MooPig Ho-Hum Politics Department :: "Tea, Tobacco, and Grass Roots..."

Why them, Why Not Me?
Mashed articles smoked by Pat Darnell  |  May 10, 2014  |  Bryan TX

[Picture LINK]

Do you get emails from FreedomWorks? I do. Dozens of them. They think by using the same methods that the Democratic and Republican Party use they will persuade me to join their "Grass Roots" movement. What is their movement? I don't know. But grass root it ain't.

I think FreedomWorks backed TEA PARTY wants me to vote to unplug the Federal Government, and rely on local and state governments to run things. I am not sure that is possible, but surely they have a big funding base behind them because they grew from nowhere when we "elected" our most recent Manchurian candidate, Barry Obama. Like cockroaches no longer afraid of the light, Tea Party-ers crawled into our streets and gutters and plodded along with misspelled slogans.

The referenced article claims the Grass Root rampage began in the 1980's by tobacco cartels who were attempting to stop all the governmental vice-taxes foisted upon their products, by creating a good old grassroots group of grass widows against taxation.

‘To quarterback behind the scenes, third-party efforts’: the tobacco industry and the Tea Party -- Fallin et al. -- Tobacco Control: "...Abstract Background The Tea Party, which gained prominence in the USA in 2009, advocates limited government and low taxes. Tea Party organisations, particularly Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, oppose smoke-free laws and tobacco taxes...

"...Methods We used the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, the Wayback Machine, Google, LexisNexis, the Center for Media and Democracy and the Center for Responsive Politics (opensecrets.org) to examine the tobacco companies’ connections to the Tea Party. Results Starting in the 1980s, tobacco companies worked to create the appearance of broad opposition to tobacco control policies by attempting to create a grassroots smokers’ rights movement. Simultaneously, they funded and worked through third-party groups, such as Citizens for a Sound Economy, the predecessor of AFP and FreedomWorks, to accomplish their economic and political agenda. There has been continuity of some key players, strategies and messages from these groups to Tea Party organisations. As of 2012, the Tea Party was beginning to spread internationally."
'via Blog this'

CONCLUSION
It's ho-hum politics as usual. We are sorry we descended into this quagmire once again, but when grown people act the way they do in a circus like Federal government, we get antsy. Watching Rand Paul and other anti-establishment types jet around and hold rallies for Tea Party-like wannabe's, it makes our eyes twitch.

Developing an eye twitch can be worrisome in the blogging business. If the stuff Rand Paul and his followers are doing is "Grass Root" I think a new definition is needed. Just what is a Grass Root movement in 2014? Well, some of the discussion is about 'restoring liberty,' using designed, clearly articulated, effective strategies, tactics, and ideas which liberty activists can use on campus or in campaign work to win with their 'principled message.'

So we worry. But like our mentor, we should follow his lead: "What, Me Worry?"

____________________Reference
http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2013/02/20/tobaccocontrol-2012-050815.full
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QCzww6EG7E
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2014/04/rand-paul-raises-big-dollars-from-small-donors.html
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00493924&cycle=2014
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2014/05/rand-pauls-ties-with-losing-nc-primary-candidate-run-deep.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brendan-demelle/study-confirms-tea-party-_b_2663125.html

What do you know about the Top Tax Rates?

How did this Report get Past Us?
Retrieved by Pat Darnell | Mar 25, 2013 | Bryan TX

As early as September, 2012, a report made by the Congressional Research Service, CRS, pointed out that taxes were not correlated to GDP in the way that Republican ideologues preach it. In fact the opposite was true.

The report was "taken down" before the elections in November, 2012. The report was re-published by Democrats HERE.

