“Testing where there was only one right answer seemed oppressive to me.” Jeane Faulconer on why she homeschooled her kids, April 2, 2012, Time Magazine.
I’m just hoping her kid grows up to become an IRS agent:
“Mr. Paolangeli, I’ve got a few questions about your return.”
“Okay.”
“First, you claim a business mileage deduction for use of your car, but I don’t see any actual business-related trips listed. Just trips to the grocery store, the mall, and to visit friends.”
“Well, I’m a writer, and I often think about what I want to write about while I’m driving. I get my best ideas then. What else you got?”
“You’re claiming 346 dependents? How is that possible?”
“Think about it. What exactly is a dependent? It’s someone who depends on you, right? And a lot of people depend on me. People at work, the merchants that I buy stuff from, utility owners, trades people – man, if anything, that number is low. Anything else?”
“It seems you’ve made a lot of simple math mistakes. At one point you added 2 plus 2 and got 563!”
“I don’t see the problem with that, or any of the other issues you’ve raised. Sure, you might come up with different answers for math or tax form questions, but are you going to tell me my answers are wrong? Wouldn’t that be awfully oppressive?”
“You’re right, Mr. Paolangeli. Here’s your refund check for $1,674,987.32. Sorry to have bothered you with this.”
“No problem. I wish all civil servants were as helpful and considerate as you. Your mother must be proud.”
