Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2008 > December > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US‘Good people in this world’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Days ago, Lawrence Hardnett left me a phone message in a voice that sounded as bright as the shines he polishes onto dull shoes.
“Man, I feel good,” he said.
Remember Hardnett?
He’s a fixture at Bennie’s Shoes in Norcross, where he’s been shining shoes for years. In 2003, an IRS representative paid the career shoeshine man a visit, asked a few questions about his income. Turns out Hardnett owed Uncle Sam about $90,000 in back taxes, interest and penalties. A $175-a-month payment plan was set up, but Hardnett — his business hurt by the economy — couldn’t meet the obligation, along with other living expenses like the mortgage on his Lawrenceville home.
Because of the delinquency, the IRS informed Hardnett that the agency would take his home if non-payment continued. He showed me paperwork in which the IRS had placed a federal lien on his house. Make no mistake: Hardnett knows this predicament was self-inflicted. He didn’t pay taxes for decades — which was wrong — then in mid-2000 had a change of heart and started filing returns.
In October, I wrote about Hardnett’s pickle and the situation caught the attention of two former IRS officials who live in metro Atlanta. One had a background in collections; the other had overseen audits. The men, who now work in private practice and wish to remain anonymous, agreed to help Hardnett, 58, someone who’d never shined their shoes, someone they didn’t even know. They approached the IRS on his behalf.
On Dec. 18, one of the good Samaritans dropped by Bennie’s Shoes. Good news, he told Hardnett. The former IRS officials were able to work out a payment plan. Hardnett will only have to pay $50 a month. The men plan to draft a letter for the IRS that outlines the particulars of the new plan, which Hardnett, undoubtedly, will gladly sign.
I could hear the relief in Hardnett’s voice.
“Please let the public know that this has been taken care of,” he said. “There are good people in this world.”
Amen.
One of the men who went to bat for Hardnett assured me that the arrangement should settle the matter. Then he made a suggestion, something that he hoped I could work into a column about a shoeshine man who probably considers this one of the best Christmas presents ever.
He prefaced what he said by saying he’d voted for President-elect Barack Obama, and how he hoped the senator’s election would go a long way in improving race relations and erasing perceived differences some harbor when it comes to skin color.
Then he told me that he and his colleague were “two older white guys” who stepped up for Hardnett, a 58-year-old black man who’d never shined their shoes, who they had never met. Color, to them, didn’t matter.
The person, his problem, did.
Permalink | Comments (37) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Services »
Comments
By CainKilledAble
December 27, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Mr. Badie…This is an interesting story and one that renews faith in the human spirit. I’m just wondering why you would chose to focus on the skin color of the characters in the story? You glossed over the real issue of the piece (i.e. that the main character refused to pay his share of taxes while enjoying the benefits of others peoples taxes) and, instead, turned the focus on race.
The focus of the piece should have been on personal responsibility instead of race. Look inside yourself first before you challenge others to change.
By Michael H. Smith
December 27, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Good article. The focus and intent leaves a little bit on the table for everyone.
By woodie
December 27, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Seriously. This guy is a tax deadbeat. There may be good people in this world but I don’t think deadbeats ought to get free rides at the taxpayers expense. It’s unfair to the rest of the honest taxpaying citizens.
By penny wise pound foolish
December 27, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
An article in the Washington Post cited the annual cost of incarceration in the United States is an estimated $60 billion. It costs an average of $88 dollars a day per prisoner, says wikipedia.
Why not take everything this tax deadbeat owns and throw his sorry butt in the federal penitentiary for the next 10 or 20 years; that will put an end to his “free ride” at our taxpayer expense?
By Mark
December 27, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
CainKilledAble
That’s because Badie is a racist.
By NOWICUNVME
December 27, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Thank you for the update Mr. Badie. Yes, it’s a beautiful thing to know that good people do exist in this world. Unfortunately, so do bad, mean spirited and negative people also.
I admire the great restraint you exhibit each and every time you share events happening in and around Gwinnett.
Hope you and your fam had a great holiday and best wishes for a happy and prosperous ‘09. Keep doing what you do; which is you.
OBAMA08
By BW
December 27, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
Several points to the article, the IRS is out of control, they can take your home, your pay, whatever they feel will bring in the cash, without regard for the welfare of the family, two IRS experts offered their sevices to someone they never met and got the payments down to something more reasonable.
I have to laugh, Wall Street Bail-Outs, CEO’s making millions for running companies into the ground, more loop-holes in the tax code for rich than there are shoes to shine. Yet some gentleman who shines shoes in Norcross, Georgia should go to the slammer?
Tell me all knowing ones, how would you figure out your taxes if you were this gentleman? The average number of shoes in a week? Do you deduct for supplies? Tips, of course, every bartender, bellhop or service worker always declares their tips to the penny, right?
Remember when the IRS tried to collect from two kids operating a lemomaide stand, most of you are wimps that always cry over someone else getting a bigger piece of the pie.
As far as racist, if you consider what Rick wrote racist and several of the responses not, it seems some enjoy different standards, but isn’t that always the case
By Armchair Journalist
December 27, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
I’m sure glad the IRS is better at costs analysis and risk loss management than those who want to jail this shoeshine guy and take over his indebted property at taxpayer expense.
Rhetorical question: Were any of you prosecutors once CEOs for a bankrupt corporation?
By CainKilledAble
December 27, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
Mr. Badie was looking for a “feel good” story when he found this piece. It’s not hard to find “feel good” stories if you are a journalist. They are in every county of every state. We don’t need more “feel good” stories to help us reduce the gap between the races in this country. The most common misconception in the black community is how they are perceived by other races or how others “feel” about them. It’s not important how we “feel” about one another. What’s important is how we deal with our “social” responsibilities like family, education and taxes. Taking personal responsibility is much more important in closing the racial gap than treating one another with respect.
The shortest path to racial equality is through personal responsibility (i.e. get educated, be a responsible parent, get a job and pay your taxes). Do that and others will respect you…and the “feel good” stories will write themselves.
By truthteller
December 28, 2008 5:26 AM | Link to this
Hmmmmm….$90,000 repaid at $50 per month. That’s exactly 150 YEARS.
So let me get this straight…I can skip out on taxes for years and years and years, get caught, and only pay $50/per month. This isn’t a feel good story…this is a story about one helluva smart criminal. He even got two former IRS employees to help him cheat every other citizen in the nation.
…and this is Mr. Badie’s feel good story. Must be easy to get a job as a journalist.
By A "Good" Boy
December 28, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
Notice how family and friends of criminal hoodlum thugs always spout “but he was a good boy, only stole a few cars”,etc,etc. The shooting of a thug by a GSP trooper yesterday, who tried to kill the trooper by running over him, was no different. A couple of idiot criminals or wannabees said “he was a good boy, just hugged me”,lol.
These morons seem to thing that only being arrested for crimes a few times makes a thug a “good” person! That shows how the morals of this country are rapidly declining.
By BW
December 28, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
The shoe shine man from Norcross is now being compared with the, “shooting of a thug by a GSP trooper yesterday, who tried to kill the trooper by running over him, was no different.” I had no Idea that shoe shiners were on the same level as organized crime. Please, please, if you see a shoe shiner call the nearest police agency immediately!
Keep them coming folks, they’re cracking me up.
By SMK
December 28, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
At least he isn’t trying to not pay his taxes - haven’t you seen all the commercials for the companies that will “fix your IRS problems?” - so the deadbeat that owes $3M only has to pay $1M, and so on. Who is funding all of those people? - those of us who file and pay our taxes on time. All of that being said, we are in need of some serious IRS reform - the penalties for not filing or filing late are ludicrous - and so is the interest. Somebody who owes very little due to an honest mistake can end up owing way more than they can afford to pay. I do find, though, that the IRS is willing to work with people to come to a solution that works. As long as you are making a fair attempt to pay your share, I’ll support you all day long!
By Scarlett
December 29, 2008 12:52 AM | Link to this
I know that you realize Rick, that whatever you write will cause complaints by some people looking to find something to complain about. But I am a fan of yours. Keep up the good work!
