Comments for Polly Dicta Blog

Comment on Allow the Bush tax cuts to expire by Occam

Occam — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 03:12:41 +0000

I agree that we need to collect more revenue. Govt. spending on value producing projects requires many workers who put their wages into the economy, making it more healthy. The argument that lower taxes will allow the wealthy to use their extra funds to hire more people is silly. Since they are wealthy, they already have enough funds to hire people if they wanted or needed to. Their extra money from low taxes will just go a) into financial markets, b) overseas, c) Extra homes, yachts, art works, etc.

I’d like to see a flat tax with the following provisos: a) 70% tax on ALL income including capital gains and overseas, b) eliminate ALL deductions, c) a $150,000 exemption on income, or $300,000 for couples. A family that made up to $300, would pay no income tax. At $400,000 they’d pay $70,000 or 17.5%. At $1,000,000 they’d pay $490,000 or 49%.

Comment on Allow the Bush tax cuts to expire by Jim Brandt

Jim Brandt — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:35:35 +0000

I think you are right that they do sound the same. I believe if we create jobs and build something of value for the community at the same time we will make progress.

Comment on Allow the Bush tax cuts to expire by Fay Decker

Fay Decker — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:21:57 +0000

Regarding: “I propose that the federal government sponsors major projects that add value to our community. In California I believe transportation projects would stimulate the economy and immediately add value to our community.” Government creating jobs was successful during FDR’s era. I recently read an article on The New Deal. My Dad participated in one of those programs, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) when he was a very young man. Maybe government sponsorship and government creating jobs isn’t the same but it sounds similar to me. Great proposal, Jim!

Comment on 3,000 consecutive days of running 30 minutes or more by Jim Brandt

Jim Brandt — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:31:11 +0000

Hi Jay, it is good to hear from you. I have not published TSS in a lot of years. I would love to talk with about CRM systems or anthing else. My email address is jim@jimbrandt.org.

Comment on 3,000 consecutive days of running 30 minutes or more by Jaye Towne

Jaye Towne — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:23:14 +0000

Jim, Hi there… Is there a windows version of TSS yet??

Comment on Talking with legislators by Jim Brandt

Jim Brandt — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:29:55 +0000

Don, I am sure you are right, but the voters should make some effort to learn more than about a candidate than TV offers prior to making the voting decision. I know people are working hard to make a living, but we still have the power of the vote. We should make the effort give that vote power by supporting the candidate that will put in the work and represent the voters. My hope is that with the Internet, blogs, Facebook, etc. people will have several sources of information and that they will make the effort to support people who represent them. After we get the right people in office, we need to stay on them to make sure we set the agenda.

Comment on Talking with legislators by Don Decker

Don Decker — Tue, 18 May 2010 23:52:35 +0000

I think this is really where the media has let us down. You can’t learn a lot about character from 15 second soundbites.

As for working hard…it is telling that many of today’s leaders admit to not reading legislation…relying I suppose on their young staff members or, more often than not, the direction given by their party leadership.

We were promised change…and I’m still waiting. I’ll bite at the first group that delivers. In the meantime…I’m sending my change of voter registration out next week and am now in the “none” party. It is a pity the Republicans have failed me so badly.

Comment on The day after Healthcare Reform by Jim Brandt

Jim Brandt — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:36:11 +0000

Don, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I agree that the tactics used to pass the bill were consistent with a democracy. I also agree the name calling from the opisition was not acceptable. Your comment about the voice of the people not being heard was exactly how I feel. We must let the elected leaders know how we feel and we must be ready to vote them out if they ignor us. I am going to do everything I can to be a voice for the voters within a specific Congressional District and let the Congressional Member know we mean business. I will do this regardless of my personal views because I believe that that throughout our country’s history the poeple have been right when things got tough. I trush them now.

Comment on The day after Healthcare Reform by Don

Don — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:12:02 +0000

Hi Jim,

I wish I had an educated opinion on health care. I do know that I did not like the process and the behind-closed-door decisions. We were promised a new way in Washington and I’m not sure we saw it during this process. I have friends without health care so I applaud what looks like help coming their way. Where is the accounting for all of the pork that go handed to win the votes?

With two young kids I worry about the costs. I don’t think there is any clear indication of what this is going to cost 10-20-30 years from now. Are there going to be resources to fix social security and other entitlement programs? Why is the student loan program funding a portion of this and what is the impact?

That said, I was probably more disgusted with the tactics that the Republicans took to try to defeat the bill. And, behavior like calling someone a “baby killer” on the house floor doesn’t make me feel confident in the future of the conservative party.

Does the average American think they had any influence on what happened in Washington over the past 8 months? I don’t think so. I think the Democrats, by and large, wanted (or were coereced into thinking they wanted) a “win” for the President and I think the Republicans, by and large, were looking to (or were pressured to) defeat the President. While there is some good in this bill I have the feeling the merits of it were not ANYBODY’s real priority.

Comment on An Endorsement Caucus Surprise by Jim Brandt

Jim Brandt — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:24:23 +0000

I hope other people will send me examples when their Member of Congress is working hard for their constituents. Thank you for the comment.