" ... The top income tax rates have changed considerably since the end of World War II. Throughout the late-1940s and 1950s, the top marginal tax rate was typically above 90%; today it is 35%. Additionally, the top capital gains tax rate was 25% in the 1950s and 1960s, 35% in the 1970s; today it is 15%. The average tax rate faced by the top 0.01% of taxpayers was above 40% until the mid-1980s; today it is below 25%. Tax rates affecting taxpayers at the top of the income distribution are currently at their lowest levels since the end of the second World War. (CRS. Thomas L. Hungerford. Specialist in Public Finance. September 14, 2012. HERE) ... "

Non-Partisan Congressional Tax Report Debunks Core Conservative Economic Theory-GOP Suppresses Study - Forbes: "“The reduction in the top tax rates appears to be uncorrelated with saving, investment and productivity growth. The top tax rates appear to have little or no relation to the size of the economic pie. However, the top tax rate reductions appear to be associated with the increasing concentration of income at the top of the income distribution.” (Rick Ungar, Contributor. 11.02.2012. HERE)"

'via Blog this'

The conclusion?

"Lowering the tax rates on the wealthy and top earners in America do not appear to have any impact on the nation’s economic growth. (Ungar. ibid.)"

Apparently, solid, well researched data no longer matters—at least not when it comes to the Congressional Republicans. They got the report pulled, somehow. Republicans didn't like some of the wording: "Bush tax cuts" and reference to "tax cuts for the rich."

This is some real sad shit.

" ... While a spokesperson for the C.R.S. refused to comment on the discussions between the Senate Republicans and her agency, she did confirm that the report was no longer in ‘official circulation’. However, the New York Times reports that a source requesting anonymity confirmed that the decision to pull the study was done against the advice of the economics division and that the author, Mr. Hungerford, stood by the report’s findings. (Rick Ungar, Contributor. 11.02.2012 HERE) ... "

Republican tax strategy? Debunked; total failure.

___________________Reference
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/11/02/non-partisan-congressional-tax-report-debunks-core-conservative-economic-theory-gop-suppresses-study/
http://www.dpcc.senate.gov/files/documents/CRSTaxesandtheEconomy%20Top%20Rates.pdf
http://www.decisionsonevidence.com/2012/10/debunking-the-myth-that-tax-rates-are-at-historic-high-levels-for-the-wealthy/

MooPig's Money Column :: "Tricky IRA Rules"

[Picture LINK] Stephen Root Milton of Office Space fame.... fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.

How to Protect Yourself From Tricky IRA Rules - SmartMoney.com: ""It's a wake-up call for anyone who has an IRA," says Martin Censor, a manager at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. "The government needs money. This is low-hanging fruit.""

'via Blog this'

EXCERPT | " ... Making an "excess contribution" -- meaning you contributed more than the annual limit to a traditional IRA or made a Roth contribution when your income was too high -- can cost you 6% of the amount that wasn't allowed in the account. This can add up fast in cases where an excess contribution went undetected for many years. Sometimes, excess contributions also result when a transfer of assets from one IRA to another doesn't get done in the time allowed.

Arthur Elkin, a 60-year-old retired federal-government worker in Delaware, didn't realize he and his wife had made excess contributions to their Roth IRAs for seven years until he started working with a new accountant. Their income had topped the $150,000 maximum then allowed for making contributions, but their previous accountant hadn't caught the problem.

The couple had to file seven years of amended returns, withdraw the contributions and pay thousands of dollars in penalties and interest. The worst part, Mr. Elkin says: realizing that, had he kept preparing his own tax returns, as he had in the past, the software probably would have caught the error.

_________________Reference
http://www.seaprep.org/page.aspx?pid=598
http://www.smartmoney.com/retirement/planning/how-to-protect-yourself-from-tricky-ira-rules-1340738596512/

Get Out Your Check Books !!

:: BTW, this is submitted to me via email from our favorite of favorites curmudgeonist Randall Geades.

Let's hear it!!

To B. Obama:

Note: forwarded message attached. It say: ROLL DEE DICE MON !!Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin claimed her historic spot on the Republican ticket Wednesday night, uncorking a smiling, sarcastic attack on Barack Obama and winning cheers of acceptance and approval after a tumult-filled first week on the national stage. She vowed to help presidential nominee John McCain bring real change to Washington, saying "he's a man who's there to serve his country and not just his party."

