I'm a 74 year old male and I have been driving for Uber for over 11 years now. I drive all around the Tri-state areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. But try to stay centered in the Metropolitan Philadelphia area, my stomping grounds. As a sub contractor for Uber I get to deduct for the miles I drive, fair but the IRS rules state that I must not deduct my first ride which represents my “ commute.” So, purely as a matter of pride, I sit in front of my house every morning and try to accept the nearest pick up possible. Since this is how the system works, under a mile is easy. Screw you IRS! Trust me we're not talking big bucks for me but thanks to some stories that were related to me by my Uber passengers, the deduction could be substantial. For example: I picked up a guy in his security uniform in center city Philadelphia. He's about 30 and he needs to get around five miles north on Broad Street to a commuter train stop to make his second job. It was Sunday and the buses are on a Weekend schedule and run every hour, he explained. He commutes by train and bus five days a week. I don't know the cost but it has to be significant and I haven't mentioned the Uber rides to and from on weekends. That's why the commute should be deductible. Or, let me tell you about the 25ish guy I picked up in Upper Darby and was ferrying him to his line Cook job in Bensalem for $36. It was a 38 minute ride up I95 to Bensalem, PA. I took the time to gently say to him: Dude, how much money can you make in a day that you're Uber ing it to work?!! It's then that he tells me his car engine went. He has two kids and he needs to keep his job. Of course I tried to show sympathy without all the cliches but i was stuck on the idea that he should be able to deduct the trip. Anyway, he proudly told me that he saves a few bucks on the way home by ordering an Uber with three stops. He takes two co-workers home and charges them Ten dollars per person. He needs to be able to deduct that commute from his gross income. And as far as I'm concerned, his co-workers were just showing their gratitude tipping him ten bucks each so he deducts the whole cost because tips aren't taxed. BTW. Trump makes a big deal of how he enriched the tax payers by ending tax on tips. He threw us a f__king bone! As a business man, Trump knows we're hiding cash tips. Nobody declares cash. Okay, before you beat me up, there are those that need to report some cash tips. As a business man Trump therefore figures that He is losing about 40% on the hold outs regardless. So let's give the peons a break and make a big deal about it. They'll like that. But, I purposely digress. There is also the story of Selena: Selena was my co-worker when I just retired. I was working at West Chester University with Selena as my trainer. We manned a sandwich, panini type spot in an Aramark created Food Court. I never asked her why she traveled so far for work but I did perceive that hard times had forced her move to North Philly. Selena was a single mom of three and a reliable worker. Her commute involved walking a block from her home to a bus stop that dropped her at eighth and Market streets in Center City Philadelphia. There she would walk some steps down to the elevated train stop which is oddly under the city at that point but, whatever. She rides the “El” to the 69 st Terminal Transportation Center in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania where she then links with a suburban bus headed to West Chester, Pennsylvania. A distance of about 20 miles. She should be able to deduct that entire trip from her gross taxable income.

Any costs you incur earning your income should be deductible. Including transportation.

Let's take a hypothetical example. Let's say we have a $200,000/year business man who lives in New Jersey and drives to New York for work. The commuting charges are astronomical. He's required to drive when the tolls are higher, gas is outrageous and the wear and tear on the vehicle is brutal. All to earn his income. Yet he can't claim a deduction. He can't even take the government mileage allowance that's afforded business owners and me as an Uber driver.

I don't think I'm asking a lot. Just transportation costs, mileage at 55 cents per.

Thank you for reading my column. Please give a like if you agree/like the idea. If possible a restack may get the idea under some politicians’ nose.

I'm really new at this and I'm in need of constant encouragement.

A caution here. The following is my anecdotal opinion. You can't get any facts when the Administration will not mention Venezuela anymore.

I'm betting Mr. Business Trump, his sons, and the Corporate hi-jackers hadn't thought of an Earthquake let alone Two! From the limited videos of damage I've seen, there has to be damage to the oil wells, related pumping equipment, pipelines, etc. That goes for the Mineral Mines also. The Ports and Harbors are probably clogged with debris.

