Fuck its silent in here.......

[R-V]

So aside from semantics over what is or isn't a tax increase - I don't want to speak for Klein, but in reading some of his prior posts I think what he's getting at is that if we hold the following to be true:

- Long term deficits are bad
- Starve the beast doesn't work

Then we're going to need some level of revenue increases (as well as spending cuts) to get long-term deficits under control.

All this means that it's worth having a discussion over an optimal set of tax rates. Not necessarily the rate that will generate the most revenue or the least revenue for the government. The discussion begins with one's judgment of where the Laffer Curve bends - that's the upper limit of what's on the table. And I'm definitely interested to hear what elected Democrats think.

Personally, I agree with Bartlett's take that 50% rates are, psychologically at least, confiscatory. I also think that it's asinine that we have different tax brackets for individuals earning 30k and 40k - yet an individual making 375k is in the same bracket as an individual making 40 million. Short of comprehensive reform (which is unlikely considering the how dysfunctional the Senate is at the moment) I think we could use a few brackets on the upper end.

[Eli]

The current tax structure has been in place for nearly a decade. By letting the tax cuts expire, that is a de facto tax increase. Are we comfortable with this?

For whatever reason, this phrasing reminded me of when Wood and Prior would come off the disabled list and the Cubs would liken it to trading for a superstar.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

A search for "JetBlue" gave me this...

Last link, but an interesting rule change from our sister agency, the National Mediation Board:

The National Mediation Board, the body that oversees airline and railway labor negotiations under the Railway Labor Act, yesterday authorized changes that would in effect lower the number of votes required to form a new union. The decision could have profound effects at airlines such as Delta Air Lines and JetBlue, where unions have fought to gain a foothold.

Is there no harbor safe from Obama's tyranny?

Workers were previously required to gain a majority of the entire class of workers to win collective bargaining rights, meaning that "no-shows" counted against the union. Under the new rules workers will be allowed to organize if they win a simple majority of those who vote.

Oh.  So, those elections will be counted like every other damn election in this country.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b2d37082-5c94-11df-bb38-00144feab49a.html

Bet this guy wishes he could file a grievance with his union...

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2010/08/09/fed-up-flight-attendant-pops-planes-emergency-chute-at-jfk-slides-away/

A jetBlue flight attendant upset because a passenger refused to apologize after accidentally striking him with luggage, allegedly spewed obscenities over the PA system, then activated and slid down a plane's emergency chute before disappearing into a terminal at John F. Kennedy airport Monday, an airport official said.

JetBlue Flight 1052 from Pittsburgh had taxied to a stop at Terminal 5, Gate C around noon Monday when flight attendant Steven Slater, 38, was struck in the head with luggage that a passenger was trying to unload from an overhead compartment, according to an airport official with knowledge of the incident.

Slater demanded an apology from the passenger, the official said, but the passenger refused. The two argued before the passenger told Slater to  "f— off", the official said. The official said that Slater then got on the plane's PA system and directed that same obscenity at all the passengers and added that he especially meant it for the man who refused to apologize.

Slater is alleged to have then activated the plane's inflatable emergency slide, grabbed two beers from the galley, then slid down the chute, the official said.

...

Gawker unearthed what appears to be Slater's MySpace page, which mentions overcoming alcohol and substance abuse, and includes comments about how he 'loves to max it out with trips around the world, sometimes on a moment's notice!'

MySpace?

[Lance Dicksons Arm]

For the sake of stating my position somewhat succinctly, I choose to roll dice with Friedman, Laffer, and Morpheus on this.

That said, even if I were wrong, this tax rollback would be such a small difference in net revenue that it's not even worth focusing on.   It's probably a few billion either way.  If the end is to balance a budget, cutting is the ONLY means to get there.  Everything else is just noise. 

Giving the Keynesians in the room the benefit of the doubt momentarily.  Any minor revenue shortfall that MAY exist from this tax cut is dwarfed by the amount that the government will lose over 10-20 years with Obamacare...that is, unless you are silly enough to believe the government revenue assumptions in that bill (which would be completely foolish).  This Bush tax cut thing strikes me as an odd (and bad) place politically to pick a battle under the premise of balancing a budget considering the expensive year this administration has had.  This approach won't be endearing to moderates.

