From the Archives: "Government is Human Beings…"
Posted on February 24th, 2009 by Kip
Why is Washington State mailing out $1 welfare checks?
Filed under: Fiscal Federalism, Humor | Comments Off
From the Archives: Behold American "Poverty"
Posted on February 5th, 2009 by Kip
The Prime Taboo of Politics is that no middle class entitlement must ever be allowed to hint of being the dole.
Filed under: Activist Legislators & Nanny Statists, Fiscal Federalism, Socialized Medicine | Comments Off
While Politicians Slept…
Posted on January 26th, 2009 by Kip
The "moving" tale of Wilmington, Ohio — a city poised to die.
Filed under: Activist Legislators & Nanny Statists, Economics & Finance, Fiscal Federalism | Comments Off
On the False Distinction Between Intragovernmental Grants and Loans
Posted on January 7th, 2009 by Kip
Government giving itself other people's money is an enlightened path to universal prosperity, but government loaning itself other people's money is "ridiculous"?
Filed under: Economics & Finance, Fiscal Federalism, Politics | Comments Off
On the Calls for an Infrastructure Stimulus
Posted on November 25th, 2008 by Kip
President-Elect Obama has pledged to "create" 2.5 million new jobs (at an apparent potential cost of $280,000 per job), by "rebuilding infrastructure" — roads and bridges and such. Maybe I was hallucinating, but didn't we all spend the past two years or so bitching and moaning about taxpayer money being used to build bridges? But [...]
Filed under: Activist Legislators & Nanny Statists, Economics & Finance, Fiscal Federalism, Politics | 4 Comments »
On McCain's "Overhead Projector" Remark
Posted on October 11th, 2008 by Kip
To review: During the second presidential joint press conference debate, John McCain criticized Barack Obama for seeking a $3 million earmark for what McCain snidely dismissed as an "overhead projector." Science bloggers have been quick to react indignantly. One example: McCain repeatedly called the requested equipment an "overhead projector" which brings to mind the simple [...]
Filed under: Fiscal Federalism, Politics | Comments Off
CRS Recommendation: Congress and the States
Posted on September 6th, 2008 by Kip
A Stitch in Haste recommends the following report from the Congressional Research Service: Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power Summary: The lines of authority between states and the federal government are, to a significant extent, defined by the United States Constitution and relevant case law. In recent years, however, [...]
Filed under: Constitutional Issues, Fiscal Federalism | Comments Off
From the Archives: The Alaskan Tax Vulture
Posted on August 31st, 2008 by Kip
(Loosely based on a post originally published December 20th, 2004; heavily edited, and some links updated with more recent data. Additional post-Palin thoughts appended.) — First, some background: –Alaska has been the top recipient of federal taxpayer dollars per capita every year since 1999, and one of the three most lopsided states in terms of [...]
Filed under: Fiscal Federalism, Politics, Updates | Comments Off
"One Would Hope So…" Quote of the Day
Posted on August 17th, 2008 by Kip
In case there was any doubt about the financing structure of New York City's mass transit bureaucracy, The New York Times assures us: The authority collects far more revenue from subway, bus and commuter rail fares, dedicated taxes, and bridge and tunnel tolls than it draws from direct government aid. In a libertarian paradise (or [...]
Filed under: Fiscal Federalism, New York City & State, Taxation & Fiscal Policy | Comments Off
Progressive Enough For You?
Posted on October 9th, 2005 by Kip
The Internal Revenue Service has released 2003 data on income tax returns. The numbers show that, despite all the histrionics about the phantom "Bush tax cuts," the federal income has become even more progressive than in previous years: (Click to enlarge.) Some hasty stitches regarding these numbers: –The idea that "the rich don't pay their [...]
Filed under: Fiscal Federalism | 3 Comments »