GAFT S. M* SHELTON, USN
Commanding Officer ^ DA K
CDR E. L. CRANCE, USN C, |J |\|
Executive Officer
Published each Monday for all personnel
on Adak by Special Services, Provisions
for NavExos P-35 (Rev,Jul 58) complied
with,Mimeographed at NavSta Adak, Funds
furnished from non-appropriated sources
at no cost to the government. .Articles
contained herein are not to beoonetrusd
as representing the official opinion of
the Commanding Officer or the Navy Dep
artment, inasmuch as the Adak Sun is not
an official publication,
EDITOR:, H,To DAVIS, YN1 055-J or 365
CHAPLAINS CORNER
THE STANDARD DEDUCTION by CHAPLAIN
STENBERG
When one hears the gripes and com
plaints. that come . every time a fund
drive comes along, one wonders if the
Federal Government is not more generous
than most individuals. The Federal is
expected to do a great many things. To
help pay for these services, we have
an income-tax. The income tax form
allows b "Standard Deduction" of ten
per cent'to include such items as
charitable contributions, interest,
taxes, losses, medical expenses, and
other miscellaneous expenses.
The Government is Assuming that ten
per cent of the income is going for
these expenses, • It is assumed that
income is reduced by 10 per cent for
tnese expenses oetore tne government
taxes what is remaining. In other
words, it is assumed that for each
$1000. of income that $100 has gone
for the above named expenses and that
$900 remains to be taxed.
We in the military are allowed this
same deduction. However, since we are
not in business we ;have no business
losses and we have no medical expenses
except in unusual cases. About all
this leaves for most people to honestly
take a standard deduction on is ..charit
able contributions, -taxes and interest.
: Hardly ever would other taxes take
Over \% of income. Then, a person is
(Continued next column)
paying even A-% on his income fcr iin
terest, he has considerable debts.
($500 debt for each $1000 of income if
interest is 8%, and a larger debt if
interest is lower than 8%), It would
mean debts of anywhere from $1500 to
$3,000 if income is $3,000 per year.
Few people have debts that large.
Well, let's say it is possible to
have such large debts. That still
leaves five per cent of income that is
supposedly donated somewhere, In dol
lors that amount to $50for each $1000.
of income. It amounts to $150 if in
come is $3,000 per year.
If most people figured out how much
has been given to their church, and to
such drives as United Health, Care,
Radio Free Europe (the current drives)
The American Red Cross,and Navy Relief
few people would come out with donat
ions of $50 per $1000 of income. In
fact, many would not even come up to
a $50 total#
In other words, the "Standard De
duction" gives most people credit for
being more generous than they actually
are. It appears that the government
"of the people, by the people, and for
the people" and from whom the people
expect many things is more generous
than the people. It also assumes that
people are honest and are giving this
amount.
It also means that our Government
has endorced giving to our churches
and to charitable organizations.
Chaplain V. Stenberg
4
GOT A PROBLEM?????
If it has anything to do with legal
technicalities, wills, power of attorn
ey or affidavits or just plain advicecn
what to do when, you can help yourself
Ly seeing LTJG GRUNAWALT, Station Legal
Officer at the Administration Building,
All too often a person with a legal
problem will try to solve it with a hit
or miss method of information from ran
dom sources. The complexities of law
(which mystify servicemen & civilians
alike) cannot be clarified by amateur &
mostly immature advice from a "sea Law
er". SEE YOUR LEGAL OFFICER.