The IRS Pencil Sharpener
How many of you felt this way during tax season this year? You know if the FairTax was ever to become lawApril 15 and the days leading up to it become just regular spring days.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
American Workers Suffer as US becomes home to highest corporate taxes in World
According to a new study from the Tax Foundation the U.S. ranks second in the World, trailing Japan for having the highest corporate taxes. On a more disturbing note 24 states ranked higher than Japan on the list. Iowa having the highest corporate tax rates in the World at 41.6%
States known for their fairly low state-level corporate tax rates such as Nevada , South Dakota , and Wyoming was still higher than France and 25 other countries at 35%
32 states have a combined corporate tax rate higher than third-ranked Germany , 46 states higher than fourth-ranked Canada and all 50 states were higher than fifth ranked France .
This could be one of the reasons for a failing economy. It is definitely a reason for jobs leaving the US .
“This is startling news for America ’s business and workers,” said Tax Foundation president Scott Hodge. “Tax competition for jobs and investments is fierce, and the US continues to fall further and further behind. Our states should be the world’s leaders in many things, but high taxation should not be one of them. The high federal corporate tax rate is literally crushing states’ competitive abilities. That means fewer jobs for American workers.”
Don’t expect this new study to get much play in the mainstream media. Why? Well because taxes are boring, and stories like Obama and his pastor, or a real good sex scandal will always get better ratings than taxes. Plus the media really just doesn’t want you to know or understand these things. It goes directly against the liberal agenda that we need higher taxes on evil corporations.
This study rejects that idea and shows that a lot of US states are taxing the providers of jobs higher than any other developed country in the world. Anyone who knows the slightest thing about economics will immediately see this could be a problem.
Those who have read my writing for a while know I have always made the claim workers suffer the most when their employers are forced to pay high corporate taxes, but don’t take my word for it. In a related study the Tax Foundation found workers bear 70% of the burden of corporate income taxes.
You want to bring jobs back to America ? You want to revive the economy? Here is a crazy idea, how about the FairTax? It would make the US corporate tax system the most competitive in the world by eliminating it. Imagine how many jobs would flock to America if there were no corporate taxes.
States known for their fairly low state-level corporate tax rates such as Nevada , South Dakota , and Wyoming was still higher than France and 25 other countries at 35%
32 states have a combined corporate tax rate higher than third-ranked Germany , 46 states higher than fourth-ranked Canada and all 50 states were higher than fifth ranked France .
This could be one of the reasons for a failing economy. It is definitely a reason for jobs leaving the US .
“This is startling news for America ’s business and workers,” said Tax Foundation president Scott Hodge. “Tax competition for jobs and investments is fierce, and the US continues to fall further and further behind. Our states should be the world’s leaders in many things, but high taxation should not be one of them. The high federal corporate tax rate is literally crushing states’ competitive abilities. That means fewer jobs for American workers.”
Don’t expect this new study to get much play in the mainstream media. Why? Well because taxes are boring, and stories like Obama and his pastor, or a real good sex scandal will always get better ratings than taxes. Plus the media really just doesn’t want you to know or understand these things. It goes directly against the liberal agenda that we need higher taxes on evil corporations.
This study rejects that idea and shows that a lot of US states are taxing the providers of jobs higher than any other developed country in the world. Anyone who knows the slightest thing about economics will immediately see this could be a problem.
Those who have read my writing for a while know I have always made the claim workers suffer the most when their employers are forced to pay high corporate taxes, but don’t take my word for it. In a related study the Tax Foundation found workers bear 70% of the burden of corporate income taxes.
You want to bring jobs back to America ? You want to revive the economy? Here is a crazy idea, how about the FairTax? It would make the US corporate tax system the most competitive in the world by eliminating it. Imagine how many jobs would flock to America if there were no corporate taxes.
Who says we're in a recession and what exactly is it?
In just the last few months, the economy has become the topic of many conversations. The word recession has been used 141 times in the Congressional Record this year and it is only May. Even presidential hopeful John McCain said Monday he believes the country is in recession, adding “these are very, very tough times in America.”
So what exactly constitutes tough times in America, and what exactly is a recession? Are we really in a recession?
If you were to take an economics class you would learn that a recession is a decline in a country's real gross domestic product or negative real economic growth, for two or more successive quarters of a year. That is the text book definition.
So if you go by the text book definition, we are not in a recession. We have come close to the text book definition, but not quite there.
Of course the text book definition isn't good enough to determine if we are in a recession or not. In the US we have something called the Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research. This seven person panel is who decides whether the US is in a recession or not. I guess the text book definition was not good enough.
Anyways, it turns out that three members of this committee are also contributors and advisors to either John McCain and Barack Obama.