So, it looks like the deal for the oil, metals and mineral Dollars, the Referral fees, the Commissions or whatever way Trump and his friend, the new President of Venezuela were going to profit from this takeover are toast. Ditto for all the greedy big shots. Their roll of the dice was bet with our tax dollars anyway and I will consider it payback if they all lose money and power. So we add this to his Reflecting Pool, the Fountain, the quaint Fair and many more of his abysmal failures to the list.

As an aside, I'm wondering if our Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chau’s family had a stake in the operation. I ask because her family back in China own the largest Shipping Company in the world. Not just cargo but tankers, too. It seems to me Tankers are scarce and China would be happy to supply them. Kind of like when the CEO of Walmart was “Happy” to distribute masks and protective gear all across the nation during the Pandemic. He and Trump never said that was charity. I'm sure we paid through the nose for that one.

I guess my big question is, how many more lives get ruined and how big of a piece of shit will Trump create before we stop him. Think invading Greenland e.g. Our only hope it seems is that all the shyster deals and tricks he is trying will get to him. A nervous breakdown that requires restraints and 90 days of intensive therapy. Wait! I'm ordering a Frontal Lobotomy. He won't be like Jack Nicholson in the Shining. We are much more advanced these days. Or , how about we give him Peyote and have a dark ritual? Any of the above would work. If, and that's only if Trump doesn't turn that to shit, too.

YOU won't ask your buddies at the refineries to drop their wholesale prices, will you? How about you and your buddies sell their product at Cost to their distribution points? Just for 30 days. But you, Donald wouldn't do that because you will cut your commissions and vics. You will cut into their fantastical profit margins which would hinder YOUR grifting.

And… you know you don't have to do any real discounts because the American people have been sold on the good old Trickle Down Theory! We keep working our fingers to the bone, trying to eek out a modest living while making sure the Entitled get all they need because our lives will be better when they have enough money to trickle some down to the peons. When will we wake up?

Gas Stations in my opinion can't drop their prices easily. The market is very competitive forcing some consistency in price. The gas stations also have taxes to pay, leases and/ or mortgages and business loans. In some cases they need to cover franchise fees for the privilege of selling the Companies’ products.

But most people will be angry with the retailer because we all have been sold a bad bill of goods. There is no trickle down.

Generally, we all work hard and WE pay our Federal Taxes. Trump ( Corporations and others) do not. He announced this to a cheering crowd. WTF? He doesn't get public services at his properties?

Now, Trump takes all the tax income and wastes it on his vanity projects, a Trump rally that was actually supposed to be America's 250th Birthday celebration. Not many people turned out for it. Trump was selling food for twice the Disney park prices. A Trump podcaster, dressed as Uncle Sam complete with beard and Top Hat was arrested and accused of indecent actions. The female acrobats of Cirque complained that he was standing off stage, watching them perform. They say he had his hand in his pants and was moving it erratically. It's an accusation but he was arrested. Great picture! Leading Uncle Sam out of his party in handcuffs. LOL. But it's not a laughing matter.

Trump takes all the tax income, diverts money due civic programs and irresponsibly raises the National debt. Then he has the Chutzpah to announce that the Federal Government can't help the Citizens of this country because he's fighting a war.

We are working, paying taxes and the GOP have convinced people that you are a "horrible" Socialist who is trying to suck the teat of the Government if you want...well, anything. WTF?

You still waiting for the Trickle Down? Hasn't happened even though the upper class is doing pretty well by all accounts.

When do we wake up from this nightmare?

We work on Trump's ingrained Narcissistic character traits and tell him the whole world is dying for YOU, Sir to star as the Missing Pilot. WTF. We already know how he looks as fucking Rambo. We give him a couple of lame scenes in a studio and then we dress him up and ship his ass up 7, 000 ft on some god forsaken mountain explaining to the fucking idiot that it's for the sake of realism. Drop some cheap video equipment first then him.

Then we just never come back.

We all live happily ever after. THE END.