Speaking of politics...screw John Boehner and the GOP for being such candy asses.  His performance on MTP yesterday was embarrassing.  Instead of leading, they are going to coast into November assuming the Dems have already wet the bed beyond repair via Obamacare and the oil spill.  Take no stance, take no risk, collect your 30 seats.  Same shit the Dems pulled in 2006.  Agree with Obama or not, the guy takes a stand.  The guy socialist everyone voted for, is the guy socialist we've pretty much gotten, short of a few minor promises that he hasn't kept.

Bottom line is that our government is....how do you say...not very good at their jobs.   I wish I felt like anti-incumbency will fix things...but I also know we've been down this road before.  (unwrinkling my copy of the Contract With America) 

One little aside/plug.  My fellow Cincinnati transplant, Mike McConnell, is now on WGN from 8:30-12:30 weekdays.  As a Libertarian, I suspect he'll irritate a good number of you, but he's worth a listen...has been the best talk show host in the country for a long time, IMO.   Even if you don't agree with him much, it's a thoughtful show...not the circus that Levin, Limbaugh, and others tend to run. 

[Wheezer]

One little aside/plug.  My fellow Cincinnati transplant, Mike McConnell, is now on WGN from 8:30-12:30 weekdays.  As a Libertarian, I suspect he'll irritate a good number of you, but he's worth a listen...has been the best talk show host in the country for a long time, IMO.

Does he have a newsletter where I could find his recipe for "chunky pudding with boiled sausage roll"?

[Lance Dicksons Arm]

One little aside/plug.  My fellow Cincinnati transplant, Mike McConnell, is now on WGN from 8:30-12:30 weekdays.  As a Libertarian, I suspect he'll irritate a good number of you, but he's worth a listen...has been the best talk show host in the country for a long time, IMO.

Does he have a newsletter where I could find his recipe for "chunky pudding with boiled sausage roll"?

I'm pretty sure that's Koyie Hill's contribution to the Cubs cookbook.   Mike wouldn't engage in plagiarism.

[Wheezer]

One little aside/plug.  My fellow Cincinnati transplant, Mike McConnell, is now on WGN from 8:30-12:30 weekdays.  As a Libertarian, I suspect he'll irritate a good number of you, but he's worth a listen...has been the best talk show host in the country for a long time, IMO.

Does he have a newsletter where I could find his recipe for "chunky pudding with boiled sausage roll"?

I'm pretty sure that's Koyie Hill's contribution to the Cubs cookbook.   Mike wouldn't engage in plagiarism.

He's already plagiarized his very appearance from Chuck Woolery.

[Indeed, it's really turds to Newcastle with the WLW imports, no? At least WGN-TV is going forward with the Bill Cunningham vehicle formerly known as "Big Willy." THANK FUCKING G-D. You know what? Fuck Cincinnati. "Cincy" is the best argument for the continued development of the neutron bomb ever devised by man. A fucking "Cincinnati Libertarian" is going to irritate me? As opposed to what, a Volkswagen filled with clowns dressed up to illustrate the essentials of this proud swamp's culinary contribution to society? OH, LOOK, WHAT IS THIS? Bavarian fountain plans? We must proceed immediately! I hope the fissure in the mind that is the only thing Cincinnati has brought to mankind is soon accompanied by a compensating fissure in the earth.]

[Lance Dicksons Arm]

[Indeed, it's really turds to Newcastle with the WLW imports, no? At least WGN-TV is going forward with the Bill Cunningham vehicle formerly known as "Big Willy." THANK FUCKING G-D. You know what? Fuck Cincinnati. "Cincy" is the best argument for the continued development of the neutron bomb ever devised by man. A fucking "Cincinnati Libertarian" is going to irritate me? As opposed to what, a Volkswagen filled with clowns dressed up to illustrate the essentials of this proud swamp's culinary contribution to society? OH, LOOK, WHAT IS THIS? Bavarian fountain plans? We must proceed immediately! I hope the fissure in the mind that is the only thing Cincinnati has brought to mankind is soon accompanied by a compensating fissure in the earth.]

They make drugs for this.

