Phil1111

Aside from Brent's concerns for US corporations. His Boo-hooing for protecting the little guy. Lets step back to the day the US reputation died in the rest of the world. i.e. the day trump was elected. The Dow Jones index was at 18,250 and today its at 34,777. So almost doubled. Thats not enough for the GOP. Of course Biden has beaten trump in index returns:" Using the returns from the time the election was called in Biden’s favor to mid-April vs. when Trump was called the winner to mid-April 2017 the Dow, S&P 500 and the NASDAQ have risen by 9.2%, 10.4% and 6.4% more under Biden, respectively. " Still not enough for the GOP and Brent. The market cap of US corporations went from $25T to $49 trillion dollars now. Yet instead of a fair tax system taking 20-30% of that market gain. US debt went up $8 trillion. Still not something Brent will accept. Of course the markets are signalling that Brent is wrong, as usual. Since the Honorable President Biden was elected and announced his tax increases. The markets are up 10%

A Chinese rocket landing back on earth. An American rocket landing back on earth. But China is not resting on its laurels: China's State-Owned Rocket Company Allegedly Cloned a 4-Year-Old SpaceX Render

Deduction will always have to be a part of the equation. Otherwise some business could not exist. For some corporations profits are not realized for years. Others operate on very seasonal basis. But simplification is necessary. YES, as per my suggestion above. Tax codes typically arise because some genius politician has an idea on how to "incentivize" a corporations, or individuals actions. Human behavior as its always worked. In sports, taxation, life, etc. writing on the wall is interpreted in different ways. The statutes around taxation need to be more agile. So unintended consequences can be quickly addressed. The code simplified. To raise more money the slope of the marginal rate increased. More enforcement is needed. The US is 1/2 way between Greece and the Nordic countries. Concerning outright cheating and the citizens who think the tax systems are fair and just. As a part of this equation is the entire idea that government supplies needed services. That government is efficient. When government is painted as "evil" and "enemy", a swamp of waste, corruption, etc. Its citizens are more likely to cheat and go to extreme lengths to avoid paying taxes.

"Switzerland is among very few countries left with a recurring annual wealth tax. The number of OECD countries imposing it dropped to four in 2017 from 12 in 1990....The measure forces residents in one of the world’s richest nations to tally the value of their investments, real estate, cars, fine art, Bitcoin, and even beehives and cows....Switzerland’s cantonal wealth tax just isn’t as emotive a matter as elsewhere. In January, a bid to cut the levy in Zug, the jurisdiction near Zurich known as a low-tax home for hedge funds and commodity giant Glencore Plc, was defeated by lawmakers. “A lot of European countries have tried wealth taxes, certainly wealth taxes on an annual basis, and they’ve almost inevitably retreated from it because it’s highly complicated,” I don't disagree that inequality in the amounts north of hundreds of millions of dollars needs to be addressed. IMO VAT-GST consumption type taxes are easier to administer than a wealth tax.

We all agree:“The distance between top and bottom incomes in the United States is much greater than it was 50 years ago,” Gates wrote in a blog post reflecting on 2019 published Tuesday. (Indeed, American income inequality is at its highest level in decades, according to U.S. Census Bureau’s Gini index.) “A few people end up with a great deal—I’ve been disproportionately rewarded for the work I’ve done—while many others who work just as hard struggle to get by,” he wrote.... To solve the problem, Gates said the U.S. government should raise taxes that affect the wealthy. “I’m for a tax system in which, if you have more money, you pay a higher percentage in taxes. I think the rich should pay more than they currently do, and that includes Melinda and me,” Gates wrote, referring to his wife." But Brent will be along shortly to put you, me, Melinda, Bill, MacKenzie Scott, Steve Forbes, et al, straight.

For a short view on reasonable critique of the Gates foundation See the "Influence Watch" quote and the Wikipedia quote that the Gates foundation is to be wound down with 20 years of his death,(In the above post). I hear what you're saying but IMO much of the unjustified criticism of the Gates foundation. Comes from the right wing political spectrum and special interest groups that don't like his support of social causes.Obviously Jeff Bezos's ex wife MacKenzie Scott has set a new benchmark for giving money away w/o strings attached. But the Gates foundation has impeccable credentials when it concerns "Program Expense Ratio 98.89%" from Charity navigator.

