The Bluegrass Institute takes on Kentucky's public pension crisis.
Very important issue.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Tax Me More. I Love It!
Rep. David Floyd has filed a bill to create a fund for people who want higher taxes to put their money where their mouths are.
I know it is not new, but this is a terrific idea.
I know it is not new, but this is a terrific idea.
The Brainless Lobby
The KEA cemented its reputation as a bunch of political hacks long ago.
So it serves merely as some form of sick comedy -- as in the joke's on us -- to read in the Lexington Herald Leader this morning that KEPAC, the teachers' union political action committee, endorsed a Senate challenger who purchased his college diploma from an unaccredited, online "university." They chose to do this merely on the strength of his being a Democrat and for his opposition to school choice in Kentucky.
School choice opponents never do explain how introducing market forces into the educational system -- that work well everyplace else they are tried -- presents such a threat to Kentucky students.
So it serves merely as some form of sick comedy -- as in the joke's on us -- to read in the Lexington Herald Leader this morning that KEPAC, the teachers' union political action committee, endorsed a Senate challenger who purchased his college diploma from an unaccredited, online "university." They chose to do this merely on the strength of his being a Democrat and for his opposition to school choice in Kentucky.
School choice opponents never do explain how introducing market forces into the educational system -- that work well everyplace else they are tried -- presents such a threat to Kentucky students.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Overpopulation: Another Great Reason To Panic Unnecessarily
Now that we have 300 million Americans, isn't it time NOW started campaigning for more abortions?
I found a great article about why there is no reason for concern that we are going to overpopulate ourselves to death.
I found a great article about why there is no reason for concern that we are going to overpopulate ourselves to death.
Dem Tidal Wave Fading Fast
A Washington Post story about election confidence in the White House is driving Democrats to distraction.
As weak as the argument is, the fact remains that would-be emergent Democrats are worse than the Republicans. All the scandals and difficulties would have been a golden opportunity for a stronger opposition party.
As weak as the argument is, the fact remains that would-be emergent Democrats are worse than the Republicans. All the scandals and difficulties would have been a golden opportunity for a stronger opposition party.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Jay-Walking With Andy Mead
Have you seen the funny segment on Jay Leno where he asks random clueless people questions about current events? The Herald Leader did something similar Sunday with a story in which they made up questions, supposedly from the "man on the street" and then provided answers.
The topic was the government takeover of Kentucky American Water Company. Great way to start a rumor. Here's the question:
Q: Yeah, I heard that a Middle Eastern country was going to buy it. Is that right?
What a ridiculous stunt. I would expect as much from the editorial page, but this was from a reporter.
The topic was the government takeover of Kentucky American Water Company. Great way to start a rumor. Here's the question:
Q: Yeah, I heard that a Middle Eastern country was going to buy it. Is that right?
What a ridiculous stunt. I would expect as much from the editorial page, but this was from a reporter.
The Worst Public Policy: Casino Gambling
Isn't it pathetic that some Kentucky lawmakers have given up on conventional, effective methods of funding state government and are hanging their hopes on littering the state with out-of-state casinos?
Just got my copy of the non-partisan Kentucky Candidate Information Survey. It includes the following question, posed in the form of a statement for candidates to agree or disagree with, which in my edition goes out to all state candidates in central Kentucky:
"The General Assembly should pass a constitutional amendment to legalize casinos."
The only "undecided" was from the leading supporter of casino gambling in the state, Sen. Ed Worley (D-Richmond).
Worse than trying to sell the idea that casinos will add revenues to the state coffers is hiding your avid support for the bad idea from the people you represent.
Just got my copy of the non-partisan Kentucky Candidate Information Survey. It includes the following question, posed in the form of a statement for candidates to agree or disagree with, which in my edition goes out to all state candidates in central Kentucky:
"The General Assembly should pass a constitutional amendment to legalize casinos."
The only "undecided" was from the leading supporter of casino gambling in the state, Sen. Ed Worley (D-Richmond).
Worse than trying to sell the idea that casinos will add revenues to the state coffers is hiding your avid support for the bad idea from the people you represent.
They Spent $37,500 For This?
The six month long project to produce a Lexington Herald-Leader hit piece on Mitch McConnell looks pretty weak so far.
But hey, we got a meaningless email and a memo!
But hey, we got a meaningless email and a memo!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
A Cause Worthy Of Your Support
My oldest son spent much of this past summer at Centre College for the Governor's Scholars program. If you went -- or know someone who did -- you probably agree it is a crown jewel in Kentucky's educational system.
The only thing that would make it better is participation in greater numbers. As it is, admittance into the program is highly competitive and can usually serve little more than 1000 students statewide. My son's school sent only five students. Lack of resources is the only reason they couldn't send more.