Now if you folks will reread the story you are commenting on before spouting off, the skin color of the former IRS guys and the shoeshiner is not mentioned until the last few sentences in the article. How in the hell is that racist? I was guessing the shoeshine man was from a multi-cultural ethnic group, but I would have never guessed he was an African-American. The spirit of hope, helping another human being regardless of what their physical body looks like is indeed a feel good story and there are so few of those around these days that I very much appreciated reading it. Again, if people will reread carefully before they begin to rant & rave in print….Rick says the guy made a mistake, his punishment by the IRS was self inflicted;justified, that the shoeshine man then decided to start filing his taxes and doing the right thing. This is not forgiveness, simply saying, “I’m sorry.” This is called REDEMPTION: I once was blind, but now I see. I’m thankful that the former IRS guys helped this man. He IS making monthly payments to correct his behavior & pay his past tax debt. Most of you should rejoice that you make a bit more money than the shoeshine man (I bet) and spend your time trying to help someone who needs it in these trying times. People that complain about this story remind me of the people in the 1970’s & 1980’s who constantly complained about Welfare but never thought about corporate Welfare, tax breaks for no reason to huge companies simply because they knew some powerful Washington insiders and got an unfair break. Currently Wall Street CEOs are getting manicures on private yachts, auto execs of failing American companies are flying in on private jets to beg Congress for money, Executives are still getting million dollar bonuses, there is no accountability put in place by Paulsen, Bush, or Congress regarding how the bailout (TARP) is to be spent and you guys are angry about a shoeshine gentleman who decided to do the right thing and pay the government back. Good God, some people need to take a deep breath and get a life. Times are hard for me right now & income low despite working 2 jobs & having advanced degrees but I have so much to be thankful for like family, good books, plenty of food to eat and money to keep the heat turned on, 2 living parents that are independent, that I didn’t have to be rushed to the hospital when someone ran a STOP sign and totaled my Ford Explorer. I don’t mean to sound like a Suzy Sunshine because I think things are going to get worse for at least a year before they get better, but being mad at a repentant shoeshine man is not something I want to get angry about or waste my energy on today.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL….and to all a goodnight!
By MoralSociety
December 29, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
BW & Scarlett: You’ve missed the bloggers point. They were challenging Mr. Badie’s consistent racial viewpoint in the stories he writes in an effort to expose the real truth. Most blacks have a very racist viewpoint, yet continue to point fingers at others for their racist viewpoints. That’s the only point of the blog.
Mr. Badie’s racism was on clear display, even when he was attempting to show the reverse (i.e. how some white folks helped the black main character). The point is for Mr. Badie to look for examples that will help the black community focus on responsibilities, instead of looking for pieces that show how one race “feels” about another. That’s the vehicle for change that we need. The “feel good” stories are just low hanging fruit.
By Michael H. Smith
December 29, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
Everyone is free to take their own personal prospective on this blog and what Mr. Badie may or may not truly being thinking.
Most blacks have a very racist viewpoint, yet continue to point fingers at others for their racist viewpoints.
My thoughts are that Mr. Badie was saying that very thing and his blog, without assigning degrees of course. Though it is just my opinion, it was directed more so at blacks who do harbor this “Almighty Whitey” prospective that all whites are against the blacks and every bad thing that happens to them is usually attached to some white person. In others words, Mr. Badie was in fact kicking out from under some in the black community the false prop of a cliché that is too often used rather than accepting responsibility by pointing out something that was good which happened to a black guy that was attached to some white guy.
In this case the shoeshine man didn’t intend to do right and take responsibility before he got caught. He would have most likely continued not paying taxes if not for the IRS nabbing him. Important fact is he now has to pay that debt, which as most sensible minds among know, he will never completely pay off in all likelihood. Sure he could be put in jail but then the shoeshine man really gets to stick it to the taxpayer, the system and apart from losing personal freedom will pay little of nothing towards his tax debt; all the while we have to pay his room, board and for all of his personal care needs.
