reblogged from: weknowmemes.com

politicalprof:

Since Republicans are back in the “St. Ronald” mode, hoping that Mitt Romney can channel the Gipper’s path to victory, a quick thought:

in the Reagan tax reform of 1986, all income, whether earned in salary or earned from investments, was taxed the same: as income. Today, capital gains…

kileyrae:

Wonkblog: The Ryan budget’s priorities in two graphs

ilyagerner:

Kevin Drum:

Did you know that the richest 1% of Americans pay 21% of all taxes? That’s a lot! But do you know why they pay 21% of all taxes? It’s because they make 21% of all the income. Suddenly that doesn’t seem all that unfair, does it? In fact, the rich are doing mighty well for themselves if we basically have a flat tax in America. And as it turns out, they are, and we do: the federal tax system is modestly progressive, but state and local taxes are modestly regressive. Add ‘em all up and you end up with a pretty flat tax system.

It’s another reminder that when we debate whether some program should be run at the local, state or federal level, we have to remember that this decision will affect the method by which the initiative is funded (though, sure, it’s possible for a program to be federally financed and locally administered).

The possibility of better accountability and the “laboratories of democracy” theory are arguments for devolving functions to the states. And the fact that Arizona will find a way to screw things up is a reason to maintain financing and control at the federal level.

But the finance question looms just as large. Every dollar expended and therefore taxed at the federal level makes the overall tax system slightly more progressive. Every program financed at the state and local level makes the entire system a bit more regressive.

Debates about federalism are as much about the progressiveness of the tax code as they are about a clash of ideological visions of centralized versus devolved government.

(Table by Citizens for Tax Justice)

azspot:

M. Wuerker

Pay no attention to the lies already coming from the Right – corporations are paying less in taxes in America than they’ve paid in 40 years. According to the Congressional Budget Office – despite American corporations making enormous profits last year – their second best in a generation - they paid on average only 12.1% in federal taxes. That’s far below the 35% corporate tax rate that Conservatives claim is crippling business in America. At 12.1%, American corporations are paying the lowest taxes in the entire developed world.

It’s also a staggering drop off since the last quarter century – between 1987 and 2008 – when corporations paid on average a 25.6% corporation tax rate. When corporations and the very, very wealthy aren’t paying their fair share in taxes, then working people have to pick up the slack. That’s exactly what’s happened in recent years – and one reason why the United States has one of the highest level of wealth inequality in the developed world – and why the middle class is disappearing right in front of our eyes.

politicalprof:

can we just call them “Mitt Flips”?

politicalprof:

This is how it seems to work.

azspot:

Jen Sorensen

The recent attempts by certain groups to frame certain government actions as being “anti-religion” or “attacks on religious freedom” are hypocritical at best and downright dangerous.  These groups, and include some “mainstream” churches such as Catholics seem to be all for religious freedom as long as it follows their vision of society.  Thus the attempts to remake society into their image by passing laws such as anti-abortion and anti-birth control.

What these groups fail to recognize is that the role of government when it comes to social issues such as these is to lay a basic framework of laws, and then step aside and allow those with differing viewpoints to follow their teachings.  It does not allow them to impose their views on others - thus the current debates on abortion, birth control, etc.  The belief that live begins at the point of conception is not grounded in science.  At conception, nothing magical happens but the combination of 2 cells.  When does life start is a philosophical and religious debate.  It may be within a hour, a day or 9 months later.  To attempt to codify into law a viewpoint for this is imposing one religious belief over others. To extend that to using birth control is just ludicrous.

Our country was founded on the principle that each could follow their religion as they saw fit - within certain limitations among which is that all religions (and non-religious) can follow their beliefs without encumbrances from others. 

With comments like “secular left”, these Republican candidates continue to push the notion that being liberal is bad and can’t possibly be Christians.  Don’t they realize that people are beginning to get tired of the holier than thou act?  They are making “Conservative” just as bad a label as “Liberal”.