Mitt Romney's Tax Plan as Revealed on Meet the Press

The 1% Court

Bush vs. Gore 2000 ~ the court elects a president.

Citizens vs FEC 2010 ~ Corporations are people.

Arizona’s Free Enterprise Clubs Freedom PAC vs. Bennett ~ The conservative majority concluded that the availability of increased public funding deterred speech because it discouraged candidates from spending more than the publicly funded candidate.

WALMART V. DUKES (2011) ~ The Court held unanimously that an employment discrimination suit against Walmart could not be brought as a class action on behalf of 1.6 million women across the country.

AT&T MOBILITY, LLC V. CONCEPCION(2011) ~ bilked by a misleading ad that said cases had to be settled by arbitration (illegal in California State Law) overturned by the Court saying Federal law had precedent. What your cell phone contract. Or, corporations can escape the responsibilities.

JANUS CAPITAL GROUP, INC. V. FIRST DERIVATIVE TRADERS (2011) ~ a Janus investment fund mislead its buyers but got away with it.

ASHCROFT V. IQBAL (2009) ~ five conservative Justices rejected decades of precedent to rewrite the requirements for pleading a case, jeopardizing the ability of individuals to challenge the conduct of the government, employers and others in court. Prior to the decision, in order to launch a lawsuit, plaintiffs were required only to present a short and plain description of their claims that provided fair notice to the defendant. Now the Court shifted the burden to the plaintiff to produce sufficient facts to make the claim plausible and judges were given broad discretion to dismiss cases that failed this standard.

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS V. SIBELIUS(2012) ~ The Court upheld most provisions of the Affordable Care Act, but five conservative Justices planted the seeds of new restrictions on the ability of Congress to address major social needs. This position is a radical break with seventy-five years of precedent giving Congress broad power through the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. The position of the conservatives threatens to curtail the ability of Congress to enact legislation in areas ranging from civil rights to social welfare.

See Bill Moyers blog

Simple vs Complex Tax Systems

James Kwak has a recent article on tax systems. A complex system is based on the world being complex therefore the tax system should be complex, thus the 8,000 pages of the Dodd-Frank Act. But the question is who has the time to wade through 8,000 pages of tax regulations? Those who have the resources to do so: big banks, big businesses etc. Plus the field is constantly changing along with the data these regulations are based upon.

This seems like a good argument for simpler tax systems to me, and that does not mean simplistic, just simpler. The more you make the more you should pay in taxes. It is absolutely ridiculous that rich folk like Romney end up paying a lesser tax rate than middle class folk. Heavens, when I was working I paid twice what he did percentage wise. Any tax incentives should be for the middle and lower classes not the wealthy.

Obama’s plan of increasing taxes for those making over a quarter of million a year is simple and sane and just. Romney thinks the middle class makes a quarter of a million per year; he is just out of touch. My complaint is, as it usually is of Obama’s plan, is that in tried to work with others he gives too much away. Tax rates ought to go back to the levels of the Reagan era (I’d prefer Eisenhower’s.)

More on Thanking Liberals

I’m not always a fan of Jesse Jackson but I love this quote, “America is a liberal idea…It’s hard to be an American conservative because that’s a contradiction of terms.” Inflammatory yes, but it contains truth.

From the founding liberal documents of the country: constitution, bill of rights, declaration of independence, etc., liberals have been the driving force in the American dream. Freedom itself is a liberal idea in contrast to the lack of it found in the countries we came from if our families immigrated here. They contain dreams and the rights to pursue them, to be happy and the government’s role is to protect and enhance those dreams and make them possible.

We can thank liberals for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Pell grants, protected bank deposits, minimum wage, weekends, vacations, public education, birth control, equal pay for equal work, Family and Medical Leave Act, civil rights, rural electrification, collective bargaining, Pure Food and Drug Act, land grant colleges, National park services, Federal Reserve, Securities and Exchange Commision National School lunch program, Voting Right Act, graduated income tax, etc. Conservatives such as Paul Ryan (and Mitt Romney depending on the day) fight these freedoms for reasons that confound me. When the work with liberals the country flourishes and the middle class benefits but all too often the fight these ideas that make life good. The Americans with Disabilities Act is a good example of when the parties worked together during George H.W. Bush’s era. And then conservatives fight against benefits for veterans even though they seem to like wars and building of the military (and the debt that goes with it.) The record shows conservative business and religious groups objected the disabilities act because they just didn’t want to spend the money; oh yes, keep it for the 1%.

Colmes does a neat play on words with Obamacare that conservative use derisively, but he sees it as Obama does care. Obama cared that 2.5 million young adults between 19 and 25 gained insurance coverage and the insurance companies are to spend at least 80% of premiums on care for people rather than outlandish salaries or overhead.

Thank the Liberals for Saving America

The above title is the title of a book by Alan Colmes. I’m loving it. He claims that everyone in this country is a liberal (from the Latin liber = free) and gives this test:

• ·      -  Do you believe that all men and women are created equal?
• ·     -   Do you relish being able to speak, assemble, and dissent without worry that the government will arrest you?
• ·        Are you thankful for Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid?
• ·        Do you enjoy have weekends, personal days, and vacations?
• ·        Have you ever loved someone regardless of his or her religious or political beliefs?
• ·        Should an uninsured patient in a coma be treated?
• ·        Are you thankful that the cost of your bananas isn’t higher?
• ·        Would you love your child the same if he or she were gay?
• ·        What if she told you she had an abortion?
• ·        Have you ever used birth control.

Colmes says if you answered 1-3 of these questions yes you have liberal tendencies; 3-6 you are a liberal; 7 or more you ACLU card is on the way.

