#Deduction

Deduction is the orchestral performance of thought that, from unshakeable premises, inevitably arrives at a conclusion. Yet its melody never strays beyond the truly obvious. In the theater of deductive reasoning, premises star and conclusions play the minor role of footlights. The complexities of reality linger backstage, their dissonance barred from the audience’s ears. Ultimately, deduction becomes an autotoxic novella confined within the hall of thought.

A deduction is a miraculous ritual that retrieves coins from the abyss of taxation. Many delude themselves into feeling they’ve gained something, when in truth they’ve only been partially reimbursed for what was stolen. Inscribed on sacred accounting scrolls, it compels gratitude for a mere concession. In reality, deductions amuse governments and accountants while coaxing a smile from taxpayers. Oh, how gloriously we celebrate the peg-holes in our wallets.

A tax credit is a system in which the state, wearing a benevolent mask, nibbles just a little bit from the taxpayer’s purse in exchange for rewarding them with procedural paperwork. One can observe the miracle of worthless documents transforming into a form of currency once the proper applications are filed. Taxpayers perform a ritualistic dance with the tax office, gaining tiny refunds at each step and savoring a false sense of triumph. Yet that triumph evaporates like mist under the weight of unexpected formula changes and the gray area of unwritten rules. Ultimately, tax credits are a comedy of collaboration between the government and its compliant subjects.