[Verse 1] Section two-four-eight subsection one Holds the only clue the Act will give "Amount" means money, rights in dollars spun The sole definition by which income lives Not economic theory, not philosophy's call Just administrative walls that stand so tall [Chorus] Expressible in dollars, that's the test Everything else gets pushed aside Non-market trades don't make the guest list In-kind provisions forced to hide The Act won't tell you why or how Just draws the line and takes a bow [Verse 2] Your garden feeds your family table Mom's childcare worth ten thousand clear Dad fixes cars, his hands so able But none of this will tax-wise appear Self-sufficiency creates no debt The taxman's net won't catch these yet [Chorus] Expressible in dollars, that's the test Everything else gets pushed aside Non-market trades don't make the guest list In-kind provisions forced to hide The Act won't tell you why or how Just draws the line and takes a bow [Bridge] Imputed income disappears like smoke Barter systems fall through cracks The principled reasons? Just a joke No explanation, no looking back Administrative convenience rules the day While true enrichment slips away [Verse 3] Money terms or money's face Rights that convert to cash flow If it can't find that dollar place Through section two-four-eight it cannot go The definition narrow, clean and stark Leaves economic substance in the dark [Chorus] Expressible in dollars, that's the test Everything else gets pushed aside Non-market trades don't make the guest list In-kind provisions forced to hide The Act won't tell you why or how Just draws the line and takes a bow [Outro] No principle, no grand design Just dollars drawn along the line The Act's non-definition stands With empty, unexplaining hands
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