Saturday, September 29, 2007
Japan set to discourage savings
Well, thar's not what they are saying, of course, but when you refer to low-risk savings accounts as "stagnant" I think we can see a Kelo-style investment vs savings question being answered firmly in the "strongly encourage people to spend" column.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Women in the military
It wasn't so long ago that the idea of women in combat roles in the military was a hot button topic. Officially women still aren't allowed in combat roles, but with a winkwink we all know they do the same jobs as the men in the military--they have to. Not only because of the fluid nature of today's military, but because we just don't have enough bodies to throw into the breach.
That said, the problems of women in the military is another one of those untold stories which is going to explode when we finally get out of Iraq: Helen Benedict, "The Private War of Women Soldiers."
I realize that soldiers are only men, in stressful situations, etc., but the problems need to be addressed. And soon.
That said, the problems of women in the military is another one of those untold stories which is going to explode when we finally get out of Iraq: Helen Benedict, "The Private War of Women Soldiers."
I realize that soldiers are only men, in stressful situations, etc., but the problems need to be addressed. And soon.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Treasury Department: We can only fix Social Security through a combination of increased revenues and/or smaller outflows
I really don't mean to be snarky, but I just can't help it: Duh!
But this is actually a big step for the Administration, to take privatization off the table. My own prescription of common sense Social Security fixes:
-raise the ceiling limit on income subject to social security withholding (currently, 6.20% up to earnings of $97,500/year, with a hard cap of $6045). Raising the earnings ceiling to $150K or $200K will increase revenues by quite a bit, particularly among those taxpayers most likely to get big benefits anyway (longer lifespans) and most likely to not really need the money as much (more likely to have private retirement plans);
-increase the retirement age, currently at 67 for younger workers. People are living longer, and while the retirement age has been increased a bit, a raise to 69 or 70 would help not only those older workers who want to continue to work (but find work choices limited at age 65) but if we keep the early retirement at 62 this will provide a wider range of choices for workers.
-initiate a needs-test, particularly for those with higher income levels after retirement age. For example, a taxpayer earning more than $100,000/year in income might have their total benefits limited to the amount they paid into the system and no more. This would eliminate some people (mostly, the wealthy elderly) from getting benefits far and above the amounts they paid in which would help keep money available for others.
Needs testing is a hot button issue for Social Security, but by keeping the threshhold high this seems to be a common-sense approach. Paying out thousands of dollars to people who don't need it (and didn't pay that much into the system) is commonsensical to me.
But this is actually a big step for the Administration, to take privatization off the table. My own prescription of common sense Social Security fixes:
-raise the ceiling limit on income subject to social security withholding (currently, 6.20% up to earnings of $97,500/year, with a hard cap of $6045). Raising the earnings ceiling to $150K or $200K will increase revenues by quite a bit, particularly among those taxpayers most likely to get big benefits anyway (longer lifespans) and most likely to not really need the money as much (more likely to have private retirement plans);
-increase the retirement age, currently at 67 for younger workers. People are living longer, and while the retirement age has been increased a bit, a raise to 69 or 70 would help not only those older workers who want to continue to work (but find work choices limited at age 65) but if we keep the early retirement at 62 this will provide a wider range of choices for workers.
-initiate a needs-test, particularly for those with higher income levels after retirement age. For example, a taxpayer earning more than $100,000/year in income might have their total benefits limited to the amount they paid into the system and no more. This would eliminate some people (mostly, the wealthy elderly) from getting benefits far and above the amounts they paid in which would help keep money available for others.
Needs testing is a hot button issue for Social Security, but by keeping the threshhold high this seems to be a common-sense approach. Paying out thousands of dollars to people who don't need it (and didn't pay that much into the system) is commonsensical to me.
Marijuana & health care costs
I've seen several columns in the last few years, which basically boil down to "allow it, then tax the crap out of marijuana. Here's one at the Marijuana Policy Project, a group which otherwise does a great job on the medical marijuana issue.
But I think it is tough to have it both ways: To say that there is a medical need for marijuana to be available to those who need it (particularly those who appear to find no relief through other means is one thing. To say that marijuana should be openly available (i.e., not need-based) is completely another thing.
But I think it is tough to have it both ways: To say that there is a medical need for marijuana to be available to those who need it (particularly those who appear to find no relief through other means is one thing. To say that marijuana should be openly available (i.e., not need-based) is completely another thing.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Living the Bible for a year
A very interesting premise.
Don't unions do this when they want to prove some point to management without actually going on strike? Wonder if God is pissed at this guy?
Don't unions do this when they want to prove some point to management without actually going on strike? Wonder if God is pissed at this guy?
