So the news today is that there's a tax cut deal. Really? The expatriation of the temporary tax cut has been avoided for two months. Point one - there never was a permanent tax cut, just a temporary one. Neither democrats or republicans ever proposed a permanent reduction in the payroll tax! The deal, such as it is, provides a two months extension of the temporary cut and (here's the important part) provides for a republican/democratic conference committee to work on a one year extension of the tax cut. Still no permanent tax cut, just a 12 month extension. More interesting still is who is on the conference committee. So far what we know is that of the 5 of the 8 house members have already said that they oppose a one year extension!
Common Sense thinks that what we have here is more of the same from our Congress. Just the most recent round of partisan posturing and gamesmanship without any concern for you or me. It's time to change your congressional representative.
With a nod to Thomas Paine, Baron d'Holbach, and "Captain Obvious" perspectives on what should be, but remarkably often isn't, obvious common sense.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Congress and tax cut extensions
Where to begin?
The Democratic controlled Senate passed a bill to extend the tax cuts for, wait for it, two months provided that the president decides about the Keystone XL pipeline in the next 60 days. Having kicked the can down the road the Senate recessed and left town!
Meanwhile the Republican controlled house previously passed an extension bill complete with a number of poison pills involving Keystone, spending cuts, and restrictions on EPA rules knowing full well that the President has said he would veto such a bill! House speaker Boehner now wants the Senate to return to Washington to negotiate a compromise bill noting that making tax policy two months at a time is nuts.
Tax policy two months at a time IS NUTS! Common Sense definitely agrees. So is preventing the EPA from doing it's job and subverting the decision process on Keystone XL. But then this is our do nothing Congress and it's complete disconnect from the needs of the country.
Common Sense thinks the tax cuts should be extended for low and middle class incomes. Jobs only exist when there is consumption. The overwhelming number of potential consumers are low and middle class. When these people do not have the means to consume virtually noting can be done to create jobs. Simply put wealth, in and of itself, doesn't create jobs absent consumers.
As to Keystone, Common Sense thinks that while it will create some jobs for a short period of time that is not remotely sufficient reason to subvert the decision process. Keystone is not about jobs, it's about the environment and shipping oil to Gulf coast refineries. It's about the needs of big oil. While the country needs big oil at least until we have a viable alternative supply, long term we need the 1500 waterways and underlying aquifer that supplies one of the most productive food production regions on the planet.
Common Sense thinks both the House and Senate should be ashamed, the House for passing a bill that ties desperately needed tax relief for low and middle income families to the needs of big oil, the Senate for passing an equally disgusting bill that makes tax policy two months at a time.
Common Sense thinks it's time to replace our Congressional representatives.
The Democratic controlled Senate passed a bill to extend the tax cuts for, wait for it, two months provided that the president decides about the Keystone XL pipeline in the next 60 days. Having kicked the can down the road the Senate recessed and left town!
Meanwhile the Republican controlled house previously passed an extension bill complete with a number of poison pills involving Keystone, spending cuts, and restrictions on EPA rules knowing full well that the President has said he would veto such a bill! House speaker Boehner now wants the Senate to return to Washington to negotiate a compromise bill noting that making tax policy two months at a time is nuts.
Tax policy two months at a time IS NUTS! Common Sense definitely agrees. So is preventing the EPA from doing it's job and subverting the decision process on Keystone XL. But then this is our do nothing Congress and it's complete disconnect from the needs of the country.
Common Sense thinks the tax cuts should be extended for low and middle class incomes. Jobs only exist when there is consumption. The overwhelming number of potential consumers are low and middle class. When these people do not have the means to consume virtually noting can be done to create jobs. Simply put wealth, in and of itself, doesn't create jobs absent consumers.
As to Keystone, Common Sense thinks that while it will create some jobs for a short period of time that is not remotely sufficient reason to subvert the decision process. Keystone is not about jobs, it's about the environment and shipping oil to Gulf coast refineries. It's about the needs of big oil. While the country needs big oil at least until we have a viable alternative supply, long term we need the 1500 waterways and underlying aquifer that supplies one of the most productive food production regions on the planet.
Common Sense thinks both the House and Senate should be ashamed, the House for passing a bill that ties desperately needed tax relief for low and middle income families to the needs of big oil, the Senate for passing an equally disgusting bill that makes tax policy two months at a time.
Common Sense thinks it's time to replace our Congressional representatives.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Bernie Sanders - U.S. Senator for Vermont
Bernie Sanders - U.S. Senator for Vermont:
Common Sense has written previously on the issue of money and democracy and the anti-democracy impact of the Supreme Court decision on Citizen's United v. the Federal Elections Commission. There is now a move to amend the Constitution to undo that outrageous decision. Learn about the issue and consider supporting one of these worthwhile efforts. That's just plain common sense.
Common Sense has written previously on the issue of money and democracy and the anti-democracy impact of the Supreme Court decision on Citizen's United v. the Federal Elections Commission. There is now a move to amend the Constitution to undo that outrageous decision. Learn about the issue and consider supporting one of these worthwhile efforts. That's just plain common sense.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Associated Press: House passes bill to end public election funding
The Associated Press: House passes bill to end public election funding:
Common Sense has commented previously on money and politics. Indeed, the limited campaign finance reform that provided for public funding of presidential campaigns and limits on contributions has been gutted first by the Supreme Court decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and now by the Republican House proposal.
That money, particularly big money, has a destructive effect on representative government is abundantly clear. As Congress has passed laws that favor big business and wealth over the common good and has dismantled public safeguards that limit the risk inherent in big money and big business we have seen the near collapse of the financial system and rampant corruption in that system. We have seen one Congressional scandal after another. We have seen the bulk of the wealth in the country concentrated in the few.
Common Sense believes that these outcomes are destructive of a free and just society and that one essential step in insuring that elected government actually represents the will of the electorate is to get money out of elections. Public funding of elections is a reasonable step. Limiting campaign contributions to those that can actually vote in an election would be a better step still. Likewise restricting the campaign season so that candidates can not easily shape their message to particular primaries makes sense. Regional, or better yet a national primary, would do much to return honesty and candor to politics.
These are common sense steps that have some hope of returning governance to the governed. What the Supreme Court has done and what the Republican House is attempting is simply wrong in a free democratic society.
Common Sense has commented previously on money and politics. Indeed, the limited campaign finance reform that provided for public funding of presidential campaigns and limits on contributions has been gutted first by the Supreme Court decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and now by the Republican House proposal.
That money, particularly big money, has a destructive effect on representative government is abundantly clear. As Congress has passed laws that favor big business and wealth over the common good and has dismantled public safeguards that limit the risk inherent in big money and big business we have seen the near collapse of the financial system and rampant corruption in that system. We have seen one Congressional scandal after another. We have seen the bulk of the wealth in the country concentrated in the few.
Common Sense believes that these outcomes are destructive of a free and just society and that one essential step in insuring that elected government actually represents the will of the electorate is to get money out of elections. Public funding of elections is a reasonable step. Limiting campaign contributions to those that can actually vote in an election would be a better step still. Likewise restricting the campaign season so that candidates can not easily shape their message to particular primaries makes sense. Regional, or better yet a national primary, would do much to return honesty and candor to politics.
These are common sense steps that have some hope of returning governance to the governed. What the Supreme Court has done and what the Republican House is attempting is simply wrong in a free democratic society.
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