Raising progressive taxes is a better move than budget cuts. It gets money moving through the economy again, jump-starting the economic recovery that is the principal engine of state fiscal health.
via CSMonitor.com.
Wow
May 10, 2010
Quote of the day 05-10-2010
February 12, 2009
Cause and Effect?
Does this [Emphasis is mine throughout]
Twenty-six percent (26%) of American voters say the nation is moving in the right direction, while 66% say it is heading down the wrong track, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
The number of voters who think America is moving in the right direction is down slightly from last week’s high of 29%, but it marks the third straight week in which over a quarter of voters share that opinion despite increasing bad economic news.
The Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures the economic confidence of consumers on a daily basis, fell to a new record low for the second straight day on Thursday. Just two days after Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s presentation of the White House financial rescue plan, the Consumer Index fell to 56.2, surpassing the all-time low set the day before. During 2008, record lows for consumer confidence were recorded on a regular basis. Consumer confidence is down two points from a week ago and one point from a month ago.
Rasmussen pegs the low to Geithner’s presentation of the rescue plan, but couldn’t it simply be the downturn/recession/depression that’s making folks nervous and causing low approval ratings?
I suppose we won’t know until we start to pull out of this mess.
February 2, 2009
Waukesha Carnival – Super Bowl XLIII edition
Let’s get right into this week’s Super carnival. As usual, these are my choices, although you are certainly free to put yours in the comments.
Let’s start with posts about what’s going on nationally. At Practically Speaking, Kyle Prast wonders if Republicans will say no to pork. The governors seem to have capitulated with a couple of exceptions.
Tom Gehl also gives us some plain talk on the “stimulus” package over at Brookfield Basics.
In a related story, the Asian Badger has some thoughts on that CITI bank jet.
Silent e speaks and points out a little hypocrisy at the White House.
Cindy Kilkenny had a proposal on “Drill Here, Drill Now” at Fairly Conservative. The expected result?
Tax revenue and a move towards energy independence from one simple decision.
Sounds simple to me. Cindy also thought that long term contracts such as the one Charlie Sykes recently signed should put an end to talk about the Fairness Doctrine. I disagree, but linked because of the discussion generated.
Dad29 gives us a snapshot of an entitlements catastrophe in the wings. And he kicks off the posts on Wisconsin section by helping Judge Koschnick in adding to the list of Abrahamson “activist” decisions.
Sen. Mary Lazich says the taxpayers deserve answers on Wisconsin Shares. You can read her post at Conservatively Speaking.
Rose Fernandez is getting serious about blogging and posts a few questions and answers. She’s blogging at her campaign web site Change DPI.
Over at Wigderson Library & Pub, James Wigderson looks at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction race and Dr. Van Mobley’s stands of some issues like increasing the sales tax (to offset a cut in property tax).
The best post on Gov. Doyle’s State of the State speech can be found at Spring City Chronicle, where our good friend Huckleberry Dumbell uses the technology of the “internets” and Google Translator to sort it out.
Randy Melchert, whom I’m adding to the blog roll soon, has a report on a pro-life demonstration in Madison and has video.
Within Waukesha County, Jeff at Five Points Blog informs us of a new direction for the blog and the addition of a co-blogger. Since it is now devoted to eating, drinking and recreation in Waukesha, if you would like to blog there, get in touch with him.
Alexander muses over at A Little Off Main about traffic control at five points during special events. While they’re at it, Alexander would like another “five points” intersection looked at.
Mayor Larry Nelson has published another in his series of Mayor’s Memos. Sure looks busy. Maybe he’s trying to convince us he’s worth all that money we’re paying him.
Linda Richter at Inside New Berlin lets us know about some voter forums taking place for various New Berlin offices.
Bryon Houlgrave has several new pictures posted but I liked this one best because it reminds me there are only 11 days until pitchers and catchers report.
James Rowen at The Political Environment congratulates Waukesha for cutting water consumption, but raises a question on the diversion sought.
Darryl Enriquez posted about a fight at the men’s homeless shelter downtown which started quite a discussion in the comments at Waukesha FYI.
The anonymous blogger at Ocono.com seems to object to Huckleberry’s characterization of their fair community in a recent post.
Scott Feldstein shares his frustrations with video news, especially on the CNN.com site.
That’s the end of this week’s super carnival. As always you can leave a comment suggesting a post for this week or next week’s carnival. Or you can e-mail them to me at thoughtfulconservative [at] yahoo [dot] com.
January 14, 2009
Gannett plans to furlough employees for a week
The Gannett Company, the nation’s largest newspaper publisher, said on Wednesday that it would force thousands of its employees to take a week off without pay in an effort to avoid layoffs.
This involves about 31,000 employees.
Also on Wednesday, USA Today notified its staff of a one-year pay freeze for all employees.
Most of the readers of this blog know that
With the newspaper industry in increasingly dire financial straits, Gannett’s mandatory week off takes its place in a growing list of grave moves. Layoffs have been widespread, the newspapers in Detroit halted home delivery four days of the week, the Tribune Company filed for bankruptcy protection and owners of The Rocky Mountain News and The Seattle Post-Intelligencer warned that those papers could shut down.
Our local Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has announced a couple of “layoffs” in the recent past (announced as buyouts and early retirements) as well as a price increase for non-subscription newspapers.
January 11, 2009
What will it be by the time he takes office?
Shoebox @ No Runny Eggs documents the increase of jobs Obama’s stimulus bill is expected to “create.” It’s risen steadily from 2.5 million to 4.1 million.
He’s created 1.6 million jobs before even getting it passed.
January 8, 2009
Now the work begins
UPDATE: Heh. It happens too often. As soon as I post I run across another article. This guy thinks Obama may not do enough.
We may not simply be facing a steep recession like that of the early 1980s, from which we can extricate ourselves in a year or two, but something resembling the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Ah, not only the “D” word, but preceded by “the Great.” Seeing soup lines? His solution?
It would consist not merely of updating or repairing the nation’s infrastructure, but in undertaking massive new investments that would expand the scope of American industry, and address other urgent problems in the process: global warming, over-reliance on petroleum, and the need to revive America’s domestic manufacturing capabilities–not just to provide jobs, but also to provide tradeable goods that can reduce the country’s current account deficit.
Just like Obama’s “trickle-down” government-financed approach only BIGGER! MORE! The fiscal equivalent of war!
Then in the next three paragraphs, high-speed rail. Yippee! Makes no difference if no one is riding, build it and they will come.
Then he wants some way to smooth out international trade balances.
One more. Tax cuts? No way? James Rowen asked what conservatives would think of Obama’s tax cuts and I countered in the comments, what would the left think. Now we find out.
President-elect Barack Obama’s proposed tax cuts ran into opposition Thursday from senators in his own party who said they wouldn’t do much to stimulate the economy or create jobs.
We’re in for a long ride, folks.
From Politico.com. Here’s a selection:
“There is nothing written in stone,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D.-Nev.)
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D.-Mont.) said that changes will have to be made to “improve” upon the Obama plan.
“I just don’t think it works. I don’t think that’s going to give much lift to the economy, as well intended as it is,” said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat. Conrad wants a homebuyer tax credit to help housing prices.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), an early Obama supporter, was among those pressing for more to be done in the energy field.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) argues for a greater emphasis on tangible infrastructure investments in roads, bridges, transit.
This is Congress. This is deliberation. We can only hope what they come out with works. Since they’re Democrats, I doubt it, but the ball’s in their court.
