Lower taxes for less thought

July 22, 2007

The new French leadership suggests the country quit thinking so much and instead work more.
To reward less thoughtful activities, the government is proposing lower taxes, especially on the wealthy.

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That approach, according to an article in today’s New York Times, is not going over so well with many in "the country that produced the Enlightenment, Descartes’s one-liner, ‘I think, therefore I am,’ and the solemn pontifications of Jean-Paul Sartre and other celebrity philosophers."

But such protests aren’t swaying President Nicolas Sarkozy (whose driving force, says the paper, is doing rather than musing) or his administration.

Last week French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, in addressing the National Assembly, cited Alexis de Tocqueville "Democracy in America" and said the French should work harder, earn more and be rewarded with lower taxes if they get rich.

If this political trend continues, France is on the fast track to becoming America’s new best friend, which would eliminate, at least for a while, the need to rename a favorite U.S. snack "freedom fries."

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Tax Season 2026 Continues!

We made it. Tax Day 2025 is finally over. For most of us. When the filing season started on Jan. 26, millions who were expecting refunds filed immediately. Most of us got our returns to the Internal Revenue Service by April 15. But plenty of taxpayers also got extensions. They are looking at an Oct. 15 filing deadline.

Those procrastinating filers aren’t a problem. In fact, the IRS appreciates taxpayers who take time to fill out their 1040 forms correctly. It also is grateful that tax submissions are spread out a bit, especially now that the IRS is a leaner agency. Processing returns is easier when they arrive throughout the year instead of in massive bunches.

But enough about Uncle Sam’s tax collection issues. The focus now is on all y’all who filed for extensions, giving you another six months to complete your return. Since your new mid-October due date will be here before you know it, let’s get started now on meeting it.

The ol’ blog is here to help you finish up your extended Form 1040. You can start with January’s tax tips page, which has links to the rest of the year’s tips by-month collections. You also can peruse various tax categories for more tailored advice by clicking on the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of this (and every) page.

And to make sure you don’t miss your new filing deadline, the count-down clock below will let you know just how much time you to file by Oct. 15. At the latest.e. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

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Comments
  • The Little Blog That Could
    19 years ago Reply

    Today in the Boston Globe: French urged to roll up yoursleeves

    I have a little secret! Im hoping that this will not make my already very low traffic go even lower: I am from France And Ill let you take a moment to curse the living hell out of me
    ok, lets keep going, shal…

  • Lau
    19 years ago Reply

    I am from France but have never actually worked or paid taxes there. It’s about time someone says out loud what everyone’s been thinking.
    French people are too assisted, and need to get of their butts, stop complaining and asking for aids and assistance and start working.
    (I would hate to have to order freedom fries again 😉 )

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