It is not that I am insensitive to those in the path of major hurricanes that have hit the American coastline this year. But...I think in the wake of Katrina, today's campaigning politicians are going out of their way to show an impractical compassion for those victims...
What good did delaying the major speeches and arranging planned events for the first day of the Republican convention do to help those affected by Hurricane Gustav? What good did canceling Obama's appearance on SNL do to help those affected by Hurricane Ike? Nothing. Both of these actions were only decided upon for political reasons, not practical. If either candididate had cancelled their events to oversee recovery efforts, that would be a different story. But none of them did.
Ridiculous.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Where Should We Get Our News?
Well, it looks like MSNBC HAS been reading my e-mails. Keith Olbermann has been demoted (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/media/08msnbc.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&sq=convnetion%20coverage&st=cse&scp=1&oref=slogin)! Praise Jesus. It took them receiving the lowest ratings in political convention coverage two cycles in a row (Olbermann was only the host of convention coverage during the conventions this year, but not four years ago) to realize that clearly something has gone wrong with their coverage.
I never understood why MSNBC would put someone who is so adament about his views on camera to host the convention coverage. Not only is American journalism supposed to be un-biased (we will compare American journalism vs. British journalism in a future post), but the conventions themselves are essentially the most important political event to keep bias free from coverage!
This article exemplified a point I have been feeling for most of this year...MSNBC, which once was regarded by me and many others as a relatively unbiased location to get your news (except for the fact that MSNBC is tied to two of the biggest corporations in the world, Microsoft and General Electric) has turned decidedly to the left. We know that CNN is on the left (now that Olbermann has been demoted, I will be working diligently to bring the same fate to Wolf Blitzer). We know that FOX is on the right (to Fox's credit, Bill O'Reilly, the most controversial FOX news personality, does not take part in convention coverage). So it looks like major broadcast journalism has run its course for me.
Print journalism might be just as bad. I will have to investigate. I always hear that the New York Times is pretty liberal...I know their editorial page is, but I will gave their coverage a chance. I will probably try to compare it to the Washington Post, which is known as more conservative, and let you guys know what I think...
Until we meet again, goodbye!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Corporate and Small Business Taxes
Interesting reading:
http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/22917.html
http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/1471.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world
McCain on Corporate Taxes:
Keep Tax Rates Low: Entrepreneurs are at the heart of American innovation, growth and prosperity. Entrepreneurs create the ultimate job security - a new, better opportunity if your current job goes away. Entrepreneurs should not be taxed into submission. John McCain will keep the top tax rate at 35 percent, maintain the 15 percent rates on dividends and capital gains, and phase-out the Alternative Minimum Tax. Small businesses are the heart of job growth; raising taxes on them hurts every worker. John McCain's opponent wants to increase the marginal income tax rate which applies to the nation's 23 million small business owners who pay their taxes under the individual tax rate system.
Cut The Corporate Tax Rate From 35 To 25 Percent: A lower corporate tax rate is essential to keeping good jobs in the United States. America was once a low-tax business environment, but as our trade partners lowered their rates, America failed to keep pace. American workers deserve the chance to make fine products here and sell them around the globe.
Obama on Corporate Taxes:
Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families:Barack Obama will enact a windfall profits tax on excessive oil company profits to give American families an immediate $1,000 emergency energy rebate to help families pay rising bills. This relief would be a down payment on Obama's long-term plan to provide middle-class families with at least $1,000 per year in permanent tax relief.
End Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Jobs Overseas: Barack Obama believes that companies should not get billions of dollars in tax deductions for moving their operations overseas. Obama will also fight to ensure that public contracts are awarded to companies that are committed to American workers.
Reward Companies that Support American Workers: Barack Obama introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 with Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to reward companies that create good jobs with good benefits for American workers. The legislation would provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America relative to those outside the US; maintain their corporate headquarters in America if it has ever been in America; pay decent wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; and support employees who serve in the military.
Provide Tax Relief for Small Businesses and Start Up Companies: Barack Obama will eliminate all capital gains taxes on start-up and small businesses to encourage innovation and job creation. Obama will also support small business owners by providing a $500 “Making Work Pay” tax credit to almost every worker in America. Self-employed small business owners pay both the employee and the employer side of the payroll tax, and this measure will reduce the burdens of this double taxation.
The United States tax rate, after taking into account state and local taxes, currently ranks as the second highest, on average, in the world. It is more expensive for corporations to do business in these states than anywhere else on Earth:
These facts do not exactly provide incentive for corporations to keep their operations here in the United States or to bring them here from other areas of the world. It is obvious to me these tax rates need to be drastically cut in order to improve our economy and create jobs.
