In These Times

Latest Comments view all 13

• • 27 Jan 08
  • 7:21 pm

  "As usual, We the People are told to wait patiently as moneyed interests claim their latest gift from Washington." Since when is a tax cut a 'gift'? If you believe that tax cuts are a 'gift', then you are making the assumption that the government is the rightful owner of every dime you earn and that we should be grateful when they let us keep the meager scraps that are left over after Uncle Sam takes his stake. Keep in mind the idea that 'big business' pays taxes is a fraudulent one promoted by the greedy politicians. Businesses collect taxes, they …

  Posted to The Stimulus Swindle

• • 03 Feb 08
  • 12:35 am

  RE: 401k plans are a scam. To some degree, I agree wholeheartedly. Why must Americans be forced to utilize a plan such as a 401k in order to save money? The reason that 401k plans are popular today is because it offers a reasonable shelter from the confiscation of savings through taxation. I think people should be able to keep far more of their own hard-earned income to save, spend, invest as they please. Unfortunately, however, as with any government-regulated program, there are lots of restrictions on 401k money. There are very few cases where the govt will let you take …

  Posted to The Stimulus Swindle

• • 30 Dec 07
  • 4:48 pm

  "This oversupply helps explain why, in 2000, U.S. residents consumed an average of 73.5 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup (up from 0.6 pounds yearly in 1970)." The main reason for the high consumption of high fructose corn syrup in the U.S. is the federal government's tribute to the sugar industry: billions of dollars in annual subsidies and protectionist import tariffs that prevent cheaper sugar from entering the country.

  Posted to King of the Crop

• • 25 Nov 07
  • 9:02 pm

  "Yes, tax the rich and big corporations and spend it on the rest of America." The "rich" are already being taxed a helluva lot. The top 1% of wage earners make 21% of the income and pay 39% of the taxes. The top 50% of wage earners pay 95% of the taxes. Seems that the bottom 50% of wage earners are freeloading off everyone else. Additionally, the idea that 'corporations' pay taxes is a myth. Corporations merely collect taxes - from customers, employees, shareholders, etc. Any increase in corporate taxes is usually offset by one of three ways: 1. Higher prices …

  Posted to Tax and Spend? Hell, Yeah!

• • 05 Aug 07
  • 1:55 pm

  None of these alternatives are acceptable. Give treatment to drug users? They chose to use the drugs; why should they be 'given' anything? Unless it is a charitable contribution of course. Responsible taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize treatment for the irresponsibility of excessive drug use. Surgeon General should focus on harder drugs? Why should drug use be criminlized in the first place? A vice is not a crime. As long as you harm noone but yourself, you should be able to engage in whatever consentual activity you choose. Any study of the history of drug prohibition reveals that it …

  Posted to What is the best alternative to the War on Drugs?