I add the emphasis to taxable income, because for those politicians and pundits that believe tax cuts are akin to the Lord’s Prayer, a very unlikely view of the American landscape exists. Precious few small businesses, of the type most of us would identify with that label, generate taxable income in excess of $200,000. Corner markets, craft stores, pizza parlors, hair salons, craft stores, boutiques, Avon ladies, independent contractors…none of these are likely to reach that plateau. Even as a sole proprietor, and cutting no corners on the filing and writing off no expenses or material, Joe the Plumber might be expected to reach $120,000 in gross income for a year.
Archive for July 2010
One War Ends, As Another Rages On
Even as we leave the Iraq War, and its legacy of lies, money, and greed behind, we remain entangled in another conflict. Currently, some 94,000 U.S. soldiers are deployed to Afghanistan, with the number scheduled to stay at that level until August of 2011. The troops are engaged in a wide-ranging series of efforts that recall the scope and complexity of the Viet Nam era.
Bailouts And Stimulus, What The Heck?
Of course, some of this is the responsibility of our current president, while some of the “blame” goes to the previous president. It is my contention that most of this activity was necessary and effective, if not always executed with the greatest efficiency. Our economy is in a bad way now, but it would have been much, much worse. I think it is critical that we explore these issues, because the policies that made them necessary are threatening to make a second pass. The story of the Great Recession is a story of Americans spending a great deal of money without getting much of substance in return.
Transparency And National Security
The difficulties, and sometimes the impossibilities, associated with transparency are not meant to dissuade one from demanding it. I am merely making a plea for reasonable understanding of the realities of the process. It is important that we be honest in our affairs, and humans have a natural tendency to protect themselves by withholding information. Just ask your teenagers. In the case of military operations and other issues of national security, being honest in our affairs takes on a very different context. The cavalier manner with which some “journalists” dismiss that context is appalling.
Much Ado About Nothing
With Mrs. Palin, I understand some of the reporting. If she purports to continue her political career, it is the responsibility of political journalists to cover her professional activities. But her activities on Facebook and Twitter ought to be left out of normal coverage. Record those statements to be sure, they become relevant if and when she declares a candidacy; but leave her out of the daily rundowns. The paradox of her coverage is that many who report her sometimes outlandish statements are motivated to do so out of a sense of righteous indignation. In covering the former governor, they give her the kind of publicity and public platform that usually takes huge amounts of money to maintain.
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