John McCain has proposed dropping the federal tax rate from 35% to 25%. This would certainly provide an additional incentive both for corporations to keep operations in the United States and for international corporations to bring operations to the United States. High taxes take away from the ability of a corporation to pay workers, and takes away the ability of a corporation to make a profit. If a corporation is unable to make a profit, they will go out of business or move to a different environment in which they are able to. It is essential to bring down the corporate tax rate to one that is more competitive. I believe this policy is very straightforward and will promote growth for the American economy. This policy does not directly affect jobs here in the United States, however. A company could be headquartered here in the United States, but ship their jobs overseas and receive the same tax credit.
Barak Obama is proposing a tax break for corporations that meet certain requirements related to jobs and payment/benefits for its employees. Barak Obama says he will end tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas. Barak Obama has also proposed tax breaks for companies that keep jobs in the United States:
http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senators_durbin/
This tax credit is equal to 1% of taxable income for corporations that meet various requirements. I think this plan is a great idea, as it ties tax breaks to American jobs. However, it does not provide as flashy of an incentive to corporations to keep their operations here at home, as they are only rewarded for doing so if they meet those certain requirements.
In terms of corporate taxes, both candidates tackle one side of the issue, but not the other. McCain's policy would keep corporate operations in the United States. Obama's policy would keep corporate jobs here in the United States. It is my opinion that each of the candidate's needs to devise a plan that address both operations (corporate tax rate moved down to 25%) being kept in the United States, and jobs. In today's worldwide economy, tax breaks can not just be reserved for corporations that keep a certain percentage of their jobs here at home. Tax breaks must be rewarded for those that are creating jobs here at home. On top of the flat rate of 25% that McCain proposes, I think we should take the requirements in Obama's plan and tie them to an additional 5% corporate profit break. This would work to keep corporations based on this country, as well as the jobs they create.
Barak Obama actually an edge on McCain when it comes to small businesses. Obama has proposed doing away with capital gains taxes all together for start-up and small businesses, while providing a $500 tax credit for each employee on a small business's payroll. McCain has porposed keeping the capital gains tax at 15%.
Thoughts?
http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/22917.html
http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/1471.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world
McCain on Corporate Taxes:
Keep Tax Rates Low: Entrepreneurs are at the heart of American innovation, growth and prosperity. Entrepreneurs create the ultimate job security - a new, better opportunity if your current job goes away. Entrepreneurs should not be taxed into submission. John McCain will keep the top tax rate at 35 percent, maintain the 15 percent rates on dividends and capital gains, and phase-out the Alternative Minimum Tax. Small businesses are the heart of job growth; raising taxes on them hurts every worker. John McCain's opponent wants to increase the marginal income tax rate which applies to the nation's 23 million small business owners who pay their taxes under the individual tax rate system.
Cut The Corporate Tax Rate From 35 To 25 Percent: A lower corporate tax rate is essential to keeping good jobs in the United States. America was once a low-tax business environment, but as our trade partners lowered their rates, America failed to keep pace. American workers deserve the chance to make fine products here and sell them around the globe.
Obama on Corporate Taxes:
Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families:Barack Obama will enact a windfall profits tax on excessive oil company profits to give American families an immediate $1,000 emergency energy rebate to help families pay rising bills. This relief would be a down payment on Obama's long-term plan to provide middle-class families with at least $1,000 per year in permanent tax relief.
End Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Jobs Overseas: Barack Obama believes that companies should not get billions of dollars in tax deductions for moving their operations overseas. Obama will also fight to ensure that public contracts are awarded to companies that are committed to American workers.
Reward Companies that Support American Workers: Barack Obama introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 with Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to reward companies that create good jobs with good benefits for American workers. The legislation would provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America relative to those outside the US; maintain their corporate headquarters in America if it has ever been in America; pay decent wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; and support employees who serve in the military.
Provide Tax Relief for Small Businesses and Start Up Companies: Barack Obama will eliminate all capital gains taxes on start-up and small businesses to encourage innovation and job creation. Obama will also support small business owners by providing a $500 “Making Work Pay” tax credit to almost every worker in America. Self-employed small business owners pay both the employee and the employer side of the payroll tax, and this measure will reduce the burdens of this double taxation.
The United States tax rate, after taking into account state and local taxes, currently ranks as the second highest, on average, in the world. It is more expensive for corporations to do business in these states than anywhere else on Earth:
These facts do not exactly provide incentive for corporations to keep their operations here in the United States or to bring them here from other areas of the world. It is obvious to me these tax rates need to be drastically cut in order to improve our economy and create jobs.