My apologies for the f word but the POTUS gave me his Imprimatur on Easter Sunday to use that language.

On Feb 6 Trump ordered that we import $800 million, that's an additional 80,000 metric tons of Argentine Beef. He states that he's doing it to lower the price of ground beef.

I'm sure the American Cattle ranchers are not happy. They can't produce the beef for lots of reasons. Climate change for one. Ignoring diseases like Hoof and mouth. Major beef processors setting the price.

Think of all the fossil fuels we burn to ship it a distance of approximately 5,000 miles. So, my question is:

Does Trump have a deal that we buy Argentina's Beef, if Argentina buys Trump's confiscated Venezuelan Oil?

Most will disagree but....

Don't tell me you voted for him because of his business acumen and dismiss his "doing" business!

I will agree with most Trumpers that Trump is a business man only if the adjective preceeding businessman is "RUTHLESS". I prefer the word Scheister businessman but I'll settle for ruthless.

First of all, most Trump voters tell me they voted Trump because, “He's a businessman”! I can agree with that statement if you use the word “Ruthless”as an adjective to businessman. I prefer “Scheister” but I'm easy.

Most servers make around $2,000.00/year in tips. That's about $500.00 in tax (roughly) that is saved, more after deductions. Here's the rub: Trump, if you believe he's a businessman, than you need to realize that he knows that lots of tippers will give cash to help their server evade taxes. People do this for me, their Uber driver. I drive 25,000 miles per year. I average around $ 4,000.00 in recorded tips AND BONUSES! That figure will need to be itemized now for tips and bonuses. I'm hoping it isn't separated because I owe the whole tax package on bonuses paid to me by Uber. That's payroll tax, State, County, and Federal…. I'm screwed anyway.

BTW. I'm aware of those few opportunities that afford wild tips but that is not the usual.

I imagine Trump had this thought when he came up with the “ No taxes on Tips idea” :

The bastards are not declaring their cash tips anyway, so let's throw them a bone. Give them their huge tax break. We, the government are already losing on the cash tips, so let's Wow my minions with their big tax savings on tips.

I would be happy to pay all my taxes if Trump resigned. I swear.

On Feb 6 Trump ordered that we import $800 million, that's an additional 80,000 metric tons of Argentine Beef. He states that he's doing it to lower the price of ground beef.

I'm sure the American Cattle ranchers are not happy. They can't produce the beef for lots of reasons. Climate change for one. Ignoring diseases like Hoof and mouth. Major beef processors setting the price.

Think of all the fossil fuels we burn to ship it a distance of approximately 5,000 miles. So, my question is:

Does Trump have a deal that we buy Argentina's Beef, if Argentina buys Trump's confiscated Venezuelan Oil?

Most will disagree but....

Don't tell me you voted for him because of his business acumen and dismiss his "doing" business!

I will agree with most Trumpers that Trump is a business man only if the adjective preceeding businessman is "RUTHLESS". I prefer the word Scheister businessman but I'll settle for ruthless.

But what if they knew they had to silence Alex Pretti? Can you imagine ONE SHOT to the back and he survived?

Assuming the case ever made it to trial, Trump's whole bullshit plan, the false narratives they spin would all fall apart. Trump and the Heritage Foundation’s plans would be unveiled for all to see. I can not imagine the trial.

I understand this is a “long walk”, as they say. Yet, I have consistently underestimated Trump's penchant for evil.

TRUMP MAKES ME GO THERE!

Trump is getting his Venezuelan Oil.

He's selling it on the open Market.

He's in charge of the funds for distribution!

My bet is that Trump will not consider OUR COSTS for grabbing that oil. He will not donate the cost of tracking vessels, commandeering them or even the costs of bombs for his murder spree.

He believes he deserves all the profits and/or commissions generated as the greatest President.

I WANNA Throw up.

Sorry I couldn't isolate this EO and post it completely.

Back then Trump's supporters falsely made Nancy Pelosi the official entrusted with calling in the Guard to quell the insurrection.

Suddenly Trump now conveniently has garnered that power and is using it.

