tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post554429787488421688..comments2024-03-29T08:54:53.425-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/29/24: Happy Tax Day. Or not.Neil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-40979817407252574342015-04-15T23:46:40.835-05:002015-04-15T23:46:40.835-05:00Why, sure, that's a swell song. For somebody ...Why, sure, that's a swell song. For somebody who chooses to go without a name on the ole EGD, you certainly seem captivated by mine...Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-49018070735136739052015-04-15T22:12:06.176-05:002015-04-15T22:12:06.176-05:00Mr. Jakash, do you like that old song from Ray Cha...Mr. Jakash, do you like that old song from Ray Charles? Hit the road , Jack....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-88181227653032383642015-04-15T15:16:03.266-05:002015-04-15T15:16:03.266-05:00Very hard to do away with subsidies and incentives...Very hard to do away with subsidies and incentives once they have been established. Most economists would recommend eliminating the household interest deduction, but opposition would be fierce and widespread, not just from the rich. "Don't tax you. Don't tax me. Tax that man behind the tree."<br /><br />TEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-28249858965777853342015-04-15T14:21:31.805-05:002015-04-15T14:21:31.805-05:00I don't think Mr. S's writings are mere mu...I don't think Mr. S's writings are mere musings.<br /><br />But check out Roger Simon's article in ST today on Hillary. Is it me or is he emulating<br />our hosts tongue in cheek style?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-70252329180721521372015-04-15T14:11:27.893-05:002015-04-15T14:11:27.893-05:00B.Scr. - Very true - I didn't mean to endorse ...B.Scr. - Very true - I didn't mean to endorse Forbes' flat tax, just that I can envision a "mostly" flat tax that was more progressive/enforceable than what we've got. In fact, it seems "tax simplification" is the one thing that the GOP and Dems seem to agree on these days (so of course it's never going to happen!)Anon-not-Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-80505727577396873422015-04-15T14:09:35.219-05:002015-04-15T14:09:35.219-05:00To Jackash/Anon - thanks for the nice words. Oh, ...To Jackash/Anon - thanks for the nice words. Oh, to Anon, it was my girlfriend - we didn't make it to spouse but were heading there (to fully describe how incredible this person was would truly mean hijacking the blog). As for aging - I think the thing that will depress me most is seeing a bad ad on television and a voice in the back of my head saying "look gramps, you're not the target demo!"Anon-not-Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-80517800569185899042015-04-15T14:07:07.186-05:002015-04-15T14:07:07.186-05:00To: My 'ol buddy Neil - yeah, as Jackash remem...To: My 'ol buddy Neil - yeah, as Jackash remembered once you rightfully called me out on getting my name wrong, another time you didn't like the first name familiarity (i.e., as coming from an anonymous criticizer) - maybe after all my spouting off here it's ok. Re: the highways - oh, I'm a big government dude - I do think we have some problems with the way government programs fail to incentive-ize good behaviors (a la Pat Moynihan's concerns about welfare programs), but I think we all benefit from a strong safety net, not just the recipients, and that many large scale infrastructure works are a net benefit. My point with Hayek and the highways is that this conservative/libertarian theory is different than "the government can't handle it" or has evil/socialistic intentions - it posits that the intervention always leads to bigger problems. If I had to pick a "poster child" program for big government, I'd choose social security (nothing against that person in the debate - if I had been put on the spot to name an inarguably good big government program, I might have said the same). Anon-not-Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-87820118505649737922015-04-15T13:33:23.987-05:002015-04-15T13:33:23.987-05:00A-not-A: Since you mention both Forbes and charita...A-not-A: Since you mention both Forbes and charitable contributions, it's worth noting that his precious "flat tax" would do away with that deduction. Asked how this would affect contributions, Forbes replied, "I don't think Americans need to be bribed to contribute to charity."<br /><br />That, in a nutshell, is what annoys me so much about rich people bitching about their taxes. When a deduction benefits them, it's an "incentive"; when it benefits anyone else, it's a "bribe."Bitter Scribenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-79566211722692790782015-04-15T12:42:18.566-05:002015-04-15T12:42:18.566-05:00Sorry -- working. It's hard enough to write th...Sorry -- working. It's hard enough to write the stuff without also being expected to referee the comments. Everyone seems to be playing nicely. Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-13741471809227227122015-04-15T12:40:53.543-05:002015-04-15T12:40:53.543-05:00A-not-A -- Did I really object when you referred t...A-not-A -- Did I really object when you referred to me on a first-name basis? Doesn't sound like me. Maybe it was more what went after the name. I see your point regarding the highways, but isn't that logic true for any project of any size? Everything has bad and good consequences, and given that every country in the world has a highway system of some sort, I don't think we can use ours as an example of destructive governmental overreach. Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-36448793185459226452015-04-15T12:38:04.433-05:002015-04-15T12:38:04.433-05:00Point taken. I just thought the parallel was inter...Point taken. I just thought the parallel was interesting. Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-47754366040782840742015-04-15T12:10:43.892-05:002015-04-15T12:10:43.892-05:00I'm not sure (truly not sure) how progressive ...I'm not sure (truly not sure) how progressive it is anymore - I vaguely recall during Steve Forbes' presidential run there was a study saying that with all the complex tax breaks, which wealthier taxpayers take advantage of far more than others, the tax system had become effectively flat, or flat enough that a "flat tax" system that exempted the first $____ amount of income would be effectively as progressive as the current system. And with IRS enforcement weak and getting weaker, sometimes I wonder if we wouldn't be better off wiping the slate clean save charitable contributions. Anon-not-Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-29970320672649357382015-04-15T11:30:13.639-05:002015-04-15T11:30:13.639-05:00agree, B.S.agree, B.S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-23515840351370424772015-04-15T11:29:52.628-05:002015-04-15T11:29:52.628-05:00relax, Clarkrelax, ClarkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-44430563519269476592015-04-15T11:29:15.833-05:002015-04-15T11:29:15.833-05:00Where's Neil today? come out and playWhere's Neil today? come out and playAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-11305602370820593202015-04-15T11:28:45.645-05:002015-04-15T11:28:45.645-05:00okay, then call him Mr. Steinberg but it's agg...okay, then call him Mr. Steinberg but it's aggravating when you don't speak to him directlyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-13678347366496796652015-04-15T11:27:16.454-05:002015-04-15T11:27:16.454-05:00A not A-sorry about your spouse, you must be older...A not A-sorry about your spouse, you must be older than I thought<br /><br />Jakash, you are making a Jakash of yourself, lolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-44257636723392353502015-04-15T11:23:42.984-05:002015-04-15T11:23:42.984-05:00good one, Anon not Anon
Lady Anongood one, Anon not Anon<br /><br />Lady AnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-77229438276657133542015-04-15T11:22:16.296-05:002015-04-15T11:22:16.296-05:00that's why I don't like Libertarians, not ...that's why I don't like Libertarians, not realisiticAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-75195975368555215562015-04-15T11:06:52.586-05:002015-04-15T11:06:52.586-05:00Nicely done, T. E. Nicely done, T. E. Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-56266036275424276122015-04-15T11:05:21.236-05:002015-04-15T11:05:21.236-05:00Do the folks who like to suggest that commenters s...Do the folks who like to suggest that commenters such as A-n-A have "too much time on your hands" not realize that by reading his comments and then making multiple comments about his comments, they're just proving the same thing about themselves? I guess not. Anybody reading these comments, let alone commenting themselves, could be doing something more productive, instead. That's a given, so it doesn't need to be pointed out on every thread, Anonymous.<br /><br />Interesting original comment, and nice replies, A-n-A, but I thought Neil only objected when you spelled his name wrong. Maybe that was somebody else. : )Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-7711224119766138522015-04-15T10:26:48.048-05:002015-04-15T10:26:48.048-05:00I disagree that the poor benefit more than the ric...I disagree that the poor benefit more than the rich from government spending. The entire infrastructure of the country is provided by government: defense and protection, potable water; the means for delivering all sorts of communication and daily necessities, transportation, and so on. If it were every person for themselves, there would be no civilization as we know it. JanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-61178152068791536912015-04-15T10:14:39.561-05:002015-04-15T10:14:39.561-05:00Now that hurts! I've long defended the Sun-Ti...Now that hurts! I've long defended the Sun-Times against the Trib in general, primarily because of its superior columnists. Roger Ebert made the observation that there's a spirit at the S-T that survives the crazy changes in ownership (and crazy owners) - even when the Trib snatches writers, something seems to happen to them there.Anon-not-Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-73900885995833351652015-04-15T10:13:17.006-05:002015-04-15T10:13:17.006-05:00Anonymous 9:21 -- Oh, I'm jealous as heavenly-...Anonymous 9:21 -- Oh, I'm jealous as heavenly-heck: I'd love for somebody to pay me that kind of salary for my measly musings. I jump on NS *because* he's so smart (yet so snarky). Insecure? Maybe, but zeesh, this is a news columnists blog - why do so many people get upset about being challenged with ideas? I try to provide links for more info too. If he wants an Amen corner, he's free to create one at any time (I'd only ask that if he tells me to go away to be forgiving if I miss it and need repeating - sometimes I *do* have to sign off for the day and get to work.Anon-not-Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-18857168585621410962015-04-15T10:13:03.251-05:002015-04-15T10:13:03.251-05:00Democrats need to stop being cowed by the term &qu...Democrats need to stop being cowed by the term "class warfare." The rich have been waging warfare against the rest of us for decades (and winning).Bitter Scribenoreply@blogger.com