Just Ask Julie

Just Ask Julie

Julie, It’s income tax time again and Uncle Sam wants us to pay taxes. Just who is Uncle Sam?

- Nancy M., Berclair Hi, Nancy! Tax season is in full swing, and as you can imagine, people often struggle to navigate the complex U.S. tax code and file a timely and accurate return. It’s exciting to get a refund and perhaps a tad disappointing when it turns out that we owe Uncle Sam. This nickname for our government can be traced back to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer who supplied barrels of beef to the United States Army during the War of 1812. The wooden barrels were stamped “U.S.” for United States, but soldiers began referring to the rations as “Uncle Sam’s.” A local newspaper picked up on the story and Uncle Sam eventually gained widespread acceptance as the nickname for the U.S. government. In the late 1800s, political cartoonist Thomas Nast created the familiar image of Uncle Sam, giving him the white beard and stars-andstripes suit that are associated with the character today and featured on the familiar “Uncle Sam wants you!” posters.

Nast also created the modern image of Santa Claus as well as the donkey symbol for the Democratic Party and the elephant symbol for Republicans. Hey Julie! My auto and property policies have an exclusion for inherent vice.

What in the world is that?

- Barbara C., Victoria Hey Barbara. What a great question! Inherent vice has nothing to do with Miami Vice (although I loved Don Johnson in his pastel blazers, didn’t you?) or personal vices such as greed, pride, envy or lust.

Instead, it refers to a built-in (inherent) quality that leads to damage or destruction. Clear as mud, right? The best example I can give you is found in the story of the Three Little Pigs. I’m sure we all remember the Big Bad Wolf coming to the first pig’s house of straw and the second pig’s house of sticks, both of which he easily blew over with a simple huff and puff. Fortunately, they were able to take refuge with the third pig in his house of bricks. Did the first two pigs have valid insurance claims on the destruction of their houses? No, because straw and sticks are by their own nature too flimsy to make a stable structure. If our house is built with inherently weak and destructible materials, we can’t count on insurance to indemnify us for losses based on the quality of those materials. As purchasers, we must make sure, to the best of our ability, that our cars, houses, boats or other property are well built and lacking inherent vice. And like Barbara, make sure to read the fine print on our insurance policies!

Hi Julie! Do you know a more protective dog than a chihuahua?

- Brenda C., Yoakum Brenda, I sure don’t! Chihuahuas are well known for their intelligence, alertness and loyalty and can be overprotective and extremely loud. They are gifted with what is commonly known as “small dog syndrome,” seen in dogs who do not recognize their own lack of size and physical ability when trying to attack or stand up against a much bigger animal or a human. Our family had a chihuahua who lost her life trying to stand up against a much larger aggressive dog that she perceived as a threat to her home and family, so I’ve witnessed firsthand the protectiveness of this tiny breed. If you’re a chihuahua owner, make sure to keep your pup out of situations where they might be at risk, and you’ll be able to enjoy their faithful companionship for many years to come!

Just Ask Julie by emailingjulie@stexasnews.com