President, CEO, President. CEO, CEO, President. President, President, CEO.
Then little old me, "Program Supervisor"! Technically, I could claim the title of President, but given that the board is me, my wife, a friend of ours and two old - but shrewd - cats, it would seem silly!

When it came time to those questions, then even though they were supposed to be on the tax reform only, some lady complained about non-profits not paying taxes! Her particular concern was multi-million dollar hospitals, but still!

Everyone pretty much ignored this as off topic. The Congressman went ahead and shared what he came to share anyway while pretending it counted as answering her. Two people did give her stony faced looks that could have froze beer. Myself, and the lady who was from the only other non-profit there today!

Me, when that lady asked why non-profits aren't taxed.

Not that we make enough to be taxed even if we were a "for profit", but still!

(As an aside, our nation has always - wisely - chose for churches, charities and various other philanthropic endeavors to be untaxed, as historically the actual societal returns on this have greatly exceeded any possible good that could come from some of that going to the government. There are non-profits to cure measles and cancer and to provide food for the hungry and clothing for the naked and assistance to runaways and research into longevity and hospitals and shelters and about a million other things, including stuff you'd think was cool, and all that they all have in common is good people spending money voluntarily donated FAR better than the government would be likely to spend it! I might be persuaded to agree that a law capping salaries for the managers and executives and directors of such enterprises could be appropriate, but that is another story!)

I did enjoy myself, though. It was interesting to just sit there and look around, business leaders, news camera, Congressman and think, "Wow, I've sure come a ways since being an active alcoholic." and before too much pride could kick in, I followed that thought up with, "Wow, how much further could I have been already if I'd pulled my head out of the bottle sooner?"

Ahh, well. Life is good now!