The hypocrisy is blatant. Well worth discussing but the circumstances for both events, the cause and effect are the ethical questions.

In the January 6 riots, it's clear that the insurrectionists were out for blood. They broke into Government buildings. Their chants made it clear they were out to do bodily harm to government officials. But Donald J Trump watched it all and did nothing. Nothing because the whole effort was in service to him.

Now when you consider the LA Protest turned riot, Trump reacts immediately. Up to that time no one threatened bodily harm to him. Nobody was yelling “Hang JD Vance”. Crowds hadn't broke into any Government buildings in an attempted Coup.

The crowd was mostly citizens of color who object to Trump's blatant desecration of our Constitution. Trump didn't like that. So he sent the Guard into LA with absolutely no regard for anyone's safety.

I'm pissed that Trump would not call in the Troops on January 6 but I'm appalled that he called them to LA almost immediately, risking the safety of the Citizens of this country. And he did it only because they disagree with his policies or his orders that hurt people or hinder his goose stepping into a Dictatorship.

He did it to suppress and intimidate the people and their first amendment rights.

Expect a lot more of this behavior. Instilling fear is Trump's M.O.

One time the radio was playing a Taylor Swift song. I forget which one but the white outdoorsy dressed guy that I picked up in South Philly asked a favor of me. Certainly, I replied.

He said, “ Can you get this bitch off the radio?” I complied and changed the station. I turned to him and said, “I take it you don't like Taylor?”. He nodded and grumbled, No. Now I get a little Snarky. I said, it seems to me that most people are Capitalists these days. That's why I like her, I said. Every city Swift performs in makes millions just on the visitors. You aren't Ok with her bringing in billions of dollars to the economy? He mumbled . I pressed on. I said, I know there's a lot of Dads that love Swift because their daughters love her. They bond at the concert when he has to chaperone her.

Then, I said “ You're not one of those people who think that Taylor Swift and Jason Kelce are part of a Conspiracy in which they are secretly pushing every one to vote for Joe Biden, are you? He changed the subject. We had further engaging conversations before I got him to his destination in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia. He left smiling.

He added a tip in the app! Go figger!

This house and property front busy highway Route 1 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It also happens to be directly opposite the main exit of a Walmart Supercenter for shopping. I am in that exit lane for this picture.

There's a Mega Maga nut case , I believe, lives there. I believe that, because since 2016 , the owner has festooned his 8 ft. high picket privacy fence with giant 8 ft. X 10 ft. Trump flags and assorted banners. He knew shoppers would be staring right at Mr. Trump upon exiting the shopping center.

There are no flags now. He took them all down and I don't think it's buyer's remorse that prompted it. The state is adding a right turn lane right there . I have to assume that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania declared Eminent Domain and seized his property. There is a sidewalk remaining in the picture. I'm pretty sure his property once ran to that sidewalk. Now you can see a large gray rough cast concrete retaining wall complete with anchor bolts cemented into the hillside. His fence and banners are gone along with the grass buffer zone between him and the highway. Too bad. Hope he enjoys the new 12 foot high concrete noise barriers they will install there.

More good news:

May 2024 is when I snapped this pic.

I passed this property today on my way to pick up my Uber rider. It's ALL GONE! In their place are tasteful flags of each branch of the military. Hopefully, they weren't as Maga as they thought. Or, maybe they got some class.

I'm a longtime Uber driver. One year ago, I was sent to pickup a young lady in this neighborhood and bring her to the local high school. She lived one block east of this Maga character. I picked her up at the pinned address and Shocker! She was out and ready. She gets in, I confirmed the rider and destination and floored it! Kidding! The GPS is leading me right past the obscene property pictured. She was a nice, well mannered young lady with a sweet smile. I'm at a loss for words as we pass the FJB. So rare for me. I blurted out: Not sure how you live here with that guy. She said, they just ignore him or something to that effect. If she were my daughter, I would have felt more comfortable expressing my position on that and why it's wrong. My opinions aren't included in the Uber fare anyway. She told me that I'm taking her to her finals. I wished her luck but couldn't resist giving a “Dad pep talk” in lieu of Dad jokes. Pep talks are included in the fare!

