PSylvester20's Blog

So I moved to St. Louis city a little over 2 years ago from the metro east.  I can honestly say that attempting to get a drivers license and plates in this state was one of the most frustrating experiences I've ever had.  Tracking down an official copy of my birth certificate and wrestling my vehicle title away from my lender was not easy.  But that was 2 years ago, and I figured now that I'm a resident, it should be easier from here on out, right?  WRONG!

Now I can understand the state wanting to make sure you've paid all your taxes and verifying insurance coverage before they let you renew your plates.  But don't they have this information on record?  Why do I need to take a day off work and run from this office to that office getting copies of 6 different forms just to renew my plates?  Is this 2008 or 1978?  Can't this information be kept in a data base?  They certainly don't seem to have a problem getting the information they need to bill you for something!

I want to do the right thing, and pay my fair share.  But I can definitley see why people with family across the river keep their vehicles registered in Illinois, even when they live in Missouri (personal property taxes aside).

So what does everyone think of a four day work week?  Utah is instituting a mandatory four-day work week for most state employees.   Many local governments across the nation have already altered their schedules to save money, energy and resources.  

That's saving you 20% off the price of your weekly commute, right off the top.  Not to mention things like child care, etc... 

Hey, I used to work 12 hour shifts, so four 10 hour shifts a week wouldn't be so bad.  Count me in!

So what does everyone think of the taxes we have to pay on gasoline?  Of course, nobody likes paying them.  But do you think it would help if the federal and state government would temporarily suspend taxes on fuel?  Would it stimulate the economy?  Posted below are the taxes that drivers in Illinois and Missouri must pay on gasoline, as well as the federal gasoline tax.  source: gaspricewatch.com

• Illinois:  19 cents per gallon gas (21.5 diesel) + 6.25% sales tax + 0.3% tax on underground storage tanks.  Diesel fuel taxes are 27.5 cents per gallon for commercial highway users.

• Missouri:  17 cents per gallon for gas and diesel.  This includes the 6 cent per gallon "temporary" increase adopted in 1992.  It was originally set to expire this year.  In 2002, Gov. Holden signed legislation extending the increase indefinitely.

• Federal:  18.4 cents per gallon.  Collected at purchase, in addition to any state or local taxes.

Yesterday, I had to take Manchester from Brentwood to Hampton due to the traffic conditions.  Everything went fine until I reached the intersection with McCausland.  That has got to be the most obnoxious traffic light! 

If you're on Manchester, it will let about 3 cars through before it starts to turn.  Then you wait for what seems to be an eternity before it's green again.  I guess if you're on McCausland it's great.  But for people driving on Manchester it sucks! 

Instead of wasting money putting those damn cameras up everywhere, why don't they install some decent traffic lights with sensors instead of timers.  I don't like sitting there, burning $3 a gallon gasoline, when there's nobody coming from the other direction.

Well, the two major parties haven't even had their conventions yet, and I'm already disgusted with the presidential campaign.  Ron Paul was the first candidate that I felt enthusiastic about in a long time.  However, you'd be hard-pressed to find any media coverage of him whatsoever.  Thank goodness for the internet!

Has anyone else received a "prayer mat" in the mail?  It goes something like this:  You unfold this piece of newspaper with a picture of Jesus on it.  You kneel on it and pray for wealth.  Then you send it back with a check for x amount of dollars for "seed money" (I guess money really does grow on trees).  If you do all of this, you'll supposedly be endowed by God with a large sum of money.  Wow... how very Christian!!!

The organization who sent these out was gracious enough to send a postage paid envelope, which they'll be charged for, by weight, upon return.  I would encourage everyone to express their love of god, and the US postal system, by filling these envelopes with something nice and heavy.  Perhaps you'd like to send them money in change (pesos) rather than writing a check.  Maybe your pet would like to show their support by sending them a nice pungent little gift.  Just a suggestion.  I'm going to see if I can mail them the old piano in my basement.

In lieu of the media blackout of Ron Paul, I've decided to post a couple links below so that people can find out more about his stand on the issues.  If the major networks don't want to do their jobs, we must take it upon ourselves to disseminate all of the information so people can make informed choices.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580847/20080202/i
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