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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxa!ajf
From: ajf@pyuxa.UUCP (A Figura)
Newsgroups: net.taxes
Subject: Re: deducting refinancing points
Message-ID: <1354@pyuxa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Mar-86 15:38:24 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxa.1354
Posted: Wed Mar 19 15:38:24 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Mar-86 05:41:39 EST
References: <2c733a99.2a75@apollo.uucp>, <12384@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 48

In Article-I.D.: ucbvax.12384, David desJardins writes about his
disagreement with the "If in doubt, deduct" doctrine:

>    Doesn't it bother you at all to break the law?  And to steal (yes,
> *steal*) from other Americans.

C'mon David - lighten up (and wake up!). Your naivety amazes me!
Nobody's talking about ILLEGAL deductions - we're discussing
QUESTIONABLE deductions. And when there is ANY question involved,
its ludicrous not to answer that question to your advantage (assuming
there is SOME justification for your answer - which is certainly the case
re: home mortgage point deductions, etc.).

Our tax code is so inconsistent and so vague that there often is NO clear
determination of what is and isn't a "valid" deduction - based
on interpretation, you can often get either meaning out of the tax code.
The deduction for home mortgage points is one of the more vague examples.

So yes, when in doubt, DO TAKE THE DEDUCTION!  What have you got to lose -
there's a perfectly good chance that you deserve the deduction according
to the spirit of the appropriate rule, so you're the one who's getting
ripped off if you don't take the deduction. Its certainly no more
questionable than the various loopholes and deductions that the "fat-cats"
take, quite legitimately I might add, at the expense of all of us.

Is it moral? Maybe not.
Is it fair? Certainly not!
Should you take the deduction? You certainly should!

>    I really do despise you.

Don't despise people who are just taking their rightful advantage of
the various loopholes in our tax system; instead, despise the silly
system that allows all these ludicrous deductions and loopholes in
the first place!

If your moral convictions are such that you're satisfied paying
more than your fair share of taxes, then you're a far better person
than I! In the meantime, until the system changes to stop the kinds of
ridiculous deductions (questionable or otherwise) that enables
millionaires and multi-national corporations from paying zero taxes,
and that encourages common citizens to take on the appearances of
dishonesty, then the only person getting ripped off is ALL OF US!

Al Figura @ Bellcore (which probably doesn't care one way or the
                      other what I think about taxes - or much else)

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