Taxes & Death

April 15th, 2006

in 2015 AUC, the Roman Republic declares this day as the universal day of taxation; all taxes due for the year are to be collected. Although it has the virtue of efficiency, the citizens of Rome grow to hate the day with a passion.

in 1791, President Benjamin Franklin of the United States of America passes an income tax through the Congress. The wealthiest citizens of the nation are required to give 10 percent of their income to the government, “that we may truly fulfill the promise of our constitution, to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”

in 1912, the RMS Titanic, proudest ship of the White Star line, sinks in the north Atlantic ocean after being struck by an iceberg. Fortunately for the passengers and crew aboard, the captain had insisted on a full compliment of life rafts before sailing from England, and had conducted regular emergency drills during the voyage. Although this had vexed the White Star staff aboard the ship, they were more than mollified when not a single life was lost in the disaster.

in 1952, much to their surprise, Velma Porter and Mikhail von Heflin draw back his ancient ancestor to earth, and open a dimensional portal at the same time. In the struggle to hurl her in, Miss Porter is almost sucked in with her, but the Baron is able to pull her out of the portal, wrenching off her left foot. Miss Porter takes strength from von Heflin to survive, but is unable to regrow her foot.

in 1955, the huge restaurant empire of Kroc’s began with a single fast-food joint in Illinois as Ray Kroc tested out his theory that people would buy lesser quality food, as long as they could get it quickly. Kroc’s restaurants are in every country in the world today, and have sold billions of hamburgers.

in 1959, Comrade Fulgencio Batista visits the Soviet States of America after his successful revolution against the old Communist leadership of Cuba. While America had initially supported him during his rebellion, he is suspiciously close to some of the European monarchies, and after he returns to Cuba, he openly pronounces himself a capitalist. America severs all ties with the island nation and places an embargo on them.

in 1985, the new Republican majority in Congress allows President Reagan to abolish the income tax and replace it with a flat 17 percent tax on all goods and services. The loss of income sends the national deficit soaring to heights undreamt of, plunging American into a depression that takes the rest of the world with it. In the elections of the next year, 9 out of 10 incumbents are defeated, and a new leftist majority reinstates the income tax and impeaches Reagan.

in 1992, hotel owner Leona Helmsley managed to settle her case with the government by paying all of her back taxes with interest. Although the DA had initially sought prison time, Helmsley so charmed the court that he readily agreed to her offer, dubbing her “the nicest lady I've ever seen in court.”

in 1996, the Egyptians captured Puerto Vallarta on the Mexican coast. The American Constitutionalists propping up the puppet Mexican government start to abandon the nation and leave the fighting to their Mexican allies; the Mexicans, long chafing under American rule, tend to welcome the allied forces as much as fight them.

in 2004, several ships arrive on Titan to collect the Projection Virii for the new Sheridan Corporation, which is planning to domesticate and use them as a holographic information transmitter. The new containment procedures work well, and they are able to return to earth without losing any ships.

Timelines in today's post: the Roman timeline, von Heflin, Communist America, the Ralph Shephard timeline and The Sheridans

Today's "Six Degrees of Star Trek" challenge: Connect the TV movie Leona Helmsley - Queen of Mean to Star Trek. Place your answers in the comments and see the Forum for previous results. For more on 6 degrees games, click here.

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