Taxes. What a concept. Is there any way to satisfy those who believe progressive taxation is a more fair distribution of burden, those who believe the only fair formula is that everyone should pay the same percentage, and those who think that we should abolish federal taxes altogether and pay as we play? Personally, I believe…
Welfare Queens and NyQuil
I had a dream where America settled down for a day. We all took a collective breath and did some research about social spending along with doing a little math. My dream was inspired by a news report that I saw, as I was nodding off, about how a big part of the budget controversy,…
From a Lump of Clayson
There is a columnist in town who has a weekly op-ed in the Waterloo Courier that, intentionally, serves no other purpose but to degrade liberalism and to raise conservatism to the rank of flawless and divine wisdom. Week after week I dismiss his rambling demagoguery as merely venting from a confused mind, and even though…
All You Can Eat (Warren) Buffet
“Higher taxes mean fewer jobs,“ proclaimed Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Romney was opposing what is being called “The Buffet Rule” which would end the tax loopholes that bring his tax rate down to around 15%. Romney is hoping that the average American, who pays over 20%, still hates math and won’t investigate the matter too…
The Pampered Cows
by Gary “Aesop” Kroeger there were two brothers who were dairy farmers. Each had been given by their father the same number of cows and acres and each had an old rundown barn. The brothers were very competitive but they shared a common goal; each wanted to be the most successful dairy farmer in the county. On the…
6 Degrees of Abomination
A letter appeared on the internet in 2000. It was addressed to Dr. Laura Schlessinger who had pronounced on her radio show that “homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22; and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.” The letter has been attributed to several sources, including Aaron Sorkin (and a version was used on “The West…
Loose Stool Economics
The following is a parable that keeps circulating on the internet. I consistently receive it from my conservative friends because they view it as a reasonable example of how our tax system exploits the rich. Read it and then read my version. They call theirs: Bar Stool Economics Every day, ten men go out for…
Palin By Comparison
Sarah Palin seems to be front and center again. Or maybe she’s where she’s always been; front and to the right, just off the radar of relevance but close enough to receive a Queen’s coronation when she steps into the spotlight of what she’s coined as “lamestream media.” The bio-pic “Game Change” aired last month…
Let’s Get Syria-us
It must seem to some that I will blindly support President Obama no matter what he does. I support healthcare reform, financial reform, Keynsian stimulus, the President’s cautious position on Libya and now his caution toward Syria. Perhaps that is what people do as a general rule; we assume that our party leadership is correct and that…
Remembering a good man
I knew of Ron Knapp for years, but I didn’t really know him until I moved back to the Cedar Valley just over 8 years ago. We were the same age but we didn’t cross paths until I ran into him at a bar in Cedar Falls in 2003. I had just been hired as…