John McCain has proposed dropping the federal tax rate from 35% to 25%. This would certainly provide an additional incentive both for corporations to keep operations in the United States and for international corporations to bring operations to the United States. High taxes take away from the ability of a corporation to pay workers, and takes away the ability of a corporation to make a profit. If a corporation is unable to make a profit, they will go out of business or move to a different environment in which they are able to. It is essential to bring down the corporate tax rate to one that is more competitive. I believe this policy is very straightforward and will promote growth for the American economy. This policy does not directly affect jobs here in the United States, however. A company could be headquartered here in the United States, but ship their jobs overseas and receive the same tax credit.
Barak Obama is proposing a tax break for corporations that meet certain requirements related to jobs and payment/benefits for its employees. Barak Obama says he will end tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas. Barak Obama has also proposed tax breaks for companies that keep jobs in the United States:
http://obama.senate.gov/press/070802-senators_durbin/
This tax credit is equal to 1% of taxable income for corporations that meet various requirements. I think this plan is a great idea, as it ties tax breaks to American jobs. However, it does not provide as flashy of an incentive to corporations to keep their operations here at home, as they are only rewarded for doing so if they meet those certain requirements.
In terms of corporate taxes, both candidates tackle one side of the issue, but not the other. McCain's policy would keep corporate operations in the United States. Obama's policy would keep corporate jobs here in the United States. It is my opinion that each of the candidate's needs to devise a plan that address both operations (corporate tax rate moved down to 25%) being kept in the United States, and jobs. In today's worldwide economy, tax breaks can not just be reserved for corporations that keep a certain percentage of their jobs here at home. Tax breaks must be rewarded for those that are creating jobs here at home. On top of the flat rate of 25% that McCain proposes, I think we should take the requirements in Obama's plan and tie them to an additional 5% corporate profit break. This would work to keep corporations based on this country, as well as the jobs they create.
Barak Obama actually an edge on McCain when it comes to small businesses. Obama has proposed doing away with capital gains taxes all together for start-up and small businesses, while providing a $500 tax credit for each employee on a small business's payroll. McCain has porposed keeping the capital gains tax at 15%.
Thoughts?
It Could Be Worse
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/07/green.polar.bears.japan.ap/index.html
Yeah...at least I am not serving as host to a legion of algae.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Convention Thoughts
So...after watching Obama speak on Thursday (read the speech here: http://www.demconvention.com/barack-obama/ or listen to the speech here: https://donate.barackobama.com/page/content/acceptancespeechnd?source=feature_nom) and watching Fred Thompson speak yesterday (watch the speech here: http://www.gopconvention2008.com/videos/ or read the speech here: http://portal.gopconvention2008.com/speech/details.aspx?id=32), I just want to quickly compare Obama and Thomspon on taxes...
Obama:
"Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.
Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.
I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.
I will cut taxes - cut taxes - for 95% of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class."
Thompson:
"We need a President who understands that you don't make citizens prosperous by making Washington richer, and you don't lift an economic downturn by imposing one of the largest tax increases in American history.
Now our opponents tell you not to worry about their tax increases.
They tell you they are not going to tax your family.
No, they're just going to tax 'businesses'! So unless you buy something from a 'business', like groceries or clothes or gasoline ... or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small "business", don't worry ... it's not going to affect you.
They say they are not going to take any water out of your side of the bucket, just the 'other' side of the bucket! That's their idea of tax reform."
Obama says he is going to cut taxes in his speech. Read about the bill he voted for:
Excerpts from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23612342/ .
"The votes were mostly symbolic, but they put senators in both parties on the record for when the tax cuts actually expire in three years. Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain, Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, voted for the full roster of Bush tax cuts. Rivals Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., both voted against them.
Obama and Clinton both promise to reverse Bush's tax cuts for wealthier taxpayers, but the Democratic budget they'll be voting for would allow income tax rates to go up on individuals making as little as $31,850 and couples earning $63,700 or more.
Under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent.)"
I want to believe Obama, but I want to hear him answer to this article and these facts as presented to me by MSNBC (which leans longer and harder to the left with every new host...see Keith Olberman, Norah O'Donnal, Rachel Maddow, and David Gregory's recent promotions).
I just find it incredibly interesting to hear what each side has to say on taxes. No one really knows what is going to happen. It is incredibly hard to determine the truth of every single word spoken by the candidates on these issues.
I don't believe Obama when he says he will not raise my taxes until he answers specifically to the bill he voted for. If I just compared what Thompson said with what Obama said, I would be forced to believe one is lying...but after considering this MSNBC article, it is hard to believe Obama.
But...away from taxes, let's move to Laura Bush.
"On an issue that is close to my heart, President Bush initiated the most important education reforms in a generation - holding schools accountable and boosting funds for reading instruction. Today, student achievement is rising across the board, and test scores for minority students are at the highest they have ever been.