Perhaps some see this as feel good story, though I don’t see much in this article to feel good about, other than the fact this shoeshine man at least continues to pay something towards his debt and now can reasonably pay his own way in life.
The Race deal beyond the context of human remains nothing more than a “social crutch” that people in this country just can’t do without, otherwise they are left mentally crippled when discussing any differences between various members of ancestral descent (e.g. skin color or geographic origins). The human Race not so unlike most human families always has siblings fighting against one another picking on the weakest points so one can feel the part of a superior being.
Beyond the distinctions between acceptable conduct and unacceptable conduct, of right and wrong it is all rather childish non-sense to me.
By The BlogFather of Scroll
December 29, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
Death and Taxes.
Happy New Year.
By MoralSociety
December 29, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
Michael H. Smith: Thank you for helping me see a different perspective on this piece from Mr. Badie. And you did it without calling names or putting me down. I can honestly say that I now see this from a different point of view.
By Mary's Mom
December 30, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
That’s awesome you two! It is incredibly refreshing to finally see people get called out on their (anti-white) racial bias.
I always say that (generally) there’s never a real racial problem until someone (a.) has an agenda or (b.) wants to avoid responsibility for something, cry wolf, etc.
‘nuff said. =o)
By Mark
December 30, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Here is a link to a site about not a good person…..Read it and weep.
http://martinlutherking.org/
By Scarlett
December 31, 2008 12:04 AM | Link to this
Mark, I will have nightmares about you & your beliefs tonight. I hope one day you and other fanatical people will learn that being “in the middle” being MODERATE is more true, honest & intelligent that being conservative or liberal. There are too many people in our world, in our country, in our state, in Metro Atlanta & in Gwinnett County who are on the lunatic fringes. MLK was not a God but a human being! What say you about the documented infidelity of JFK, FDR, George Herbert Walker Bush, John Edwards, Gary Hart, etc., etc. Your message seems to be that white MEN can have carnal relationships and extra-marital affairs but a black man is a “beast”, an “animal” if he does the same thing. I don’t know your age or race but I am a middle aged white woman and I am ashamed of you for distributing such disgusting lies. You are trying so hard to prove your point you use hyperbole, exaggeration, and act like a story that is 10% true is 100% correct. Shame on you! I know you are so pleased with yourself right now for upsetting me. Guess what, there still are patriotic reporters and journalists! Just because you disagree with someone’s point of view doesn’t mean they are UNAMERICAN. Oh, wait, I think I know who you are! You are the guy who wrote the song, “Barack the Magic Negro” aren’t you? Hey, in my household we don’t think the KKK is patriotic or pseudo-research like yours should get academic credit in a postsecondary institution. Maybe one day you will rethink your position. NO HUMAN BEING has all the answers, knows the ONE & ONLY TRUTH. Not you, not me, not Dr. King, not George Bush, not President-Elect Barack Obama, not Ann Coulter, not Sonny Perdue, not Jesse Jackson, not Caroline Kennedy, not Bill O’Reilly. Try spreading goodwill once in a while. It will make you feel better about yourself. Everything in moderation, nothing in excess. That’s a pretty good motto that my parents taught me. Seek inner peace rather than spreading constant turmoil and chaos. That you impuned the name of Reverend Andrew “Andy” Young also breaks my heart. Go ahead, laugh, and have fun sleeping by yourself tonight.
By Scarlett
December 31, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this
Michael H. Smith: It is a pleasure to read intelligent and thought provoking dialog on the blog. We really can disagree slightly or see a new nuance, a different angle without crucifying each other. I so appreciate good manners! They will take you further than most anything else.
By Mark
December 31, 2008 12:29 AM | Link to this
Scarlett
There are no lies. All accounts of his life is documented on the site. Typical black.
BYW, MY dream came true.
By bibay
December 31, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
Micheal H. Smith: You say the shoe shime man did not intend to do right- He acutally did. The shoe shine man started filing taxes in mid 2000 after not doing so for many years. The tax man did not come until 2003 after he started filing.
