The Way I See ItBy cj pollickEgg Hunt - There will be an Egg Hunt at Clearwater's Mandalay Park, 532 N. Mandalay Avenue, Clearwater, on Friday the 10th of April beginning at 6 p.m. sponsored by the Parks & Rec Department. There will be several age group hunts for the children to enjoy. Don't miss this Easter activity. Call Dan Crider at 462-6138 for more information. Downtown Station Square Parking Garage In Clearwater Is Open – One hundred (100) parking spaces are now available in downtown Clearwater for daily parking needs at Station Square. These are parking spaces available to the public 24 hours a day (monthly permits also available.) The parking rate is 50 cents per hour with a $5 maximum per day rate. The Station Square parking garage is located on Laura Street in downtown Clearwater Sunset Sounds At Largo - There is a free music series at Ulmer Park at 301 West Bay Drive, Largo, called Sunset Sounds. This music series will be held the second Friday of every month beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m. This is a free musical. Soon We Will Travel Across A New Bridge - The Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge project is nearly completed. The last connecting stringers have been put in place and the bridge roadway is being finished with concrete. From the water, people can see the Belleair area skyline featuring the new, high-rise bridge and roadway. The project is expected to be completed by year-end and bridge opening ceremonies are currently being planned by officials at Belleair Beach. It should be a grand ceremony since the last bridge ceremony in that location was 50 years ago. Imagine the development changes in the "Belleairs" during the last 50 years! No more bridge openings for boating traffic, no more narrow walkways where some folks had been injured, no more narrow roadways where automobiles had "fender-benders," yes, a modern high-rise bridge that can accommodate pedestrian traffic as well as automobile traffic. With the completion of the Belleair Beach Bridge project, the area will have three modern bridges -- the Sand Key Bridge, the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge and soon the Belleair Beach causeway Bridge. End Of A Christian America? - If you read one of America's most liberal magazines called Newsweek, you might have read their literary spin regarding the decline of Christianity in America. Of course, the article was published, in part, to support the "political bend" of Newsweek Magazine. End of Christianity in America? If yes, it would represent the sad ending of a free democracy founded on the principles of Christianity and the inherent freedom to express one's faith in God. As every historian knows, America was factually founded as a Christian nation by Christian believers. How many Americans as a percentage of the entire American population are Christian believers? The majority of all believers in America are still Christian; however, if certain media sources have their way, that should change. America should change from its founding roots, say some modern-day progressives (who try, like Hillary Clinton, to avoid being referred to as "liberals.") With so many so-called "progressives" trying to eliminate use of the word "God" as recorded in many American sayings such as "In God We Trust," God Bless America," "The Lord's Prayer," "One Nation Under God," etc., etc., it is no wonder that a few magazines would publish an article questioning if America has changed to become "One nation under... whatever (but, not God.") Era Of Big Government Begins - With many large corporations in America in financial trouble, big government has intervened to provide taxpayer "bail-out" funds. Hundreds of billions of tax dollars are being spent by the Obama administration to, in their words, "provide the funds necessary for their corporate existence." Of course, taxpayer funding of these selected corporations seems to be subjective; thus, large (failing) corporations receive "bail-out" funds while small business needs are ignored. Thus, big corporations receive “bail-out” funds while small business owners pay taxes. Nevertheless, when large corporations accept government funds they become subject to oversight by the US government and, in particular, the Obama inner circle. Thus, and as was noted two weeks ago, the CEO of GM was terminated. This act alerted CEO's of large companies that accepted government "bail-out" funds that perhaps they should return the funds. Imagine if this action occurred at the many banks and other financial institutions that accepted government loans? The US government could fire some of those top executives and then put career government employees in their place. Bottom line? Business in America would be dominated by career politicians and special interest groups. The result? England, France and Germany. UNC – Michigan State men’s basketball team made it to the final Championship game, something unique in NCAA college football. Unfortunately for the Spartans, they ran into UNC. The Championship game ended in a compelling UNC victory. Thus, one of America’s best college basketball programs proved they were indeed number one. State Taxes By Variety - Most taxpayers know that there are taxes other than federal income and estate taxes. For example, here are a few states that tax items as cigarettes, gas, beer and sales: New York. Sales Tax- 4%, Gas Tax- 41.3c/gal., Cigarette Tax- 2.75/ pack, Beer Tax- .11c. Florida. Sales Tax- 6%, Gas Tax- 34.5c/gal., Cigarette Tax- .34/pack, Beer Tax- .48c. Georgia. Sales Tax-4%, Gas Tax- 12.4c/gal., Cigarette Tax- .37/pack, Beer Tax- 1.01. Alabama. Sales Tax- 4%, Gas Tax- 20.9c/gal., Cigarette Tax- .42/pack, Beer Tax- 1.05. Texas. Sales Tax- 6.25%, Gas Tax- 20.0c/gal., Cigarette Tax- 1.41/pack, Beer Tax- .20. California. Sales Tax- 7.25%, Gas Tax- 41.3c/gal., Cigarette Tax- .87/pack, Beer Tax- .08. *Sales Tax for each state may be higher due to local county or city add-on tax (such as Penny For Pinellas Add-On Tax of 1%.) Thus, when elected officials speak about tax increases they might be talking about property taxes, school taxes, or any other tax plus the taxes listed above. Of course, taxes could also be disguised as government agency fees. Add them all up and you have an amazing assortment of colorful taxes that end-up taking a great percentage of a common workers income. Yes, it is amazing to hear some politicians talk about cutting taxes. Business – There are two times in a man’s life when he should not speculate; when he can’t afford it, and when he can. Mark Twain |