So why is this such a big deal? Well, because right now the economy is the number one issue on the campaign trail, and America goes into “economical shock” when they here the word recession. Knowing that, do you suppose there might be some political motivation for and against labeling the economy in a recession? I think so. No political party has ever retained the presidency when the country was in recession. It would be safe to say John McCain has a lot riding on this panel.
Of course the members of the panel promise us their political considerations do not enter into their calculations. Uh....sure...advisors to political campaigns would never have political considerations.
So what exactly constitutes tough times in America, and what exactly is a recession? Are we really in a recession?
If you were to take an economics class you would learn that a recession is a decline in a country's real gross domestic product or negative real economic growth, for two or more successive quarters of a year. That is the text book definition.
So if you go by the text book definition, we are not in a recession. We have come close to the text book definition, but not quite there.
Of course the text book definition isn't good enough to determine if we are in a recession or not. In the US we have something called the Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research. This seven person panel is who decides whether the US is in a recession or not. I guess the text book definition was not good enough.
Anyways, it turns out that three members of this committee are also contributors and advisors to either John McCain and Barack Obama.
So why is this such a big deal? Well, because right now the economy is the number one issue on the campaign trail, and America goes into “economical shock” when they here the word recession. Knowing that, do you suppose there might be some political motivation for and against labeling the economy in a recession? I think so. No political party has ever retained the presidency when the country was in recession. It would be safe to say John McCain has a lot riding on this panel.
Of course the members of the panel promise us their political considerations do not enter into their calculations. Uh....sure...advisors to political campaigns would never have political considerations.
Incredible Moments During the Democratic Debate
There were two significantly incredible moments from the Democratic debate Wednesday night. The first one involved Barack Obama and the second Hillary Clinton.
Barack Obama was reminded that when capital gains taxes are cut federal revenues increase and when capital gains taxes are raised federal revenues decrease. Then asked in light of those statistics why was he campaigning for an increase in capital gains taxes? Obama's answer... “Capital gains taxes should go up out of fairness.”
There you have it. Spoken like a true liberal jack ass. Barack Obama believes that taxes should be used to make things more “fair.” In other words, taxes are not just for the legitimate operations of government, but to take from people who are making to much money and redistributing that money to those making too little.
So if you want to live in a place where politicians determine how much of the money you earn would be fair to keep, and how much should be taken and redistributed to someone else then Obama is your man.
I would prefer the wisdom of author Frederic Bastiat who writes in his book “The Law:” “If the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. If the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay...If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.”
Hillary Clinton says we're pulling out of Iraq no matter what if she is elected!
The other significantly incredible moment is when Hillary Clinton was asked, If the top generals and commanders of the U.S. Military came to you and told you pulling out of Iraq would completely destabilize the region and was the wrong thing to do, would you still pull troops out of Iraq? Clinton didn't even hesitate to answer “yes, absolutely.” She then went on to promise troops would begin to leave Iraq in six months if she is elected.
This comes from a candidate who voted in support of the war. She now wants to cut and run. This answer would have been more acceptable to me if Clinton had actually voted against the war, but it still would have been the wrong answer.
In fact a good friend, John, and I just had this conversation a couple days ago. I supported and agreed with the invasion of Iraq. John did not agree with the invasion or the war in Iraq. However, we both agree we must stay and finish the job in Iraq. John told me the consequences of leaving Iraq at this time are to great.
We both agreed the debate on whether or not the invasion and war in Iraq was right or wrong is irrelevant. We now must deal with the situation and prevent the region from destabilizing.
Another thing, pulling out of Iraq sends a clear message to our enemies that America will always leave before the job is finished. A message the Taliban has used since Somalia in their Information War campaign.
Barack Obama was reminded that when capital gains taxes are cut federal revenues increase and when capital gains taxes are raised federal revenues decrease. Then asked in light of those statistics why was he campaigning for an increase in capital gains taxes? Obama's answer... “Capital gains taxes should go up out of fairness.”
There you have it. Spoken like a true liberal jack ass. Barack Obama believes that taxes should be used to make things more “fair.” In other words, taxes are not just for the legitimate operations of government, but to take from people who are making to much money and redistributing that money to those making too little.
So if you want to live in a place where politicians determine how much of the money you earn would be fair to keep, and how much should be taken and redistributed to someone else then Obama is your man.
I would prefer the wisdom of author Frederic Bastiat who writes in his book “The Law:” “If the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. If the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay...If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.”
Hillary Clinton says we're pulling out of Iraq no matter what if she is elected!
The other significantly incredible moment is when Hillary Clinton was asked, If the top generals and commanders of the U.S. Military came to you and told you pulling out of Iraq would completely destabilize the region and was the wrong thing to do, would you still pull troops out of Iraq? Clinton didn't even hesitate to answer “yes, absolutely.” She then went on to promise troops would begin to leave Iraq in six months if she is elected.
