United States government Archives - Page 16 of 16 Voice For Liberty

Sep

Is There Anyone Left to Pay Taxes?

The Tax Foundation reports that soon nearly half of the tax returns filed will owe no federal income tax, according to the economic plans of John McCain and Barack Obama. In its analysis Both Candidates' Tax Plans Will Reduce Millions of Taxpayers' Liability to Zero (or Less), the Tax Foundation reports that McCain's announced tax reforms will result in 43 percent of tax returns owing no federal income tax. Obama's would result in 44 percent. Is this huge number of zero-income tax payers good public policy? Is it wise to have so few tax payers and so many tax consumers?…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Laissez faire in Washington? On what planet?

Sheldon Richman of the Foundation for Economic Education contributes analysis of the current economic situation in the article Government Failure. A few quotes: Laissez faire in Washington? On what planet? Governments at all levels have regulated the financial industry from the time of the founding. ... At the Division of Labour blog, economist Lawrence H. White asks: “What deregulation have we had in the last decade? Please tell me." ... What about greed? Here White also has something important to say: “If an unusually large number of airplanes crash during a given week, do you blame gravity? No. Greed, like…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Voters Want Less Pork, Even in Their Own District

From Voters Want Less Pork, Even in Their Own District, July 24, 2008 Wall Street Journal: The Club for Growth recently conducted a nationwide poll on government spending, and the results were exactly the opposite of what most politicians have been saying for years. Voters are fed up with Washington's out-of-control spending. Politicians aren't representing the will of the people when they bring home the bacon. They are really representing the will of their special-interest cronies. And it's not just conservative voters who feel that way. Voters across the board have finally found something they can agree on even if…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Wind Production Tax Credits Aren’t Free of Cost

Nancy Jackson of the Climate and Energy Project in Kansas has some tips for citizens and candidates to use when talking about global warming. The article Tips for citizens and candidates - talking about the Production Tax Credit contains warnings about what will happen if the Production Tax Credit (PTC) isn't extended beyond its scheduled expiration date at the end of 2008. Thousands of jobs and billions in investment will be at risk, the post says. Whether these tax credits are desirable is one issue. But what is not at issue is that these tax credits come with a cost.…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Efforts to Regulate ‘Wild West’ Markets are Long Overdue

A Christian Science Monitor article Efforts to regulate 'Wild West' markets are long overdue contains a number of misstatements. For one thing, characterization of the American West as "wild" in the sense that mayhem prevailed, and that life and property were not safe, is not correct. An article in the Journal of Libertarian Studies titled An American Experiment in Anarcho-Capitalism: The Not So Wild, Wild West tell us this: The West during this time often is perceived as a place of great chaos, with little respect for property or life. Our research indicates that this was not the case; property…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Happy Cost of Government Day

According to Americans for Tax Reform today, July 16, 2008, marks national Cost of Government Day: On July 16, Americans mark the national Cost of Government Day (COGD), the date on the calendar year when the average American finishes paying off his or her share of federal, state and local spending, and the regulatory burden. Cost of Government Day falling on July 16 means that you had to work 197 days out of the year just to meet all the costs imposed by government. In other words, the total cost of government – far more than taxation alone – consumes…

Apr

By Bob Weeks

A Mess of John McCain’s Own Making

Kimberly A. Strassel of the Wall Street Journal explains a mess of John McCain's own making, and which confirms to me that he is not suited to be President of the United States: McCain's Campaign Finance Revelation. "The Arizonan may not yet fully understand that money is speech." writes Ms. Strassel. As Thomas Sowell recently said: "Senator John McCain could never convince me to vote for him. Only Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama can cause me to vote for McCain."

Feb

By Bob Weeks

Missing From the Social Security Debate

This is what I haven't seen mentioned in the debate over the future of social security. Opponents of private accounts cite the risk inherent in investing in markets. Instead, they will rely on future generations of workers to pay the taxes necessary to pay promised social security benefits. It seems to me, though, that investments in U.S. securities markets, both stocks and bonds, derive their value from the underlying strength of the U.S. economy. If the economy does well, in the long run, markets do well. If the economy does not do well, the investments will not do well, and…