I couldn't let that picture/ incident go. That is NOT free speech. That is profanity! It also borders harmful speech. If that's free speech then I'm gonna open up an Organic grocery store. I'll name it:

“ The Fucking Organic Grocery”

Like to see how much business and for how long that store would do. That was my argument for anyone that I tactfully solicited their opinion. There weren't that many who thought it was free speech, Thankfully.

A few months later, right around the time local elections were ramping up. The Candidate for Mayor of my Township is appearing at our local Senior Center. I was there. She is chatting up the seniors. Im watching and I think, why don't I go up to her, introduce myself and ask her what she thinks of the FJB flag. So, that's exactly what I did. I showed her the pic.

Oh, no! That is NOT free speech! Were her first words.

She got my vote.

Allow me to translate that lingo. What that heart -less prick means is: We just worked through the night to shove this bunch of crap so far up your arses, you'll be choking on Tariffs. Now it's full speed ahead to crash your democracy Iceberg and rebuild it to our likeness. Fuck all of you.

First, tariff money goes to the Treasury. I Don't know how, but he is going to find a way to “use” those funds as they add up.

As businesses begin to suffer, the sufferers may be forced to kiss the ring, in order to possibly prosper. Those close to Trump won't need to jump as high. It will trickle down to the small businesses.

He's going to kill small business, especially start ups. In the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area , all throughout the Tri State area, the Home Care business exploded. Some risk takers have their life savings invested. There are thousands of workers left jobless if that business section goes down.

Daycare is another booming biz. Without funds they will suffer also.

Trump is grabbing power to pursue his Pseudo Fascist goals for himself and his fellow wannabe Oligarchs.

God, can Trump and his family and friends grift and engorge themselves in novel ways.

And now. After listening to Trump's insults to Canada, you gotta believe he thinks he can break Canada economically and March right in. What a dick.

I'm in the right Church on this. Maybe the wrong pew but right Church.

Look who came to see me early am. Rocky Raccoon!

Said he was looking for Beatles

I told him, too early. Sooo disappointed he was. Said he's having A Hard Days Night.

But, if you believe in karma or an Aura or any type of Special Spirit or even a Soul then you may have to give some thought to a good spirit vs an evil spirit.

It was just too much to ask of an 88 year old, champion of good, lover of humanity who was deathly ill to face an absolutely, evil hypocrite. A deceiver such as JD. Vance.

The Pope could not face down such an evil in his “end of life” condition. I'm not sure these days any one human can but maybe, just maybe the Pope put a stain where Vance's heart should be. Maybe he spent the last hours of his humble life trying to instill some decency into this evil man. Maybe the Pope exhausted the last of his energy praying to instill a seed of Empathy, of Compassion in a heartless human being. We can only hope and pray that he did.

* This is a snarky comment with no basis in fact. Yet, if you believe in the supernatural, good over evil, it's worth thinking about.

Took this picture as I was leaving the Walmart in Oxford. I had just dropped off two ladies there. Completing their Uber trip from Kenneth Square, PA.

Ironically, I had stopped at the crosswalk for the obvious owners of this buggy walking with their bags.

Prior to picking the ladies up for Walmart, the Satellite sent me with a worker to Wilmington, De. Then it was a pickup in the Wilmington suburbs. During the ride she advised me that she was an employee of Longwood Gardens. That's where we're headed. It's quite the Horticultural Attraction. The rambling road in and out is lined with every type of tree, bush, and plant imaginable and Spring is popping. Great ride.

During my twelve minute ride to pick the lady up, she sent a text through the Uber platform advising me that she was in her Toyota. I correctly assumed that meant her car broke down and she needed to get to work.

I got to cosplay “Uber Rescue” and learned a few things about Longwood Gardens.

Good ride!