"Bill Gates is a consistent target of conspiracy theories, many becoming especially heightened amid the coronavirus pandemic. While the tech billionaire remains the target of scorn and suspicion online,... He has given more than $50 billion to charity since 1994. However, his wealth has grown even faster than he has donated money....the Chronicle of Philanthropy. In 2019, the couple donated $589 million to charity, making them the seventh most philanthropic people last year." "The 21st annual Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s list of America’s biggest donors, is based on gifts and pledges of cash, stock, land, and real estate to nonprofit organizations in 2020... Warren Buffett is absent from this year’s list even though he gave the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation stock in his Berkshire Hathaway investment firm valued at more than $2.2 billion last year. The donation was an annual installment on his 2006 pledge of more than $36 billion in Berkshire shares to the foundation. That same year he also made multibillion pledges to the foundations of his late first wife and his three children.... 13. Bill and Melinda Gates Microsoft co-founder and wife $157 million (estimated)" From above last year "Jeff Bezos Amazon founder $10.2 billion Biggest gift: $10 billion to Bezos Earth Fund" I've heard of Inc. but that entire story is garbage. It attacks philanthropy as is the money pledges isn't given. Yet offers no facts to support it. Yes money has been pledged and not yet donated. Buts thats entirely different from the tax deductions that it obtusely makes references to that may be falsely claimed as deductible expenses. Attacks on the Gates foundation come from the special interest groups that are threatened by its donations. Clarity here: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation by Influence Watch. To date the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has given away just under $45 billion but that includes monies from Warren Buffet. and furthermore "Also announced was the decision to spend all of the foundation's resources within 50 years after Bill's and Melinda's deaths.[44][45][46][47] This was later lowered to within 20 years of their death.[48][49] This would close the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust and effectively end the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In the 2006 announcement, it was reiterated that Warren Buffett "... has stipulated that the proceeds from the Berkshire Hathaway shares he still owns at death are to be used for philanthropic purposes within 10 years after his estate has been settled"

"The Johnson Amendment is a provision in the U.S. tax code, since 1954, that prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. Section 501(c)(3) organizations are the most common type of nonprofit organization in the United States, ranging from charitable foundations to universities and churches. The amendment is named for then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, who introduced it in a preliminary draft of the law in July 1954. In the early 21st century, some politicians, including President Donald Trump, have sought to repeal the provision, arguing that it restricts the free speech rights of churches and other religious groups. These efforts have been criticized because churches have fewer reporting requirements than other non-profit organizations, and because it would effectively make political contributions tax-deductible.[1] On May 4, 2017, Trump signed an executive order "to defend the freedom of religion and speech" for the purpose of easing the Johnson Amendment's restrictions." 'Unholy' Examines The Alliance Between White Evangelicals And Trump. a NPR feature.

FIFY

Nearly one million people signed up for Obamacare coverage this spring because of President Biden's leadership "the average monthly premium that Healthcare.gov consumers paid fell to $86 for those signing up in April, down from $117 in February and March...About four million Americans who are currently uninsured can qualify for plans that will cost them no premium, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation...two million Americans who were already enrolled in Obamacare coverage have returned to " the marketplace to take advantage of new discounts. President Biden, protecting the health and pocketbook of Americans who got thrown under the bus by trump.

Either that or waiting for Ted Cruz and FOX to tell them what to think because they are republicans. Meanwhile two "republicans" pictured above plot to arm America so they can redo January 6th. When midterms are stolen once again.

"Current Texas law requires that in order to receive a permit for concealed or open carry of a handgun, a person must be at least 21 years old, pass a fingerprinted background check, complete four to six hours of classroom or online training, pass a written exam, and pass a shooting safety and proficiency test." The new law waives those requirements. Sheriffs and police chiefs oppose the changes. As does a majority of the public "A solid majority of Texas voters don’t think adults should be allowed to carry handguns in public places without permits or licenses, though the idea is popular with a 56% majority of Republicans. Overall, 59% oppose unlicensed carry — a number driven up by the 85% of Democrats who oppose it. On the Republican side, the gun questions revealed a gender gap. Among Republican men, 70% said they support unlicensed carry; 49% of Republican women oppose that position." But red meat to the base is all that matters in Austin.

