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46zilzal
04-10-2006, 01:39 PM
Ben Franklin once said, "In this world nothing is certain but death and
taxes." And the same goes for this week's words: nothing is certain but
death and taxes, or at least a discussion of them.

publican (PUB-li-kuhn) noun

1. A tax collector.

2. An owner or manager of a pub or hotel.

[From Latin publicanus, from publicum (public revenue), from publicus
(public), from populus (people).]

In ancient Rome, the state farmed out the collection of taxes. The right
to collect tax was auctioned off to the highest bidder. Tax collection
agents, known as publicans, employed lower-level collectors who made best
use of their license. For their severe extraction of taxes, publicans
were widely despised. Now, if a publican is a tax collector, what is a
republican?

"'Haven't you robbed people enough -- taking their last shirts?' said
a voice addressing the publican."
Leo Tolstoy; War and Peace; 1865-1869.

Snag
04-10-2006, 01:42 PM
Maybe the "re" stands for a reformed publican.

46zilzal
04-10-2006, 01:46 PM
or do it again and again and again and again

Tom
04-10-2006, 04:20 PM
Demo, as in demor-crat.

A working display model, meant only to show how the real item functions, not meant to be used for real purposes. It's puropose is to attrack cutomers to a more functional version of the product, one with integrity and full features.

We use demo-crats to draw people into the political areana where they ultimatley vote for republicans. :lol:

Snag
04-10-2006, 08:33 PM
Tom, you are to much. :D :D :D


I really like the part about integrity and full features.

Lefty
04-11-2006, 12:10 AM
zilly, you're feeble play on words seems silly as hell when we know that is the Republicans that cut taxes. Try again, this one garners an F.

Snag
04-11-2006, 07:24 AM
Does that F stand for FREE and FRANK? Maybe that's why you didn't like the comments.......lol.

Lefty
04-11-2006, 11:32 AM
snag, guess you're another one that doesn't understand that Dems raise taxes and Repubs cut them so this thread is spurious.

Snag
04-11-2006, 11:50 AM
Lefty, I guess you didn't hear me laughing when I wrote that comment....lol. I was agreeing with you (in my weird way). Sorry to create a misunderstanding.

Lefty
04-11-2006, 11:56 AM
snag, didn't hear you laughing. My fault. My speakers on this computer not working.
Guess I better get em fixed.