Tag Archives: taxes

Why Do Grandmas (Post-Menopausal Women) Exist?

Judith Shulevitz at The New Republic homes in on two theories: the “stopping-early hypothesis” and the “grandmother hypothesis”: In 1957, the evolutionary biologist George Williams proposed what is called the “stopping-early” hypothesis: Middle-age women need baby-free time to usher their youngest children into … Continue reading

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An Effective New Romney Tax Returns Ad

__________ Drip, drip, drip. Why doesn’t he just release a decade or so of his tax returns, and be done with it?

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Mitt Romney’s Gift Tax ZERO is What He’s Likely Hiding (According to Michael Graetz, Professor of Tax Law at Columbia)

Michael Graetz, writing in the New York Times this week, claims to have a pretty good idea what Mitt Romney is hiding about his taxes: he has probably valued the assets he gave to his children at ZERO. Here’s Graetz: … Continue reading

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Is Barack Obama Doing a Jerry Brown?

On the debt ceiling debate, this seems to me a good sign (from the New York Times today): “We don’t need a minideal,” Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat, said Wednesday on the Senate floor. “We … Continue reading

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At Last, an Honest Budget: Why I’m Glad Jerry Brown is Governor of California

When Jerry Brown ran for governor last year, I voted for him. One reason I did so was because I believed that he would be likely to keep everything above-board, budget-wise. He has delivered in spades. After recently vetoing a budget … Continue reading

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A Sign of the Times

It’s not just car factories that are disappearing from Michigan. Property owners in Troy appear indifferent to keeping their library open. Ironically, Troy’s official motto is “The City of Tomorrow, Today.” I guess libraries are relics of the past. Note the 1970s architectural style of … Continue reading

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California’s Governor, Jerry Brown, Gives a Great Speech

California Governor Jerry Brown gave an extraordinary State of the State speech yesterday. He anchored it in democratic principle and didn’t in any way evade the budget issues facing the state. It reminds me of why I voted for him: And … Continue reading

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The Looming Debt Ceiling Crisis

Personally, I welcome the looming debt ceiling crisis. It seems to me an opportunity for the two parties to hammer out some sort of real government reforms. I genuinely think we’re heading for a crisis akin to Greece’s a decade … Continue reading

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US Government Spending is about 45% of America’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

That’s a high number, and not seen since World War II. And it needs to come down. My prediction: as the economy recovers over the next few years, the percentage will drift downward, below 40% (and Republicans will not notice). … Continue reading

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Was IRS Tea Bomber Joe Stack (1956-2010) an Atheist?

Maybe suicide terrorism isn’t the preserve of fanatic religionists afterall. In Joe Stack’s suicide web rant, which he posted just prior to flying a plane into an Austin office building filled with IRS employees, there is evidence that he was an antitheist of … Continue reading

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Fleeing Obama’s America? Obsidian Wings Deconstructs the Inane Libertarian “Going Galt” Ayn Rand Movement

Some Ayn Rand enthusiasts have it in their heads that they are indispensible to the running of the global economy, and are now speaking of “Going Galt”—taking leave of our now thoroughly collectivized—and Obamaized—civilization, and taking up residence together in … Continue reading

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Long Lines a Poll Tax?

Rachel Maddow thinks so. How much do you make an hour—and how long did you have to wait to vote?

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Colin Powell, Outside the Studio, Articulately Reaffirms the Reasons for His Obama Endorsement

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Memo to Sarah Palin: This is What Democracy Looks Like. A Good Exhange Between Bill O’Reilly and Barack Obama on Taxes

Barack Obama does an extended sit-down interview, where he receives tough questions, from Bill O’Reilly. Sarah Palin needs to start doing the same, and with people who aren’t necessarily sympathetic toward her. This is what democracy looks like:

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