Covid cases will continue in the US for several more years. "The new survey also found that only 9 percent of adults who hadn’t gotten the shot planned to do so, suggesting the country is nearing the limit of people planning to get immunized." "The share of adults who say they’ve gotten at least one dose of a vaccine or intend to do so as soon as possible inched up from 61% in March to 64% in April, while the share who want to “wait and see” before getting vaccinated – a group that had been steadily decreasing in size since over several months – remained about the same in April (15%) compared to March (17%). Among Republicans, a group that has been slower to embrace the vaccine, over half now say they’ve gotten at least one dose or will do so as soon as they can. The share of Republicans who say they will “definitely not” get vaccinated decreased from 29% in March to 20% in April but remains substantially larger than the share among Democrats or independents." Using the above survey. Of the 74 million trump voters in the last election, 14.8 million would choose to be not vaccinated. If they all got covid at the current US mortality rate there would be 262,000 less trump voters by midterms. Of course i know trump isn't running in the midterms.

Some actually thought his Facebook ban would be overturned. They are so silly.

The lead that the US had in electric vehicle production has been squandered by trump and the GOP. China is now taking the lead in its efforts to go green. In China there is no debate about a new Green Deal, its a fact. "China will be making over eight million electric cars a year by 2028, estimates LMC Automotive, a global data firm, compared with one million last year. Europe is on track to make 5.7 million fully electric cars by then...North American automakers are on track to build only 1.4 million electric cars a year by 2028, according to LMC, compared with 410,000 last year.." "At the end of 2020, an important milestone was reached when 4.92 million new energy vehicles (NEVs), including battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles, were operating on China’s roads. These were 1.75% of the country’s total vehicle stock. Ten years ago, China had only deployed some 20,000 NEVs nationwide, and it was only eight years ago that China established a mid-term strategy for NEV development that aimed at a cumulative 5 million vehicles sold by the end of 2020. This means that in just a decade, China’s NEV population grew by about 250 fold!" "Why China is so far ahead of the U.S. in electric vehicle production" ? answer...the GOP and trump. But there will be costs.(Special section for Brent).

Both wrong. The whole world has seen the images of the two Ecuadorian sisters age 3 and 5. Dropping into the US over the 'new' 14' border wall. Its nothing but propaganda for the trump base.

"However, only 80 miles of new barriers have been built where there were none before - that includes 47 miles of primary wall, and 33 miles of secondary wall built to reinforce the initial barrier. " January 12, 2021 Less than 12 miles a year.

In the mean time they are back to gerrymandering, vote rigging, various laws to steal the vote.

So a trump party member could buy 1400 rounds of 5.56, or perhaps 1900 rounds of 9mm. Given current gun nut/gun rush prices.

Why must you always be wrong? I admire your ego because any normal person who was wrong so often would normally have no self confidence at all. Fifteen miles of new wall is all that trump built in four years in office. No Mexico never even paid for that.

Reaching ‘Herd Immunity’ Is Unlikely in the U.S., Experts Now Believe 'Widely circulating coronavirus variants and persistent hesitancy about vaccines will keep the goal out of reach. The virus is here to stay" If true, the combination of an ageing GOP and their anti-science bias. Will further fulfill the Darwin equation of shrinking numbers. Those who believe in science will take annual booster shots and live on the sidelines of the continuing pandemic.

and Russia's IOC cheating scandals, List of Olympic Games scandals and controversies. Which has nothing on FIFA corruption and of course to get back on topic: FIFA’s Sexist Shadow Looms Over U.S. Women’s World Cup Victory Men making money off the sweat of women, nothing new here.

So he does agree!

Oh comeon. Joe will be along shortly to tell everyone that skydivers are among the biggest whores anywhere. Anything for cheap jumps or something free. The UAE, Dubai, Saudi's, etc. trump made his first visit to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile ""In consultation with counsel, and according to Kentucky regulations, the KHRC has determined the complaint does not articulate a violation of KHRC regulations.". So yes, for the rich who own horses. Women and children are chattels. Or is it horses are more valuable?

We'll see if Brent agrees or not.