This comes from a candidate who voted in support of the war. She now wants to cut and run. This answer would have been more acceptable to me if Clinton had actually voted against the war, but it still would have been the wrong answer.
In fact a good friend, John, and I just had this conversation a couple days ago. I supported and agreed with the invasion of Iraq. John did not agree with the invasion or the war in Iraq. However, we both agree we must stay and finish the job in Iraq. John told me the consequences of leaving Iraq at this time are to great.
We both agreed the debate on whether or not the invasion and war in Iraq was right or wrong is irrelevant. We now must deal with the situation and prevent the region from destabilizing.
Another thing, pulling out of Iraq sends a clear message to our enemies that America will always leave before the job is finished. A message the Taliban has used since Somalia in their Information War campaign.
Anti-War Flicks losing at the box office
The only thing Hollywood likes more these days than a good bashing of President George W. Bush is a good old anti-war flick. Preferably about Iraq, because we all know it has nothing to do with 9-11 and there was no al Qaeda in Iraq until that Evil Nazi incompetent cowboy of a president sent us in their to fight a war we can’t win and have already loss…Sorry folks just trying to get in touch with my liberal side here…
Although not the first, recently there was the film Redacted directed by Brian De Palma and produced by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Cuban and De Palma made the anti-war film portraying U.S. Soldiers in Iraq in bad light focusing on an isolated incident where four U.S. Soldiers end up brutally raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl. Of course De Palma fails to tell his audience all four Soldiers were arrested and charged. Three are serving life sentences and one is currently on trial facing the death penalty. Just like other anti-war flicks, Redacted bombed at the box office and was a complete flop.
Now we have a new anti-war flick named Stop-Loss. Stop-Loss is about a U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and is awarded a Bronze Star for courage under fire in Iraq . He decides not to re-enlist and instead get out of the Army, but on his last day on active duty, the Army initiates their stop-loss policy sending him back to Iraq . It is not doing as bad at the box office as Redacted, but it is definitely not turning any heads either.
Now unlike Redacted I have not seen Stop-Loss, but after watching the movie trailer and reading the reviews, I know it is a movie about a Soldier “involuntarily” fighting a war that is unpopular. So why are these films unpopular?
One reason may be we don’t need a war movie to remind us that war is hell…bad things happen to good and bad people in war. We already know this, and the mainstream media has already bombarded us with the same themes from these anti-war flicks. They have done an excellent job of hammering the idea home to the point of ignoring any good or encouraging news about the conflict.
These films are predictable, just like Redacted we have Soldiers who don’t want to fight. To have a Soldier actually believe in the cause and want to serve and fight for it would reek of absolute patriotism and that is definitely not going to get you on the A-list at all the cool parties in Hollywood .
Also making movies about the not so isolated evil atrocities committed by the enemy we fight will leave you standing alone with no one to talk to at the cocktail party too.
Just like always though, Hollywood knows better. They know the reason these films have failed. A spokesperson from Paramount film says “It’s a function of the marketplace not being ready to address this conflict in a dramatic way because the war itself is something that’s unresolved.”
So it is the movie watchers fault. It is your fault…the audience is too stupid to realize the war is already lost, therefore can’t fully enjoy or appreciate these films.
Isn’t it interesting you don’t hear that it is the audience’s inability to connect when it is a Paris Hilton film that flops.
But I guess what bothers me the most about these films is being lectured by Hollywood elitists who have never seen America or its military in a good light to begin with.
I think most Americans, no matter what they think about the war in Iraq , don’t want to watch films showing are military or country in a bad light. Uh Oh…that reeks of patriotism doesn’t it…Guess I won’t be making any of the Hollywood A-lists for cocktail parties anytime soon…I am heartbroken…really I am.
Although not the first, recently there was the film Redacted directed by Brian De Palma and produced by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Cuban and De Palma made the anti-war film portraying U.S. Soldiers in Iraq in bad light focusing on an isolated incident where four U.S. Soldiers end up brutally raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl. Of course De Palma fails to tell his audience all four Soldiers were arrested and charged. Three are serving life sentences and one is currently on trial facing the death penalty. Just like other anti-war flicks, Redacted bombed at the box office and was a complete flop.
Now we have a new anti-war flick named Stop-Loss. Stop-Loss is about a U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and is awarded a Bronze Star for courage under fire in Iraq . He decides not to re-enlist and instead get out of the Army, but on his last day on active duty, the Army initiates their stop-loss policy sending him back to Iraq . It is not doing as bad at the box office as Redacted, but it is definitely not turning any heads either.
