The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Alex]

While I favor some form of independent district drawing the entire structure of the commission is pretty stupid. It is pretty much based on the idea that a critical task should be performed by people who have absolutely no experience or expertise in that critical task. Kind of like the stereotype of juries that anybody informed enough to do the job well can't be trusted to do the job well. So better to get people who will do it poorly.

Prop 25 is the only prop I voted yes on as it is the only one that addresses a structural flaw in California government. The passage of the philosophically conflicting 25 and 26 just emphasizes why government through proposition is a bad idea.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Laughed out loud at Boehner's pronouncement that he's going to start by repealing the health care bill. Way to start off on a futile foot there, Boehner. I'm sure you're going to win a ton of support and respect by failing to repeal something that half the country doesn't want repealed, making it your to priority, while 10% of Americans still don't have jobs. Love your priorities!

And yes, I am, and will continue to be, pronouncing it as 'Boner'.

[Alex]

I'm sure he knows that a repeal won't actually go into affect but he would win just as many brownie points among the base if he actually gets the House to pass a full (or significant repeal).

And for that base it would be a significant clarion call for 2012. "See, we did everything we could. Give us the senate and the presidency and it'll be gone the day after inauguration."

That really is the one horrible flaw I see in the healthcare bill that passed (public option would have been great but it wasn't going to happen regardless of when Obama took it off the table). We'll have too much time to hate it before people decide it's the new third rail.

[innerSpaceman]

To piggy-back on GD's observations - Conservatives also have a well-oiled communications network of think tanks, training sessions, action teams, and media mouthpieces that the Democrats just sit back and drool over because, for the life of them, they cannot seem to get such a thing going - though they don't lack either the money or the know-how.

[JWBear]

I am completely agast!

A financial manager for wealthy clients will not face a felony charge in Colorado for an alleged hit-and-run because it could jeopardize his job, the Summit Daily News reports, quoting the district attorney.

What the fvck country do we live in now?!?!? That DA needs to lose his job! Not only that, he needs to be investigated for corruption and malfeasance! NO ONE should be above the law, I don't care what profession he is!

I am so angry and fed up I want to throw something!

[Kevy Baby]

Just to be a muckraker, I am going to toss this blurb out from an industry newsletter:

Some interesting facts from the IRS—in 2008 (the most recent complete year), the top 1% of filers paid 38% of all federal income taxes. To make the top 1%, you needed Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of at least $380,354. The top 5% paid 58.7% of all of the federal and had AGI of at least $159,610. The top 10% paid 69.9% of all of the federal income taxes and had AGI of at least $113,799. On the other hand, the lowest 50% of the filers paid 2.7% of all the federal income taxes (this does not count those who did not have to file at all because of their income level). The next time that you hear that the “rich” are not paying their share, you should think about these numbers. They also illustrate the serious policy issue lurking in such a large percentage of the population receiving the benefits of government, but not paying taxes, but who also vote.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Just to be a muckraker, I am going to toss this blurb out from an industry newsletter:

And what percentage of all income do that top 1% represent? If they made 38% of the profit in the economy, then they should be paying 38% of the taxes (my guess is that, if you include ALL of their income, that they account for well over 38% of the total US income).

A related question - what percentage of their intake does that 38% represent?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

And what percentage of all income do that top 1% represent? If they made 38% of the profit in the economy, then they should be paying 38% of the taxes (my guess is that, if you include ALL of their income, that they account for well over 38% of the total US income).

In 2008 the top 1% of income earners reported 20% of income and paid 38% of taxes. Top 5% reported 35% of income and paid 59% of income taxes.

Since much of the bottom 50% of income earners is mostly exempt from income taxes that makes sense it would be skewed that way.

Of course, this is just federal adjusted gross income (which does tend to skew things to the benefit of the wealthier since they have more ways to adjust their income downward).

But federal income tax is progressive, while sales taxes and payroll taxes tend to be regressive and the picture would change (though I don't know how much) if total tax burden were used.

Now the problem really is what constitutes "fair share." Personally, I don't care that I'm taxed at a higher rate than most people I know.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

Of course, this is just federal adjusted gross income (which does tend to skew things to the benefit of the wealthier since they have more ways to adjust their income downward).

Which is what I was getting at with "ALL of their income." All of these numbers tend to obscure the fact that higher income earners have sources of incoming money that do not fall under "income" and can be sheltered from tax.

But federal income tax is progressive, while sales taxes and payroll taxes tend to be regressive and the picture would change (though I don't know how much) if total tax burden were used.

Yep. Which is why single-line stats are a terrible way to look at things.

[JWBear]

That was 2008. What is it now that the economy is in the toilet? The rich aren't the ones having their jobs shipped overseas, and their houses foreclosed.