Private donations could help greatly expand the program. More info about GSP is available on their website. Check it out. And then go here and send them a few bucks if you can.
The only thing that would make it better is participation in greater numbers. As it is, admittance into the program is highly competitive and can usually serve little more than 1000 students statewide. My son's school sent only five students. Lack of resources is the only reason they couldn't send more.
Private donations could help greatly expand the program. More info about GSP is available on their website. Check it out. And then go here and send them a few bucks if you can.
Barbra Streisand In A Bikini
Looking for a movie to take my boys to this morning and I came across a review written by Eleanor Ringel about the Robin Williams for President film, Man of the Year.
Best line of the review:
Further, Levinson's ideas are the expected liberal entreaties for fair play, tolerance, no-more-politics-as-usual. I imagine that, in Hollywood, these sentiments sound populist, evenhanded. But in a good chunk of the country, Levinson's pronouncements come off as if he spends every weekend swimming in Barbra Streisand's pool.
I think we will skip this one.
Best line of the review:
Further, Levinson's ideas are the expected liberal entreaties for fair play, tolerance, no-more-politics-as-usual. I imagine that, in Hollywood, these sentiments sound populist, evenhanded. But in a good chunk of the country, Levinson's pronouncements come off as if he spends every weekend swimming in Barbra Streisand's pool.
I think we will skip this one.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Pasley Goes Deep To Keep Liberal Base
Another day, another liberal politician in Kentucky pushing for socialized medicine...
Today at a lunchtime candidate forum at EKU, State Rep. Don Pasley (D-Winchester) flatly stated that America has to go to a single-payer health system.
His opponent is Ralph Alvarado, a Winchester physician.
It is highly unlikely Pasley came up with this left-wing idea on his own. I think Pasley is just trying to play some kind of weird class-envy card. That might work better for him if he talked to his neighbors and certain local groups of people more regularly than just at election time.
Democrats in Clark county are split on Pasley. Better keep an eye on this race.
Today at a lunchtime candidate forum at EKU, State Rep. Don Pasley (D-Winchester) flatly stated that America has to go to a single-payer health system.
His opponent is Ralph Alvarado, a Winchester physician.
It is highly unlikely Pasley came up with this left-wing idea on his own. I think Pasley is just trying to play some kind of weird class-envy card. That might work better for him if he talked to his neighbors and certain local groups of people more regularly than just at election time.
Democrats in Clark county are split on Pasley. Better keep an eye on this race.
Truth Found In Herald Leader Op-Ed
The Lexington Herald Leader's favorite story this decade has been about how great it would be if the Lexington city government owned the water company. So it was no surprise to see another one today.
Today's catastrophic abuse of reason and common sense contains one single shred of truth that cuts to the chase about the whole government takeover thing.
A yes vote on Nov. 7 would encourage whoever is in control of Kentucky American to negotiate with the city rather than risk having a Fayette County jury set a price as part of an eminent domain proceeding.
That's true. It's true in the sense that a bank robber "encourages" a teller to give him money rather than risk having a bullet placed gently inside her brain, but it is a true statement.
Today's catastrophic abuse of reason and common sense contains one single shred of truth that cuts to the chase about the whole government takeover thing.
A yes vote on Nov. 7 would encourage whoever is in control of Kentucky American to negotiate with the city rather than risk having a Fayette County jury set a price as part of an eminent domain proceeding.
That's true. It's true in the sense that a bank robber "encourages" a teller to give him money rather than risk having a bullet placed gently inside her brain, but it is a true statement.
It's a good thing that more and more people are coming to realize that eminent domain abuse is a terrible way to get people to return phone calls to bureaucrats or whatever they are trying to "encourage" local businesses to do now.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Did You Bring Your Gun To School?
High school seniors across Kentucky already have enough to distract them about now. So the Kentucky Division of Mental Health And Substance Abuse wants to pull them out of class and give them a survey on their drug use.
Sample questions include "How often (if ever) have you smoked marijuana?" and "How many times in the past year (12 months) have you taken a handgun to school?"
Good grief. Fortunately, parents can opt their children out of this silly thing.
Sample questions include "How often (if ever) have you smoked marijuana?" and "How many times in the past year (12 months) have you taken a handgun to school?"
Good grief. Fortunately, parents can opt their children out of this silly thing.
Worley Continues Name-Calling
At an embarrassing Tuesday night candidates forum, Senator Ed Worley continued his efforts to distract from his sordid performance of late by imitating Mel Gibson.
I don't know how Worley feels about "the jews," but his ire sure does get raised easily by his opponent Barry Metcalf. Tuesday, he called Metcalf "pompous and arrogant" for pointing out that Worley tells constituents he is against gambling and campaign donors elsewhere he is for it. In a Herald Leader article coming out Friday, Worley refers to Metcalf as a "yapping dog."