Now unlike Redacted I have not seen Stop-Loss, but after watching the movie trailer and reading the reviews, I know it is a movie about a Soldier “involuntarily” fighting a war that is unpopular. So why are these films unpopular?
One reason may be we don’t need a war movie to remind us that war is hell…bad things happen to good and bad people in war. We already know this, and the mainstream media has already bombarded us with the same themes from these anti-war flicks. They have done an excellent job of hammering the idea home to the point of ignoring any good or encouraging news about the conflict.
These films are predictable, just like Redacted we have Soldiers who don’t want to fight. To have a Soldier actually believe in the cause and want to serve and fight for it would reek of absolute patriotism and that is definitely not going to get you on the A-list at all the cool parties in Hollywood .
Also making movies about the not so isolated evil atrocities committed by the enemy we fight will leave you standing alone with no one to talk to at the cocktail party too.
Just like always though, Hollywood knows better. They know the reason these films have failed. A spokesperson from Paramount film says “It’s a function of the marketplace not being ready to address this conflict in a dramatic way because the war itself is something that’s unresolved.”
So it is the movie watchers fault. It is your fault…the audience is too stupid to realize the war is already lost, therefore can’t fully enjoy or appreciate these films.
Isn’t it interesting you don’t hear that it is the audience’s inability to connect when it is a Paris Hilton film that flops.
But I guess what bothers me the most about these films is being lectured by Hollywood elitists who have never seen America or its military in a good light to begin with.
I think most Americans, no matter what they think about the war in Iraq , don’t want to watch films showing are military or country in a bad light. Uh Oh…that reeks of patriotism doesn’t it…Guess I won’t be making any of the Hollywood A-lists for cocktail parties anytime soon…I am heartbroken…really I am.
Barak Obama doesn't think his church is controversial
Barack Obama claims he just doesn't particularly see the controversy in his church. “I don't think my church is actually particularly controversial.” he tells ABC news in this you tube video.
I don't know about you, but when a presidential candidate sits in a congregation for 20 years where hatred of America was regularly preached a red light goes off.
Of course, we are not suppose to be concerned of the radical words of Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The fact that he preached “God Damn America...for killing innocent people”...referring to the “US of KKKA”or that “we brought 9-11 onto ourselves” isn't controversial at all. He even labels black republicans as sell outs.
I suppose the fact that Obama gave more than 25,000 to this church last year is not controversial either. Let a republican give a penny to a white church that preaches racial hatred and see if he can get away with “I don't see the controversy.”
I don't know about you, but when a presidential candidate sits in a congregation for 20 years where hatred of America was regularly preached a red light goes off.
Of course, we are not suppose to be concerned of the radical words of Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The fact that he preached “God Damn America...for killing innocent people”...referring to the “US of KKKA”or that “we brought 9-11 onto ourselves” isn't controversial at all. He even labels black republicans as sell outs.
I suppose the fact that Obama gave more than 25,000 to this church last year is not controversial either. Let a republican give a penny to a white church that preaches racial hatred and see if he can get away with “I don't see the controversy.”
Big T's Suggestested Reading and Viewing from around the web.
According to a newspaper in Britain the US is now in a Great Depression…It isn’t that bad yet…hard times are a coming though.
Uh oh...looks like we have our first wounded in the global war on global warming! Some enviromental nut-jobs are now suffering from eco-anxiety and may need eco-therapy. Seriously folks, this is a real new disorder.
An Afghan legislative committee has drafted a bill with Taliban-style Islamic morality codes banning women from wearing make-up in public and forbidding young boys from wearing female fashions.
Looks like Great Britain has an immigration problem as well. Great Britain is shocked one out of every five killings is committed by a foreigner there.
Chevron is being sued by environmental activists for committing “environmental sins” I guess those environmentalist must have seen the new sins from the Vatican.
NYC restaurants with more than 15 outlets will be required to put calorie information on menus. This new regulation is believed to prevent 150,000 New Yorkers from becoming obese. Yeah...that should work.
Looks like John McCain is digging in the trenches and plans on running one of the most unconventional campaigns in recent history. Why? He doesn't have much money.
It seems there are some republicans emerging to endorse Barack Obama. They are being called Obamacans…You know…RINO’s like Lincoln Chafee and Chuck Hagel who were never really republicans anyway.
If you are in Pinal County, Arizona make sure you are going to be indoors before putting your dancing shoes on. It is illegal for people to dance outdoors! Isn’t government great.
Here is the mother of all time wasters, the Museum of Online Museums. It is like the Smithsonian of the internet!
At 4 inches and weighing in at 18 ounces meet what may be the world's smallest dog. A Chihuahua named Dancer.
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