[Wheezer]

[Indeed, it's really turds to Newcastle with the WLW imports, no? At least WGN-TV is going forward with the Bill Cunningham vehicle formerly known as "Big Willy." THANK FUCKING G-D. You know what? Fuck Cincinnati. "Cincy" is the best argument for the continued development of the neutron bomb ever devised by man. A fucking "Cincinnati Libertarian" is going to irritate me? As opposed to what, a Volkswagen filled with clowns dressed up to illustrate the essentials of this proud swamp's culinary contribution to society? OH, LOOK, WHAT IS THIS? Bavarian fountain plans? We must proceed immediately! I hope the fissure in the mind that is the only thing Cincinnati has brought to mankind is soon accompanied by a compensating fissure in the earth.]

They make drugs for this.

No doubt they hand them out at The Sons of Norway Edvard Grieg Lodge #5-657.

[This is too good. Tirana of course gets the snub among Cincinnati's putative sister cities. Our pride, our pride, they'd rather unearth the natural history of these guys than scour the burial hillocks of the proud Greek rot that claims to have invented chili. I'm reminded of the punchline "I thought you said you wanted to have children!"]

[Oh, indeed, from where else would one be likely to find an indictment of the "foul embraces of empiricism"?]

[R-V]

That said, even if I were wrong, this tax rollback would be such a small difference in net revenue that it's not even worth focusing on.   It's probably a few billion either way.

ORLY?

[Quality Start Machine]

Maybe we should put the budgetary decision in the hands of the populace.

Then none of us would pay taxes, and we'd have every gubment program ever dreamed of.

And we'd finally get some Jetsons shit.

[Waco Kid]

For the sake of stating my position somewhat succinctly, I choose to roll dice with Friedman, Laffer, and Morpheus on this.

That said, even if I were wrong, this tax rollback would be such a small difference in net revenue that it's not even worth focusing on.   It's probably a few billion either way.  If the end is to balance a budget, cutting is the ONLY means to get there.  Everything else is just noise. 

Giving the Keynesians in the room the benefit of the doubt momentarily.  Any minor revenue shortfall that MAY exist from this tax cut is dwarfed by the amount that the government will lose over 10-20 years with Obamacare...that is, unless you are silly enough to believe the government revenue assumptions in that bill (which would be completely foolish).  This Bush tax cut thing strikes me as an odd (and bad) place politically to pick a battle under the premise of balancing a budget considering the expensive year this administration has had.  This approach won't be endearing to moderates.

Speaking of politics...screw John Boehner and the GOP for being such candy asses.  His performance on MTP yesterday was embarrassing.  Instead of leading, they are going to coast into November assuming the Dems have already wet the bed beyond repair via Obamacare and the oil spill.  Take no stance, take no risk, collect your 30 seats.  Same shit the Dems pulled in 2006.  Agree with Obama or not, the guy takes a stand.  The guy socialist everyone voted for, is the guy socialist we've pretty much gotten, short of a few minor promises that he hasn't kept.

Bottom line is that our government is....how do you say...not very good at their jobs.   I wish I felt like anti-incumbency will fix things...but I also know we've been down this road before.  (unwrinkling my copy of the Contract With America) 

One little aside/plug.  My fellow Cincinnati transplant, Mike McConnell, is now on WGN from 8:30-12:30 weekdays.  As a Libertarian, I suspect he'll irritate a good number of you, but he's worth a listen...has been the best talk show host in the country for a long time, IMO.   Even if you don't agree with him much, it's a thoughtful show...not the circus that Levin, Limbaugh, and others tend to run. 

There are only two things that concern John Boehner,; when is his next golf game and when is his next appointment at the tanning salon.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

As opposed to what, a Volkswagen filled with clowns dressed up to illustrate the essentials of this proud swamp's culinary contribution to society?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, we're finally on our own...

[J. Walter Weatherman]

That said, even if I were wrong, this tax rollback would be such a small difference in net revenue that it's not even worth focusing on.   It's probably a few billion either way.

ORLY?

Trillion-dollar tax cut offsets basically grow on trees.

[Quality Start Machine]

That said, even if I were wrong, this tax rollback would be such a small difference in net revenue that it's not even worth focusing on.   It's probably a few billion either way.

ORLY?

Trillion-dollar tax cut offsets basically grow on trees.

So this is the Cabrera Curve?