If Worley concentrated more on keeping his story straight about who he is ripping off in shady land deals, his avid support for casino gambling, or voting for state budgets without bonding $4 Billion for future generations to worry about, he wouldn't have to squeal so loud because his feet are being held to the fire.
I don't know how Worley feels about "the jews," but his ire sure does get raised easily by his opponent Barry Metcalf. Tuesday, he called Metcalf "pompous and arrogant" for pointing out that Worley tells constituents he is against gambling and campaign donors elsewhere he is for it. In a Herald Leader article coming out Friday, Worley refers to Metcalf as a "yapping dog."
If Worley concentrated more on keeping his story straight about who he is ripping off in shady land deals, his avid support for casino gambling, or voting for state budgets without bonding $4 Billion for future generations to worry about, he wouldn't have to squeal so loud because his feet are being held to the fire.
Weaver Flubs Foley, Again
Polwatchers has the story of the "dumbest Democrat running for Congress" inviting more people to his own butt-kicking.
A Tale Of Two Senators
The similarities are startling.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid(D-NV) finds himself embroiled in a real estate scandal involving false statements on his financial disclosure forms, use of a limited liability company to hide his actions, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in questionable profits.
Just like Kentucky state Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley(D-Richmond).
When an Associated Press reporter asked Reid for comment, he abruptly hung up the phone. Worley has blamed his troubles on his Republican opponent, even though a damning taped phone call of Worley and his victim has already been made public.
The similarities don't end there. So far, the mainstream media coverage of both cases has been spotty at best. That is a shame.
I've read the accounts of how difficult it was to uncover Enron. That was tough. Uncovering these two guys might take a little elbow grease, but not much. The evidence is right there. Probably more fun to keep asking if one gay Congressman is going to take down every Republican running for anything in America, but these stories of two men who got caught using their positions of power to enrich themselves under suspicious circumstances are more relevant in the real world.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid(D-NV) finds himself embroiled in a real estate scandal involving false statements on his financial disclosure forms, use of a limited liability company to hide his actions, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in questionable profits.
Just like Kentucky state Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley(D-Richmond).
When an Associated Press reporter asked Reid for comment, he abruptly hung up the phone. Worley has blamed his troubles on his Republican opponent, even though a damning taped phone call of Worley and his victim has already been made public.
The similarities don't end there. So far, the mainstream media coverage of both cases has been spotty at best. That is a shame.
I've read the accounts of how difficult it was to uncover Enron. That was tough. Uncovering these two guys might take a little elbow grease, but not much. The evidence is right there. Probably more fun to keep asking if one gay Congressman is going to take down every Republican running for anything in America, but these stories of two men who got caught using their positions of power to enrich themselves under suspicious circumstances are more relevant in the real world.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Keller Swings For Wrong Fence
Senate candidate James Keller, a Lexington Democrat, has seen the polls and knows it is time for losing candidates to get goofy.
Speaking this morning at a National Federation of Independent Business forum, Keller started talking about how much he wants more Brereton Jones-style socialized medicine in Kentucky.
Someone please tell Mr. Keller that this kind of stuff flies at ACLU rallies and limousine liberal cocktail parties, but not with business groups or in Lexington's 12th Senate district.
Speaking this morning at a National Federation of Independent Business forum, Keller started talking about how much he wants more Brereton Jones-style socialized medicine in Kentucky.
Someone please tell Mr. Keller that this kind of stuff flies at ACLU rallies and limousine liberal cocktail parties, but not with business groups or in Lexington's 12th Senate district.
FairTax Blogburst
Interesting article on an idea whose time has come.
by TD of The Right Track
As I see it, the main problem with the Income Tax is that it is virtually impossible to enforce completely and fairly. Compliance with the Income Tax depends on taxpayer truthfulness, which generally is motivated either by a) good character, or b) fear of an IRS audit. With the FairTax, the tax is collected when the money is spent, from everyone, with greatly reduced opportunities for non-compliance by the public.
For instance, what about the criminal element in our country? Have you ever heard of the Mafia? Or the drug dealer? Do you think that these people report 100% of their income? Of course not! They get out of paying a huge percentage of their actual tax bill by the simple expedient of not reporting all of their income. But these same individuals still have to pay utility bills, purchase prescription drugs, visit doctors, and buy food. And if they believe in the "high life" of new cars, fancy clothes and jewelry, and new homes, they're going to pay more than "Joe Six-pack" who chooses to drive a used car, or purchase a home that's not brand new.
And it's not just individuals who are managing to avoid paying taxes these days. Everyone in America has heard of the rush to move American companies "offshore", whether in whole or in part. Think about it -- have you ever seen an American-flagged commercial vessel? Oh sure, we've got our warships, but what about commercial boats that carry cargo or cruise passengers? Most of these are flying the flag of Liberia or Panama -- low-tax nations.