We all know how important is it for America to have judges who respect the constitution. Our whole nation can be proud of the two newest members of the Supreme Court...
Many in this arena, and many across our nation, are people of faith... The president has empowered faith based and community charities to partner with and help those in need. Engaging these groups is successful policy. One way we know this - across the country, 35 governors from both parties have started faith based and community initiatives of their own.
Here is another inspiring statistic. When my husband took office, fewer than 50,000 Africans suffering from AIDS were receiving the medicine they needed to survive. Thanks to the president's emergency plan for AIDS relief, that number is now nearly 2 million. You might call that "change you can really belief in".
George is using America's influence to lift up lives around the world. Millions of children are protected from malayria by mosquito nets the American people provide. In Afghanistan and Iraq, 50 million people are now living in freedom.
And lets not forget, President Bush has kept the American people safe."
I just wanted to present these relatively non-politicized points on Bush's presidency...he has his faults, but he did do some successful things. Like the war or hate the war, it is hard for anyone to say they would rather have 50 million in Afghanistan and Iraq living in the political conditions they were living in before (this is different than the debate of whether or not we should have did what we did), and it is even more difficult to say the President made this country less safe, even though the record of terrorist attacks on American soil since September 11, at this point, proves otherwise.
Obama:
"Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.
Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.
I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.
I will cut taxes - cut taxes - for 95% of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class."
Thompson:
"We need a President who understands that you don't make citizens prosperous by making Washington richer, and you don't lift an economic downturn by imposing one of the largest tax increases in American history.
Now our opponents tell you not to worry about their tax increases.
They tell you they are not going to tax your family.
No, they're just going to tax 'businesses'! So unless you buy something from a 'business', like groceries or clothes or gasoline ... or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small "business", don't worry ... it's not going to affect you.
They say they are not going to take any water out of your side of the bucket, just the 'other' side of the bucket! That's their idea of tax reform."
Obama says he is going to cut taxes in his speech. Read about the bill he voted for:
Excerpts from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/
"The votes were mostly symbolic, but they put senators in both parties on the record for when the tax cuts actually expire in three years. Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain, Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, voted for the full roster of Bush tax cuts. Rivals Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., both voted against them.
Obama and Clinton both promise to reverse Bush's tax cuts for wealthier taxpayers, but the Democratic budget they'll be voting for would allow income tax rates to go up on individuals making as little as $31,850 and couples earning $63,700 or more.
Under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent.)"
I want to believe Obama, but I want to hear him answer to this article and these facts as presented to me by MSNBC (which leans longer and harder to the left with every new host...see Keith Olberman, Norah O'Donnal, Rachel Maddow, and David Gregory's recent promotions).
I just find it incredibly interesting to hear what each side has to say on taxes. No one really knows what is going to happen. It is incredibly hard to determine the truth of every single word spoken by the candidates on these issues.
I don't believe Obama when he says he will not raise my taxes until he answers specifically to the bill he voted for. If I just compared what Thompson said with what Obama said, I would be forced to believe one is lying...but after considering this MSNBC article, it is hard to believe Obama.
But...away from taxes, let's move to Laura Bush.
"On an issue that is close to my heart, President Bush initiated the most important education reforms in a generation - holding schools accountable and boosting funds for reading instruction. Today, student achievement is rising across the board, and test scores for minority students are at the highest they have ever been.
We all know how important is it for America to have judges who respect the constitution. Our whole nation can be proud of the two newest members of the Supreme Court...
Many in this arena, and many across our nation, are people of faith... The president has empowered faith based and community charities to partner with and help those in need. Engaging these groups is successful policy. One way we know this - across the country, 35 governors from both parties have started faith based and community initiatives of their own.
Here is another inspiring statistic. When my husband took office, fewer than 50,000 Africans suffering from AIDS were receiving the medicine they needed to survive. Thanks to the president's emergency plan for AIDS relief, that number is now nearly 2 million. You might call that "change you can really belief in".
George is using America's influence to lift up lives around the world. Millions of children are protected from malayria by mosquito nets the American people provide. In Afghanistan and Iraq, 50 million people are now living in freedom.
And lets not forget, President Bush has kept the American people safe."
I just wanted to present these relatively non-politicized points on Bush's presidency...he has his faults, but he did do some successful things. Like the war or hate the war, it is hard for anyone to say they would rather have 50 million in Afghanistan and Iraq living in the political conditions they were living in before (this is different than the debate of whether or not we should have did what we did), and it is even more difficult to say the President made this country less safe, even though the record of terrorist attacks on American soil since September 11, at this point, proves otherwise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)