Friday, September 21, 2007
How to get your pet projects passed, without the bother of having people vote on it..
We know all about earmarks (pet projects, often pork-laden, than legislators put into a bill before its final passage). But Rep Young (R-Alaska) has apparently done one better: Added an earmark after the bill's passage, but before being signed by the President.
What a timesaver!
TPM Muckraker is trying to figure out, exactly, how that could even happen. And they are getting stonewalled.
But that's not all! The recipients of the earmark (a Florida county) didn't want the money in the first place, and voted to send it back. (Imagine that--doing the right thing!). Of course, in the "no good deed goes unpunished, they got their hands slapped.
It is important, I think, to keep in mind that this all was done by a member of the "small government" Republican Party.
What a timesaver!
TPM Muckraker is trying to figure out, exactly, how that could even happen. And they are getting stonewalled.
But that's not all! The recipients of the earmark (a Florida county) didn't want the money in the first place, and voted to send it back. (Imagine that--doing the right thing!). Of course, in the "no good deed goes unpunished, they got their hands slapped.
It is important, I think, to keep in mind that this all was done by a member of the "small government" Republican Party.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
New photos discovered of workers at Auschwitz
Unlike earlier photos, these apparently are candid shots of the German workers and soldiers.
Scary. The face of evil is benign, it seems.
Scary. The face of evil is benign, it seems.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The American mind at work, solving car bombs...
OK, so not all car bombs. But a partial solution to those ramming through checkpoints, particularly at military bases..
Cheney is still in his secret bunker
Even when he's not.
The lengths this man goes to keep "secrets" is positively Nixonian. Let's hope another Nixonian (Fred Thompson) doesn't follow him.
The lengths this man goes to keep "secrets" is positively Nixonian. Let's hope another Nixonian (Fred Thompson) doesn't follow him.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The Kissinger strawman
Henry Kissinger, like many Republicans these days, makes a big ass strawman in his latest comments on Iraq.
Andrew doesn't pick up on it in his post, but *no one* is advocating the "abrupt withdrawal from Iraq" that Kissinger pontificates upon, poorly, with his latest domino theory.
The truth is, as Obama has pointed out very well, there is no military solution to the political problems of Iraq. Taking out the military, then, is a wash to the eventual long-term solutions that will come. Indeed, if Iraq was a welfare mother and the US military was a welfare check, Kissinger and others would have cut off Iraq 3 years ago.
Andrew doesn't pick up on it in his post, but *no one* is advocating the "abrupt withdrawal from Iraq" that Kissinger pontificates upon, poorly, with his latest domino theory.
The truth is, as Obama has pointed out very well, there is no military solution to the political problems of Iraq. Taking out the military, then, is a wash to the eventual long-term solutions that will come. Indeed, if Iraq was a welfare mother and the US military was a welfare check, Kissinger and others would have cut off Iraq 3 years ago.
McCain forgets his place again
I don't like the MoveOn.org ad against General Patraeus--I think it isn't such a huge deal as those "looking for a fight" rightie bloggers are making this out to be, but I think it is just in poor taste, and targets the wrong person.
McCain, however, wants to give out some red meat, and says MoveOn.org should be "thrown out of the country."
Yes, Senator--that's exactly how we deal with speech we don't like. I'm sure the Founding Fathers had this in mind the whole time--free popular speech, but criticize a government employee and you'll be tossed out of the country.
McCain, however, wants to give out some red meat, and says MoveOn.org should be "thrown out of the country."
Yes, Senator--that's exactly how we deal with speech we don't like. I'm sure the Founding Fathers had this in mind the whole time--free popular speech, but criticize a government employee and you'll be tossed out of the country.
NYT to end paid access
About damn time.
As a researcher, this is great news because I can verify information from the Times (including publication details) in order that requests to reprint their material for my clients have the full information necessary. I doubt permissions issues entered into their heads in making this decision, but it is a bonus to them, I think.
As a researcher, this is great news because I can verify information from the Times (including publication details) in order that requests to reprint their material for my clients have the full information necessary. I doubt permissions issues entered into their heads in making this decision, but it is a bonus to them, I think.
Another Republican flames out in a sex scandal
I realize that this really isn't a political issue, but you'd think we'd be seeing more of these involving Democrats, if the Republicans are as good at digging out dirt as I suspect.
Which means that either Democrats are genuinely less dirty than Republicans overall, or I'm wrong and Republicans are all dirt throwing and not dirt-digging. I suspect the former.
Anyway, here is your Republican sex scandal of the week.
Which means that either Democrats are genuinely less dirty than Republicans overall, or I'm wrong and Republicans are all dirt throwing and not dirt-digging. I suspect the former.
Anyway, here is your Republican sex scandal of the week.
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