gdp's Comments

Frontpage Magazine : Obama's Demagogy on the Deficit

Thu, 4 Aug 2011 18:33:17 +0000

I've heard a lot of talking, not only at Obama, about "taxing the rich". Unfortunately, the fair tax system is an illusion, there are a lot of multinational corporations that can afford to hire the best lawyers to advise them to pay less and less taxes. As long as the law code is such a complicated labyrinth, out of which only those with high connections can learn to manipulate the system, finding tax breaches the small businesses couldn't possibly use, the economy cannot grow. Maybe what we need is a tax reform and a lot of thinking about fair tax vs flat tax We would definitely, through a flat tax, save billions getting rid of IRS, putting some people would be out of work, it's true... In this model, tax revenues would remain at the today's level.

Big Journalism : NewsBusted: Tax Day is Almost Here

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:53:37 +0000

Hard to miss the tax day ...the system is made in such a way, that you simply can´t miss it....

Big Journalism : Public Employees Unions Are Sinking California and the Nation

Thu, 2 Jun 2011 16:29:40 +0000

What I know is that unions exist for the purpose of 'collective bargaining'. They allow the employees to all join together in bargaining. So they definitely take away a little of the management's control of the company. Corporations without unions generally put a lot of effort into making sure that the union never becomes stable. The 'classical' theory of capitalism is that it is a co-equal partnership between capital and labor. Each needs the other. Capital buys labor's time and labor sells it, and this transaction is free and open, like any other transaction in a free economy, and that's how the best deal for all is reached. But these days we have changed our view of capitalism to be just about capital. We figure workers should just be glad they have a job and should not want to negotiate to advance their position.

20s Money : America: Land Of The Strategic Default

Mon, 30 May 2011 09:12:58 +0000

According to a recent study, 26% of the record numbers of home mortgage defaults across the country are strategic. The study found that there were a few variable which correlate closely with borrowers’ respective willingness to intentionally default. First, and most obviously, is the value of the mortgage compared to the current value of the home. Specifically, those whose mortgages are most “underwater” are also most willing to default: “Researchers found that almost no homeowners would default if their equity shortfall was less than 10% of their home’s value, but one-in-six homeowners would default if their equity shortfall reached 50% of their home’s value.” In controlling for age, location, and education level, the study determined that well-educated borrowers, homeowners in the Northeast and West, and people under 35 or over 65 were less likely to have moral reservations about choosing to walk away from making mortgage payments . One’s sense of morality evidently plays a strong role in this calculation, with those who regarded strategic default is immoral 2-3 times less likely to default than their amoral counterparts.

20s Money : Janine's 10 Year Financial Plan

Mon, 30 May 2011 09:03:44 +0000

I put money into a savings account that I only get interest on if I don't take money out, and being a savings account, it doesn't have a card, so it helps me not spend it.

Big Peace : Bush Could Be Arrested Overseas Because of Admissions in His Book...

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:59:06 +0000

If this is at all true, Bush may never be able to leave the States again. Oh, for someone to have the guts to arrest him--now that would be golden.

Global Dashboard : Beyond a Zero-Sum Game on Climate Change

Wed, 25 May 2011 22:36:14 +0000

At this point, it's impossible not to have in view the economic factor. I think the money would be better spent right now supporting manufacturing and industry that is green, by implementing stricter environmental regulations and by enforcing against the violators more vigorously. We also need to promote hybrid and fuel cell technology in cars, and push for breakthroughs on battery storage systems. We need to do what will help the most in the shortest period of time. After the economy has recovered and the environment has stabilized, we can think about making more substantial changes in our lifestyle.

WPRI.com | Eyewitness News : R.I. Education Boss Calls for Sweeping Changes at Failing Schools | WPRI.com

Wed, 25 May 2011 11:19:47 +0000

To be fair, most schools are not failing. But federal auditors recently found that the number of schools facing federal sanctions is growing. Nationwide, 4,509 schools serving more than 2 million children, or about 8 percent of all federally funded schools have failed to bring enough students to grade level for four or more years straight, up from 2,790 schools in 2006. Most of these schools are in low-income, racial- and ethnic- minority districts in California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania.