RANDOM THOUGHTS from the retirement lane. I'm just finishing up my 2013 annual coerced giving (i.e., income tax) paperwork to find that -- as usual -- my Social Security income is 85% taxable, which is infuriating. For 30-plus years, I've paid my FICA tax out of my (taxable) employment income, and now in retirement it's taxed again!

I'm convinced Government isn't going to be satisfied until every working stiff's entire paycheck goes directly to the government, whereupon it will give back a modest cost-of-living stipend.

Plus, of course, incentives for voting 'correctly'....