It's looking to me unfortunately, that the only salvation we can muster will come after Trump has destroyed most peoples' retirement, nest eggs, careers and Capitalism in general. I don't wish these problems and suffering on anyone but it's looking like the only thing to motivate Trump's ouster now. I do feel badly for those who have worked all their lives. They will have to sacrifice and give up a lot. I'm used to it. I never wanted to be rich. Just wanted to live a quiet mostly basic style life. Just not in a cabin in the woods.

My thinking is so rabid that I am actually considering either NOT filing my US Income tax for 2024. Or, alternately filing a return with a little special touches. It's immature, has consequences and I already owe $1800.00 from last year. I'm retired but I drive Uber to meet my obligations. I could not afford to make the required Quarterly Tax Payments for Schedule C workers. Those payments are to cover “Payroll” taxes. I will owe those taxes again this time. I'm thinking I can possibly fly under the radar. What the hell? Trump brags that he doesn't pay taxes. He would rather pay ( eventually cheat) a team of lawyers then pay his legal obligations. WTF? Stinky Trump and his properties don't have their streets cleaned? Never had police or EMT respond to any of those properties?

I have a better than average chance at escaping my tax debt. For years the rich Congress members and anyone with any money influence have been whittling away at the IRS. The IRS was already challenged from the cuts they made in past years. Now, when members of Congress wanted to add approximately 48,000 agents, Trump and others convinced people that those agents were coming after your taxes, your $100,000. Business. Give me a break. Why go after 100k? The tax liability is about 25,000 Without any deductions and the opportunity to cheat is limited. Now the efficient, IRA business decisions are to go after the multi million dollar earners. The returns are much greater. Besides the IRS computers scan the tax returns and tag the mistakes. Yet the tax evaders have convinced the workers that agents are coming for them when they are hired. Chasing down the lower income earners is just not profitable.

I don't see any easy solution to the pain and distasteful medicine we all will endure. It was evident that we are slowly becoming reactionary this past weekend. We're gonna need more. We will get it when citizens have had enough of this Narcissistic wannabe dictator and he is tried as a criminal and possibly a traitor since we are at war with gangs already according to Trump. It has to happen fairly soon because he is ahead of schedule on his takeover. Significantly, he has ruined our National Security Agency. The Russians, Chinese and anyone with computer knowledge will be spreading more propaganda. We know the bad actors have been doing it for years. We were not great at prevention before the firings. It won't take long before Trump will be getting Oligarchy lessons directly from Putin. His Conspiracy buddies will be consuming all the propaganda they can muster. Gorging on it and then spewing it to the public.

When we have had enough, how do we get him out? At this point, I can't see anything but a violent Coup. Trump has immunity, he's destroyed DOJ, he has a following that has violent tendencies that he continues to stroke. His removal won't be easy. It is required.

When are we going to hear that:

Trump has dreams of controlling our corner of the world with Putin and Xi running rampant in their corners of the globe. We need to get these polite talking heads to call them out for it. Trump isn't fixing Trade imbalances. You can't. If the USA orders 500,000 shirts from Bangladesh, three times a year for say 20 million how in God's name can Bangladesh order 20 million in goods or services. Should we not sell those shirts here because of the imbalances in trade? I hope not. We're buying them for 45.00 and selling them for 90.00 dollars. That's Capitalism. Lots of good people are now realizing that Trump and his tariffs have one purpose. That is to force every major player to kiss the ring and beg for a deal. He will control who profits and who will not according to the deal that was made. Think 40 million in pro bono legal services for starters. If the lawyers feel bad about this deal now, I have to wonder how they'll feel when Trump forces them to represent their sexual perverts or some Russian Oligarchy buddy caught bribing officials. That would be a reputation destroyer.

Once again.

I do have empathy for the people who have worked all their lives, provided legal services, provided entertainment and news , did what's right and after all that, their future is tied to a Snake oil salesman's fantasies.

Congress could grow a pair and end all this. They could call out the utter hypocrisy. They could stop the slide to a Dictatorship but they have positions and wealth to protect. It ain't gonna happen.

They could reduce my stress level .