There’s an old joke that illustrates what chutzpah means. It goes like this… Chutzpah is when a man convicted of killing his parents pleads for mercy because he is an orphan.
This joke came to mind this morning when I read that Janet Huckabee, the wife of former governor, failed presidential candidate, and Fox TV personality, Mike Huckabee, has bought a home and established legal residence in Florida. The couple will still maintain their house in Arkansas, but establishing legal residency in Florida will help the couple avoid Arkansas’ high personal income and sales taxes.
Florida has no personal income tax, while Arkansas’ income tax quickly rises to a top marginal rate of 7%. And state and local sales taxes hover around 10% in Arkansas, compared to 6% in Florida.
It would be perfectly appropriate and normal for someone to change residences so as to minimize taxes if Huckabee hadn’t been personally responsible for helping raise those taxes, which he and his wife are now seeking to avoid.
Don’t you mean “Tax Hike Mike demonstrates the meaning of chutzpah”? I suspect he already knew it.
I’m sure he was familiar with the concept, but he may have just learned that it was called “chutzpah” because I just told him. : )
Actually, chutzpah can mean having “nerve” for ill or for good. This is an example of for ill.