By Michael H. Smith
December 31, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
If I missed something that’s my bad, though, in an earlier blog on this same person and topic it appeared as I described it. Also, there are other points Mr. Badie touched on besides the prospective I expressed in an explanation of only one aspect. As I said in the my opening comment: The focus and intent [of this blog] leaves a little bit on the table for everyone.
By Michael H. Smith
December 31, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
BTW Scarlet good manners is not a one way street. For those who like to start attacks, don’t expect kindness in return.
By Cindy
December 31, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
Michael, You’re so right about that. It’s difficult to converse with some people. You however, are not one of them.
By Scarlett
January 1, 2009 12:46 AM | Link to this
Michael, point well taken. Some tend to overeact, some don’t even give a damn enough to ever get upset & still others don’t know what the hell they are talking about! I think it’s a struggle for most of us to hit the right balance.
I apologize to all for the typos & grammatical errors I’ve made this year. I CRINGE when I read them later!
Happy New Years Day to all……….
By MP
January 1, 2009 9:34 PM | Link to this
Im on a completly different subject.yes Michael thats my name too and dont look at my gramar please.I just got a new mail from newsmax and every time I do it p** me off.This time is a new way at raceism but still the same in substance.Ive never had much to say but as I get older I see the hate more and more rather that less and less.I was born in Ark.(dont hold it against me)in 1962 and I raised myself in Texas from 1972 when my Momma died and was laft alone I have never seen color but Ive seen alot that lived by it.Newsmax is one of thease.I have to say I voted for my PRESIDENT and Ive never been more proud of anything.Please everybody try to be color blind and you will see the end of the rainbow…
By MP
January 1, 2009 9:49 PM | Link to this
I had a fight with the infernal revenue service (dba;kgb) and turns out they owed me 978 from 2003 return I payed to have done but wasnt filed,I no longer had papers to prove this.My question?irs sataute of limitations is 3 years and the working mans is 7 years so why should a man be benied? Anyboby??
By Michael H. Smith
January 1, 2009 10:25 PM | Link to this
Help Yourself by Filing Past-Due Tax Returns
Statutes of limitation. After the expiration of the refund statute, not only does the law prevent the issuance of a refund check, it also prevents the application of any credits, including overpayments of estimated or withholding taxes, to other tax years that are underpaid. On the other hand, the statute of limitations for IRS to assess and collect any outstanding balances does not start until a return has been filed. In other words, there is no statute of limitations for assessing and collecting the tax if no return has been filed.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=178194,00.html
Part 25. Special Topics Chapter 6. Statute Of Limitations
http://www.irs.gov/irm/part25/ch06s01.html
Anything else beyond the above info, I’d have to suggest finding a good tax lawyer or CPA who is very well experienced in tax law.
By jb
January 2, 2009 9:53 AM | Link to this
It always amazes me how quickly some people can turn a truly constructive discussion into personal attacks on someone who has differing views. You should not condemn a person who thinks differently than you. You may disagree very deeply, but you should always respect the views of another. To me, this story was about showing how one human being could reach out to another human being without race being a factor. Maybe I’m too simple but I sometimes think that we dig ourselves into these holes by over-analyzing someone else’s thoughts or words. Most people cannot put into written form their true feelings. If they could, we would be a world of Pulitzer Prize winning authors.
By Big MIKE
January 2, 2009 9:37 PM | Link to this
God Bless America! Or as Don King says “Only in America”. Just let’s you know this is still a great country.The critics who blogged with hate, you just mad it was’nt you. SUCKEEEERS!
By Carbon Dates
January 3, 2009 11:15 AM | Link to this
moron
By Mark
January 5, 2009 12:22 PM | Link to this
http://martinlutherking.org/
Read about the myth of the man. All documented truths. Anyone who idolizes this punk is a fool.
By BW
January 5, 2009 7:33 PM | Link to this
The “Stormfront White Nationalist Community”, that’s even low for you Mark. Like your organization, dishonesty seems to be the norm, too bad you have to hid behind “Stormfront White Nationalist Community’s” skirts.
By Mark
January 6, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this
BW
“You can’t handle the truth!”