Monthly Archives: September 2013

The Left’s New Attack on Self Insurance: Obamacare Sleaze?

"It starts with a brief description of the ERISA law that allows self insurance – including the fact that those who self insure escape the costly and corrupt state-level mandates that cause regular insurance policies to be needlessly expensive. While ERISA traditionally was something that only big firms could utilize, many small employers are now looking at self insurance as a way of providing health insurance to their employees without getting dragged into the costly swamp of Obamacare. Needless to say, the left is unhappy about this development because Obamacare only 'works' if a large amount of people are forced to join the infamous exchanges." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Left’s New Attack on Self Insurance: Obamacare Sleaze?

White House leans on industry for bottled water push

"First Lady Michelle Obama is launching her new Drink Up initiative at an event Thursday in Watertown, Wisconsin. According to the White House, the American Beverage Association and International Bottled Water Association are both promoting the effort. The two associations are the major lobbying forces inside the Beltway for both the bottled water and beverage association. According to the visitor's logs, one of the American Beverage Association's lobbyists, Susan Neely, visited the White House several times. The American Beverage Association is a lobbying heavyweight that has spent $680,000 so far in 2013. The bottled water association has spent $60,000 so far in 2013." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhite House leans on industry for bottled water push

The CFR: The Go-To Organization for Government Tools Ready to Cash In

"Mervyn King, former governor and chief economist for the Bank of England, joins the Council on Foreign Relations this month as a distinguished visiting fellow. 'We are excited and honored to have someone of Mervyn King's experience and stature join us here at the Council on Foreign Relations,' said CFR President Richard N. Haass. 'Governor King strengthens our ability to assess financial balance and practical problems.' King is the second former central bank governor to recently join CFR. Stanley Fischer, former governor for the Bank of Israel and a former senior official with the IMF and the World Bank, also became a distinguished fellow earlier this month." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe CFR: The Go-To Organization for Government Tools Ready to Cash In

All Hail Rick Perry!

"It’s always a good thing for society, but bad for our rulers, when at least one of them decides it’s a good idea to compete by lowering taxes. (Maryland state government recently imposed a 'rain tax' based on the size of the roof on one’s business establishment under the crackpot theory that rain running off your roof will pollute the Chesapeake Bay.). Cory A. writes that he moved to Austin, Texas last year to take a great new job with Paypal/Ebay which he says is 'expanding dramatically.' As is a new Apple facility in Austin, along with Visa, with 800 new jobs. These are all well-paying jobs, he says. In addition, Austin has become 'the' place to go if you want a career in the music industry." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAll Hail Rick Perry!

Texas Gov. Rick Perry takes aim at Maryland to lure businesses

"Texas Gov. Rick Perry took a swipe at Gov. Martin O'Malley and Maryland's business climate in radio ads aimed at luring companies and residents to the Lone Star state. 'When you grow tired of Maryland taxes squeezing every dime out of your business, think Texas,' Perry said in the radio advertisement, set to air in the Baltimore-D.C. market this week and provided to the The Baltimore Sun by WTOP. Perry has launched similar advertisements in Missouri, California, Chicago and New York since April. Earlier this year, Perry invited Beretta and other Maryland gun manufacturers to move to Texas after the General Assembly passed new gun laws here." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas Gov. Rick Perry takes aim at Maryland to lure businesses

American expats are “offshore tax dodging” “trash”, say Homelanders

"So, there you have it. According to America, all Americans living abroad are 'offshore tax dodgers' since they are taxed where they live to pay for the infrastructure they use. Why does America seek to trash its diaspora? Because it believes that they are pirates sailing around with stolen treasure. Yet, the impact of US policy on Americans living abroad has never been an American concern, as one fellow kindly stated to one who does not live in America. The US government clearly doesn’t give a damn if Americans are harmed as a result of US policy, but it is eager to brand its expats as 'tax cheats' and to throw them away as 'trash'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmerican expats are “offshore tax dodging” “trash”, say Homelanders

Can the Internet Tax Be Stopped Just Like the Attack On Syria?

"This time we would be stopping a direct attack on us. A new national comprehensive survey commissioned by National Taxpayers Union and the R Street Institute finds that Americans overwhelmingly oppose new legislation, like the Marketplace Fairness Act, that lets states force tax collection obligations on Internet purchases made from businesses outside their borders. Fifty-seven percent of respondents in recent polls opposed changes to Internet sales tax policies like those provided in the Marketplace Fairness Act. Will Rand Paul, Justin Amash and 'Leader' Mitch McConnell take up this cause?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCan the Internet Tax Be Stopped Just Like the Attack On Syria?

FATCA: The end of financial privacy

"Financial privacy isn’t typically considered as sexy as other forms of privacy, like our right to private beliefs, health care, property, and communications. Infringement of financial privacy doesn’t evoke the kind of outrage as other violations, because most overlook the vital role it plays in preserving human rights and protecting individuals from governmental abuse. Just as supporters of the police and surveillance state argue that individuals with nothing to hide should be willing to forfeit their right to privacy, those obsessed with collecting taxes think that the vast majority of Americans who do not engage in evasion should be willing to relinquish their financial privacy rights." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFATCA: The end of financial privacy

McCain says he feels ‘lonely’ on Syria stance

"Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said his role as one of the few vocal advocates for a U.S. military strike against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad in Syria left him feeling isolated by his peers. 'It has felt a little lonely from time to time,' McCain said Monday on MSNBC’s 'Morning Joe.' But McCain said he was advocating for a noble cause, and pointed to former President Harry Truman, who endured a low public approval rating during the Korean War. 'If Harry Truman had bowed to public opinion the world would be a very different place had we lost to Korea,' McCain said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMcCain says he feels ‘lonely’ on Syria stance

Janet Yellen On The Financial Crisis: “I Didn’t See Any Of That Coming”

"'For my own part,' Ms. Yellen said, 'I did not see and did not appreciate what the risks were with securitization, the credit ratings agencies, the shadow banking system, the S.I.V.’s — I didn’t see any of that coming until it happened.' Her startled interviewers noted that almost none of the officials who testified had offered a similar acknowledgment of an almost universal failure." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJanet Yellen On The Financial Crisis: “I Didn’t See Any Of That Coming”