In the mid-1950s, about 33% of all income taxes collected were paid by American corporations. Today that number is down to approximately 10%. From "The FairTax Book" by Boortz and Linder:
"That plunge is a major factor in our recent soaring deficits. Indeed, international corporations are essentially "voluntary" taxpayers today, paying only that amount in taxes that they believe will avoid attracting embarrassing news coverage. These corporations believe that our draconian tax structures make their actions necessary. The OFCs [offshore financial centers, or banks - TD] make their plans feasible" [Emphasis added - TD]
Boortz and Linder make the point that if we eliminated all taxes on capital and labor, (which the FairTax does), the United States would become the world's tax haven.
We have the most stable economy, the most liquid and trusted markets, and the highest rates of labor productivity in the world -- and the trillions of dollars in those OFCs would flow back home to the United States for the very reason they found themselves offshore to start with.
And we're not just talking about American businesses coming home, we're talking about wooing corporations based in other countries into America. Think of the economic benefits! More productivity, lower unemployment, higher wages, and all occurring within a tax system that allows you at least partly to choose whether to pay taxes! Buy it new, pay a tax, buy it used and don't!
The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Terry of The Right Track Blog and Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous. If you would like to host the weekly postings on your blog, please e-mail Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.
TD
by TD of The Right Track
As I see it, the main problem with the Income Tax is that it is virtually impossible to enforce completely and fairly. Compliance with the Income Tax depends on taxpayer truthfulness, which generally is motivated either by a) good character, or b) fear of an IRS audit. With the FairTax, the tax is collected when the money is spent, from everyone, with greatly reduced opportunities for non-compliance by the public.
For instance, what about the criminal element in our country? Have you ever heard of the Mafia? Or the drug dealer? Do you think that these people report 100% of their income? Of course not! They get out of paying a huge percentage of their actual tax bill by the simple expedient of not reporting all of their income. But these same individuals still have to pay utility bills, purchase prescription drugs, visit doctors, and buy food. And if they believe in the "high life" of new cars, fancy clothes and jewelry, and new homes, they're going to pay more than "Joe Six-pack" who chooses to drive a used car, or purchase a home that's not brand new.
And it's not just individuals who are managing to avoid paying taxes these days. Everyone in America has heard of the rush to move American companies "offshore", whether in whole or in part. Think about it -- have you ever seen an American-flagged commercial vessel? Oh sure, we've got our warships, but what about commercial boats that carry cargo or cruise passengers? Most of these are flying the flag of Liberia or Panama -- low-tax nations.
In the mid-1950s, about 33% of all income taxes collected were paid by American corporations. Today that number is down to approximately 10%. From "The FairTax Book" by Boortz and Linder:
"That plunge is a major factor in our recent soaring deficits. Indeed, international corporations are essentially "voluntary" taxpayers today, paying only that amount in taxes that they believe will avoid attracting embarrassing news coverage. These corporations believe that our draconian tax structures make their actions necessary. The OFCs [offshore financial centers, or banks - TD] make their plans feasible" [Emphasis added - TD]
Boortz and Linder make the point that if we eliminated all taxes on capital and labor, (which the FairTax does), the United States would become the world's tax haven.
We have the most stable economy, the most liquid and trusted markets, and the highest rates of labor productivity in the world -- and the trillions of dollars in those OFCs would flow back home to the United States for the very reason they found themselves offshore to start with.
And we're not just talking about American businesses coming home, we're talking about wooing corporations based in other countries into America. Think of the economic benefits! More productivity, lower unemployment, higher wages, and all occurring within a tax system that allows you at least partly to choose whether to pay taxes! Buy it new, pay a tax, buy it used and don't!
The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Terry of The Right Track Blog and Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous. If you would like to host the weekly postings on your blog, please e-mail Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.
TD
WTVQ Web Survey Shows Ignorance
Local TV newsies at WTVQ in Lexington have put up a survey on their website that displays either their own ignorance about the eminent domain case on the Fayette county ballot next month, or it purposely seeks to mislead.
Rather than what is on their survey, a more applicable question might be --
"How do you plan to vote on the Lexington/Fayette Co. water issue?
Yes, they should start the legal process all over to get a price for Ky-American Water Company after a few years. The lawyers will win. KAWC and taxpayers will lose.
No, they should not waste the time and money. The lawyers will find other projects."
Instead, we get this. (At the bottom of the page.)
Rather than what is on their survey, a more applicable question might be --
"How do you plan to vote on the Lexington/Fayette Co. water issue?
Yes, they should start the legal process all over to get a price for Ky-American Water Company after a few years. The lawyers will win. KAWC and taxpayers will lose.
No, they should not waste the time and money. The lawyers will find other projects."
Instead, we get this. (At the bottom of the page.)
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