Autiello: Will True Christianity Please Stand Up?
Nick Autiello, Contributor
The notion that homosexuality is a sin and un-Christian is one that is less than a hundred years old. It is wrong, and has no basis in scriptural or historical reality.
SASSO: The Coming New Year
James Sasso, Associate Editor
As the tumultuous 2011 comes down to its final day, this column could contain an obnoxious summary of the year’s extraordinary events. Rather than once again discussing the protests around the world, the death of Osama Bin Laden, Fukushima, America’s political ineptitude, Europe’s demise or the increasingly frightful weather patterns, here I attempt to predict what 2012 holds in store.
SASSO: Kicking the Can
James Sasso, Associate Editor
For one of the first times in his tenure as Speaker, John Boehner has made a statement with which every American, Republican or Democrat, should fully agree; the two-month Senate bipartisan extension of the payroll tax cut fails to fix the nation’s problems sufficiently. Providing a short-term band-aid to a long-term dilemma contradicts what a responsible government should accomplish, but fits the pattern of contemporary American politicking.
CIOCCI: A Foolish Consistency
Mitt Romney is guilty of serial hypocrisy, Newt Gingrich is guilty of being a public intellectual constantly scrutinized by the media and others, and Ron Paul never ceases to remind me about one of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”
AKMAN: Jon Huntsman’s Meaningless Campaign
Josh Akman, Columnist
Jon Huntsman did not participate in the CNN Debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. Short of his family and small (and getting smaller) campaign staff, no one really noticed. In a bizarre and counterproductive effort to impress New Hampshire voters Huntsman skipped the debate to protest Nevada moving its caucus ahead of New Hampshire’s, which has always been the nation’s first primary. It’s bizarre because no one else skipped the debate. It’s counterproductive because right now, Jon Huntsman is polling 6% in New Hampshire.
SASSO: The 99% Rising
James Sasso
Associate Editor
For the past month a movement has grown out of Zuccoti Park in New York with the potential to grab at the very heart of America’s problems. “We are the 99%” is not simply a catchy phrase used by frustrated jobless Americans , but a commentary on the disgraceful economic inequality that has arisen in the United States since the 1970s.
ZILENZIGER: Taxes and Political Apathy
James Zilenziger, Contributor
The U.S Tax Code has become a central focus of recent debate in Washington, with both Democrats and Republicans claiming it needs to be revised because it isn’t “fair.” While the two parties fundamentally disagree on whom specifically the tax code treats unfairly, there is a consensus that a revised tax code is a necessary component to solving the debt crisis. But is that all a new tax code can solve? Consider this: Currently, 47% of Americans pay no federal income tax. Meanwhile, that bottom half of Americans who are not contributing any money to the upkeep of our national defense, public safety, infrastructure, and education are still receiving tax credits from the government and making a profit off of the U.S. tax code.
PANDYA: The Hypocrisy of Warren Buffett
Om Pandya, Columnist
If multi-billionaire and philanthropist Warren Buffett was really interested in taxing the rich, he should promote a tax on unrealized gains, which would tax accumulated capital rather than just the value of the stock at sale — instead of coming out in support of higher capital gains or income taxes. After all, despite his net worth, he actually has a very low annual salary.
THERRIAULT: The 2011 Economic Outlook, What it Means to Congress
Patrick Therriault, Columnist
Republicans’ fate in future elections is now correlated positively with the U.S. economy, which is a much different position than the one that they had perhaps grown used to since the Democrats took back the House in 2007. Republicans will be motivated to take ownership of the current situation and begin to make policy that will drive the economy upwards, thereby providing tangible results to their constituents. Come 2011, we will begin to see results from Congress, if motivated by no other reason than each member’s selfish preparation for 2012. Well, maybe “the trains will run on time.” Happy New Year!
AUTIELLO: Heed Holbrooke
Nick Autiello, Columnist
We need to start turning this country around, and correctly it needs to begin with the economy. But real economic recovery requires getting ourselves out of the longest war in American history and focusing all that attention on our failing public school system, not on tax cuts that aren’t actually tax cuts for people who are sitting on top of trillions of dollars.
SIEFF: Austerity and the American Economy
Adam Sieff, Columnist
European nations, facing crisis, have adopted extreme austerity measures and there is a growing call in the US for sharp reductions in funding. But not all austerity is created equal. Hopefully, we won’t find out the hard way.
RUSHFORD: Gay Marriage Is About Taxes, Not Sex
Stephanie Rushford, Columnist
Fiscal conservatives cannot in good faith agree with Proposition 8 or any laws against marriage equality. Laws such as the Defense of Marriage Act unfairly tax Americans for benefits that many will never receive.
RUSHFORD: Who Are You Calling Middle Class?
Stephanie Rushford, Columnist
Many Democrats see $200,000 as the cut off for defining how much individual middle-class Americans make. However, this does not take in account the high cost of living for many Americans.
ROGERS: ‘More of the Same’ Could Save Obama
Conor Rogers, Editor
If President Obama doesn’t want to become synonymous with President Carter, there’s about one thing left the President can do. Barack Obama should come out in favor of a one-year extension of the Bush Tax Cuts.
THERRIAULT: For Steinbrenner, A Good Year to Die
Patrick Therriault
With George W. Bush’s tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year, billionaire Yankees owner George Steinbrenner couldn’t have picked a better year to die.
RUSHFORD: No Taxes for Old (Wealthy) Men
Stephanie Rushford, Columnist
The deficit is a real concern for many fiscal conservatives of all political parties, but many Republicans, like Senator Kyl, are not making the tough choices to eradicate the national debt. If Congress wants to truly balance the budget, then they must forget about November and start making painful cuts to spending.
MARIN: Acknowledging the Limits of Our Beliefs
Paul Marin, Columnist
A restaurant in Paul Marin’s hometown in Romania evades taxes and bribes local officials – but that’s the only way to succeed as an entrepreneur. But such behavior would not be acceptable – morally or legally – in the US. Paul Marin explores this moral dilemma on tax-evasion to highlight the intellectual limits of one’s beliefs and explains the benefits of acknowledging such limits.
Phillips: Taxing the Rich – Oregon Measures 66 and 67
Tomorrow, January 26th, Oregonians will vote on two progressive ballot measures to increase state taxes on the wealthier sector of the population. The money will go directly into schools, public safety and other critical public services. The heated debate leading up to the vote ties into very traditional liberal vs conservative taxation policy ideas. Should taxes ever be raised in the middle of a recession? Is it smart to target the wealthy? What will the effect of their passage be on business? What will their failure mean for schools?
Jacobs: Taxes to Die For
Democrats raise taxes again – this time it’s for when we die.
WALK & ROGERS: Scenes From the DC Tea Party
Michele Walk, Associate Editor Editorial Conor Rogers, Editor-in-Chief Photography Over the weekend, the largest protest by political conservatives ever descended on the nation’s capital in an outpouring of rage over [...]
Edwards: Here Comes the Wall Street Tax
Team Obama and the AFL-CIO have their sights set on Wall Street trades – but more taxes on Wall Street could spell disaster for average Americans.