RightWave

Come help Americans for Prosperity launch our nationwide hot air balloon tour, which will expose the unaffordable costs of global warming alarmism for average Americans. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE. CLICK HERE FOR A FLYER.
 
The Hot Air Tour will kick off in Washington, DC, on April 21, just one day before Earth Day. We need your help to make sure this rally sends a powerful message to Capitol Hill — the climate change shakedown must stop!

What: Rally against unaffordable climate change schemes

Where: Upper Senate Park/Union Station Plaza

When: 11:30 AM; Monday, April 21

Popcorn. T-shirts. Lunch. Ice Cream. It’s all on us! Don’t miss out on this important event!

If the extremists have their way, American families and businesses will be on the hook to pay for feel-good regulations that do almost nothing. You’ll be forced to choose between heating your home or a family vacation. Between a full tank of gas or saving for your children’s education.

David Freddoso over at The Corner has it right on with this chart.

 Can we all take a deep breath and act/speak/think rationally now?

I love the comic Mallard Fillmore. 

Doesn’t it seem like most politicians feel this way these days?

Disney films notwithstanding, take-from-the-rich schemes are usually a bad idea.  Yet, time and again politicians play that game to fund pet projects or, in many cases, just to find and tap the “next” revenue source.

In New York, the assembly is considering a “millionaires’ tax” to pay for mass transit in New York City.  The plan calls for anyone in the state making $1 million or more annually to pay a 3/4 of 1% surcharge for the next five years.  (a prize for anyone who can name a temporary tax that actually got phased out… Virginia’s BPOL Tax, anyone?)

Former MTA Chairman Richard Ravitch, who Governor Patterson has tapped to head a Blue Ribbon Commission to study the idea, had this to say:

“Any revenue – any hockable, borrowable revenue – is a good thing,” he said. “I take it any way the Legislature wants to give it to me.”

Revealing, ain’t it?

So, the IRS is going to give you a $600 check (or $1,200 if you’re married) in the form of a “tax rebate.”  Sounds great, right?

 Well, never mind the calculation you did in your head if you’re like me of how much it cost to mail out the notices letting you know you’re getting a refund.

 And, never mind the fact that a long-term tax cut would have a much more significant effect on the strength of the economy.  Or even put aside the fact that this is really just an advance on your 2008 tax return not found money.

What really is perplexing is this article:  Tax Rebates Could Be Ticket to Vacation

And mostly this passage:

Morse cites a November study by three economists from the Federal Reserve Bank, the University of Nevada-Reno and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School examining consumer habits from a similar though smaller rebate in 2001. The researchers tracked activity of 75,000 credit card accounts.

The study found that many consumers used the rebates to pay down credit card debt, just as pre-rebate surveys suggested they would do. But three to nine months later, they used their newly freed-up credit to buy even more. On average, they spent 40 percent more than the original amount of their rebate.

…cuz that’s what we need. MORE credit card debt.  I know it sounds like it’s good for the economy for people to spend more, but isn’t this a pretty shaky foundation?

(by the way, I’ve been to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, and they don’t need tax rebates to spur their attendance!  Didn’t you see Dolly on American Idol last week?)

Why don’t we just do the right thing and continue cutting marginal tax rates.  Better for the economy, better for the reduction in the growth of government and, well, just better for taxpayers.  Oh well.  Maybe next time.

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