Death, Taxes, the Constitution. The IRS Has Granted a Reprieve. Will the Grim Reaper? Sheltering in Place Week 5

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death, taxes, the constitution -- jon at work on our taxes — Jon does the lion’s share of our taxes. *Photo by Barbara Newhall*

Sheltering in Place. Week Five

Death, taxes, the Constitution. Benjamin Franklin said it nicely in a letter back in 1789:

“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

Right now, thanks to a reprieve from the IRS, taxes don’t seem quite as inevitable as they did before the coronavirus showed up on our shores. The IRS has given most taxpayers an extension until July.

death, taxes, the constitutioin — Death, taxes, the Constitution. At least we have a little breathing room on the taxes deadline.

Death, on the other hand, seems more at hand than ever. Especially for people like me who are over 70. (July maybe? Right after I’ve sent my check off to the feds?)

Ben Franklin’s Constitution

But my health is not the only thing that’s seeming a little impermanent right now. Benjamin Franklin’s Constitution is looking as shaky as my life expectancy.

Will the Constitution survive the Donald Trump presidency? Will the American project survive the fight he has picked with the governors over who’s in charge here? Over who has the authority to lift social distancing restrictions? The Johnny-come-lately president? Or the governors who put the restrictions in place? Does a constitutional crisis await us?

Gallows Humor Coming Up

Either way, will Donald Trump succeed in lifting the restrictions and let the economy — and COVID-19 — make a roaring comeback? Will he let the virus do its inevitable thing a little early to thousands of vulnerable Americans, me included?

Is the Constitution toast? Am I? Well, if it is and I am, at least I won’t be around to see the undoing of Benjamin Franklin’s handiwork.

If you’d rather end this visit to my website on a more upbeat note, here’s a piece on the American project at its best: “Where Jury Duty Is an Exercise in Mindfulness.”

Today’s post is part of an ongoing series, “Sheltering in Place.” If you would like to get regular notices of my newest posts, signing up takes just a moment.