From:		Ginger Carrell
To:		Undisclosed recipients:;
Subject:		Presidential Candidate Comparisons
Date:		Tue, 2 Sep 2008 09:56:33 -0500
2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON TALKING POINTS ISSUE McCain Obama Favors new drilling offshore US Yes No Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it Yes No Served in the US Armed Forces Yes No Amount of time served in the US Senate 22 YEARS 173 DAYS Will institute a socialized national health care plan No Yes Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy No Yes Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately No Yes Supports gun ownership rights Yes No Supports homosexual marriage No Yes Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase No Yes Voted against making English the official language No Yes Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals No Yes CAPITAL GAINS TAX MCCAIN 0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax. OBAMA 28% on profit from ALL home sales. (How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.) DIVIDEND TAX MCCAIN 15% (no change) OBAMA 39.6% - (How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit') INCOME TAX MCCAIN (no changes) Single making 30K - tax $4,500 Single making 50K - tax $12,500 Single making 75K - tax $18,750 Married making 60K- tax $9,000 Married making 75K - tax $18,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250 OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts) Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Under Obama, your taxes could almost double! INHERITANCE TAX MCCAIN - 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax) OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes. NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet. New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already) New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity) New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!!! And this says nothing about stripping of the DoD, appeasement of the terrorists, and loss of US sovereignty under “world citizen” Obama’s relinquishment of US rights to the UN and World Court . Nor does it talk of loss of rights in “Fairness Laws” which are only fair to the minority. Please verify the above at the following web sites: http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.html http://elections.foxnews.com/?s=proposed+taxes http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/politics/articles/mccain_obama_offer_different_visions_on_taxes.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/barack_obama/ http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_mccain/

Taxation without Respiration... give me a breath!!!!

Smells like French fries, looks like French Fries, Ummmm... tastes like French Fries:

Or so this article says from March 6, 2007 -- "Epiphanies about energy security and fairness notwithstanding, this story certainly reinforces decades worth of conspiracy stories about oil companies quashing competition by lobbying for unfair regulations..." (Laumer, J; 3/6/07)

Illinois Man Fined Thousands And Threatened With Felony Prosecution For Using Untaxed Biodiesel

by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03. 6.07

Business & Politics
Via Daily Kos Diary, "...David Wetzel, a 79 yr old retired chemist from Decatur IL had been using recycled vegetable oil in his 1985 Volkswagen Golf diesel car for 7 years. This January, " the State of Illinois Dept. of Revenue sent 2 "special agents," Gary May and John Egan to his house. The two agents threatened the couple with felony charges and asked them to post a $2,500 bond!"

According to the Herald & Review, where the full story is explained, a Republican State Senator has introduced a State bill "...which would curtail government interference regarding alternative fuels, such as vegetable oil..."

I would agree that the bond is not acceptable, $2,500 bond," Watson said, adding that David Wetzel should be commended for his innovative efforts." (His car) gets 46 miles per gallon running on vegetable oil. We all should be thinking about doing without gasoline if we're trying to end foreign dependency."" (read the rest at: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/illinois_man_fi.php )


If you can't do the time; don't use the... slime?

Decatur man greases skids for veggie oil fuel with state Senate testimony

By HUEY FREEMAN - H&R Staff Writer /Thursday, March 1, 2007 11:59 PM CST
Wetzel told the committee how revenue agents visited his home one morning, telling him he had to pay fuel tax on each gallon of vegetable oil he used. He was later told he had to apply for a supplier's license and post a bond, or he would be charged with a Class 3 felony. Wetzel declined to apply because he did not fit the revenue department's definition of a supplier, which includes storage capacity of at least 30,000 gallons.

"I have no problem paying the taxes, but somehow they've got to make it easy," Wetzel said.

Three other men who have converted their vehicles to run on vegetable oil also attended the hearing.

David Ogden of Shelbyville, owner-operator of a vegetable oil-propelled semi truck, told the senators he was also threatened by the department of revenue with Class 3 felony charges. Class 3 felonies are punishable by up to five years imprisonment.

In an interview, Ogden said an agent once stopped him on the highway, telling him to stop immediately, because he did not have a supplier's license. However, he had that supplier's license.

"They're harassing me," Ogden said. "He's out there swinging his badge around. I was legal, and he didn't even know it." (read the rest at: http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/03/02/news/local_news/1021539.txt )