He speaks of the country being founded by liberals and saw government as a good thing for people. He also sees Christianity as liberal in thought as well. I think I need to create my own test at this point?

• ·        Do you believe that God loves all people equally?
• ·        Do you believe that God sent us Jesus for our salvation/health?
• ·        Do you believe that the laws of God are gifts to help people live better with God and each other?
• ·        Do you believe Jesus exemplified the law and basically lived and taught the law simply to love God and neighbor and not to get caught up with legalistic details?
• ·        Do you believe that to lay down your life for the good of another is a great expression of love and faithfulness?
• ·        Do you believe that you have responsibility for your brothers and sisters?
• ·        Do you believe that the gospel means “good news” and bad news?
• ·        Do you believe that you cannot be a materialist slave to money and faithful to God simultaneously?

If so you are a liberal Christian. If you believe that you and yours come first before God and anything else; if you believe in getting yours even at the expense of others; if you believe that violence is reasonable  means of resolving conflict; if you believe you can judge who is going to heaven besides yourself; if you believe belittling other to make yourself look better you may be a Christian as well. A Christian is one who believes that Jesus is Lord. However, you are not practicing Christianity the way Jesus taught it. In fact, you are likely like the Pharisees that Jesus took on constantly in the gospels.

I Am Six Foot Seven Inches Tall and Can Do a Standing High Jump Over Two SUVs

Oh yes, I am very tall a veritable mountain of muscle who lettered in all sports in high school and college. I have an IQ equal to John Stewart Mills. When I sing women throw their underwear and room keys on the stage. I am a scratch golf player. I can drink a fifth of scotch and two bottles of wine and a couple of beers in the evening and remain absolutely sober. I was elected President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of my Senior college class. I have a six octave singing range. And I am Irish; need I say more?

All the above is absolutely true or at least as true as Paul Ryan’s claim that he ran a sub three hour marathon – “I had a two hour and fifty-something.” Kim Jong-Il had eleven holes in one in his first round of golf. Pat Robertson leg-pressed 2,000 lbs. when he was 76 years old. “The fundamentals of the economy are strong.” ~ Sen. John McCain 2008. “Read my lips: No new taxes.” George H.W. Bush – 2008. We seek no wider war.” Lyndon B. Johnson – 1964. Romney created 100,000 jobs while at Bain.

It’s just politics, we can say anything we want. Maybe I'll just talk to an empty chair.

It’s the Middle Class Stupid!

I just finished the book whose title is the article’s title by James Carville and Stan Greenberg. It was a great read that I think would benefit both conservatives as well as delight liberals. As the title states, they get at the heart of issues quickly, insightfully, and with great knowledge and experience. I took a number of notes throughout the book, which is a bit tricky with a Kindle, but I’m getting used to it. I won’t bore you with all of them, but there are some key pieces near the end of the book I’d like to share.

There is common interest by companies, the Chamber of Commerce along with progressives in simplifying the tax code and getting rid of special interest rates. There also seems commonality in folk wanting to simplify the tax code with fewer exemptions and lower rates that support families, children and encourage work. And practically no support of lowering taxes for the ultra wealthy.

Another area of commonality for conservatives and progressives is our disgust with campaign donations and spending that makes our lives miserable through interminable campaigns. We stand in danger of losing our two party system to the very rich who manipulate campaigns and lack integrity. We need more Sam Buffets and less hidden money people.

Similarly most folk know of the need to deal with energy issues more sensibly. Oil companies and environmental groups should be working together on long term goals and issues and give open investigations into the effects of things like fracking.

I am amazed that healthcare is not always a top priority for both parties. From Teddy Roosevelt on there has been talk of single payer, government sponsored health care for every American but we’ve only just touched on it with Obamacare which is merely a weakened form that Republican and Democrats have talked about for ages. It has huge implications for business and individuals but ideologies get in the way of common interests.

Along with this is the need of strengthening and not vilifying unions. They have been the backbone of middle class growth and prosperity, and when they have been healthy the nation has benefited. Currently unions do not carry a lot of political weight and influence.

The authors also talk about the need of immigration reform especially in how it affects industry, agriculture and white working-class and Latino communities. It is another one of the areas of high rhetoric that masks the real issues. We need to both open paths to citizenship which we have supported historically while stepping up enforcement in workplaces and the borders.

We also need to coalesce in dealing with fair policies with China. We need to understand that as their major client (debtor) we have a great deal of clout with their economy. We need to take them to task on state subsidized companies, manipulated currency, stealing intellectual property, backing internet hacking and our government has the power and needs the will to take them to task over these issues which will benefit all of our society.

There are far too many people in this country who just see the abuse of systems without supporting what these systems are intended to do; so fix them. There are numerous people of all political persuasions that just condemn the government without accepting responsibility as citizens to take control of our government.

It is about the middle class and the middle class needs to step up to the plate if we are going to survive and our country with it. The authors of this book are optimistic, likely more than I. As I said, it is a good read the lifts up real issues and provides areas where Americans can seen their common interests and the need for both political parties to work towards the common good.

The next book I’m eyeing is a memoir by Jeff Connaughton who has work as senior political advisor for and against Wall Street interests. He stands in sharp contrast to William b. Harrison, Jr., former chairman of J.P. Morgan Chase who argues that today’s megabanks are essential to our market economy. Connaughton refutes him at every point. Connaughton’s book is The Payoff: why Wall Street Always Wins.  It is seen as the perfect antidote to the disinformation of the megabanks. I’ve got in on my list but haven’t bought it yet; think I’ll read a bunch of novels to get leveled out first. But if any of you read it I’d like to hear from you.  For a good synopsis of the book go to http://baselinescenario.com/2012/08/25/one-man-against-the-wall-street-lobby/