Princes Who Feast in the Morning

For those of you who don’t live in California, you may or may not be aware that this tax season, if you are entitled to a refund, you can start holding your breath. Or is it, don’t hold your breath?

My wife and I filed our taxes super early this year in late January. Our tax guy told us that by doing so, we stand a better chance of seeing our refund than if you wait. But, there is no guarantee you’ll get it even then. Our Federal refund came in a matter of weeks. As of yesterday we were still waiting on the state.

We were going to call the California Franchise Tax Board this morning but I figured there had to be an online way of looking it up. I mean, with all the money these clowns in Sacramento have from not sending out refunds, surely we’d have some snazzy way of looking up the status. Sure enough, I was able to check the FTB’s web site. They have a nice little site where you can check on your Refund’s Status. I put in all of my specific information, clicked a button and …

Your return has been received and processed, however, your refund cannot be issued at this time.

Due to the state’s persistent cash flow problems, the State Controller has directed FTB to stop sending refund requests to the State Controller’s Office for payment. Refund payments will resume when the State Controller indicates there is enough cash available to make refund payments.

I see … all last year the state took money out of my check (my pocket, my family’s dinner table, my livelihood, etc.) and did whatever they wanted with it. So now that we have had our mutual day of reckoning (tax season), they tell me, “Sorry folks, we don’t have your money.” Excuse me? I don’t need to tell you what would happen if we did the same thing to them, do I? Debtor’s prison, anyone? The situation is just ridiculous. Truly.

Solomon described our current elected officials for the great state of California:

Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning. Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time–for strength and not for drunkenness. –Ecclesiastes 10:16-17.

I guess I’m not sure where the outrage is anymore. These guys in office should consider themselves fortunate that this isn’t the 1770′s anymore. I think our forefathers would have marched on Sacramento and demanded their refunds at the the end of a rifle or cutlass. Maybe it’s a bad analogy, but where is our version of the Boston Tea Party?

Normally, I can’t stand J.G. Wentworth commercials, but … well … see for yourselves:

Actually, it all belongs to God. It’s His money. I’m not overly concerned about it. It’s upsetting, but God will take care of this situation.

May He Increase!