Dear Family,

I think California has moved to Washington State. For the last several weeks, it constantly seems to be aining, or on the verge of raining. That's not what California is like! You've heard Albert Hammonds' song - it never rains in California.

That's OK, it's kind of cozy listening to rain pour
down - I only hope that everyone out there is all right!

Speaking about pouring, if you're inundated with
junk mail, you'll enjoy Andrew Blackman's article in
a recent WSJ titled How I Beat Junk Mail

[Click here to to get 2 free weeks to WSJ Online. ]

Did you see this week's episode of  West Wing? I can't tell you how much I love the writing on this show. The climax of this episode is one of the candidates making a brief, live speech as a his big splurge on the one campaign commercial he can afford. He covers a lot of territory in 60 seconds or less.

He basically spells out that he's in this campaign to fix certain problems that really matter to him; that this is the  only commercial he can afford; that he thinks debates should require the candidates to actually answer the direct questions placed before them; and that he has no intention of running a smear campaign. Ever.

Excellent writing! I do hope that real campaigning candidates learn from that.

There's another issue I'd love to see them tackle. Changing the way legislators are identified on camera, radio, or in any interviews.

Once they are elected to office, each legislator represents ALL the people in their district or state. If they were to stop being identified as the "Democrat from" or the "Repulican from", perhaps they'd also stop thinking of themselves in terms of their party affiliations and start thinking of themselves as simply the Senator representing the WHOLE state of; or the Representative representing the ENTIRE # district of Y state.  Now, THAT would make me proud!

OK, got to run. I have to finish this week's article for MarketWatch.com (note - I'm now working for Dow Jones. How exciting!) Check out recent articles - mine and all the other terrific tax writers, as well: http://www.qksrv.net/click-241922-8318876

Best wishes,
Eva Rosenberg, EA
Your TaxMama is watching...out for you.

President Bush and Social Security
If you want to express your own opinion on Social Security to President Bush and your legislator's, please feel free to use the link at the bottom of this letter.