Ollie Wendell Holmes once said ‘Bout taxes in this nation, They are the price we gotta pay To have civilization. But recently I’m thinking That this rule we should relax, ’Cause I’d rather not be civilized Than pay my income tax. The money sinks of public ed, The vet and welfare rolls, The subsidies for geezer health, Who needs these wasteful doles Our streets … [Read more...] about A ‘Tax Day’ Poem
The obligatory “Look, there’s a tea party” column
Jeff Emanuel has high praise today for the "Tea Parties" taking place at various locations around the country, a topic which thus far I've pretty much passed on. First, it's being covered from hell to breakfast all across the blogosphere, and second... it's getting blown out of proportion for all the wrong reasons. To be clear, I'm not "protesting" these protests, nor do I … [Read more...] about The obligatory “Look, there’s a tea party” column
Taxes
"Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.'' (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., U.S. Supreme Court Justice) … [Read more...] about Taxes
Protesting Taxes After a Massive Tax Cut
Here's why I can't take these "tea party" protests seriously: In an op-ed in the WSJ, Glenn Reynolds' first sentence declares that thousands of taxpayers are taking to the streets "to protest higher taxes and out-of-control government spending." If government spending is your pet peeve, then fine, protest the Obama administration's spending projects, but please try to offer an … [Read more...] about Protesting Taxes After a Massive Tax Cut
Growing Old Won’t Be What It Used To Be
Gizmodo's Odelia Lee takes Honda's new cyborg legs for a spin: I'm definitely not the target demographic for [Honda's fresh-from-the-labs Stride Management Assist and Bodyweight Support Assist rigs], which Honda's Fundamental Research Institute hopes will help mobilize and rehabilitate Japan's rapidly aging population or lessen the leg fatigue of factory workers who stand and … [Read more...] about Growing Old Won’t Be What It Used To Be
After-Midnight Blogger: Back By Popular Demand…
Pirates In American Culture: Peter Pan’s Captain Hook
The increasingly grim news about the extent of pirates' threat to the ocean off Somalia must be viewed within a historical context in the United States: for years pirates have been portrayed as kind of romantic -- as murderously amusing. Many Americans today think of Johnny Depp, but for decades the Gold Standard for the colorful, amusing, homicidal pirate was none other … [Read more...] about Pirates In American Culture: Peter Pan’s Captain Hook
Is the Religious Right Dead?
It seems that whenever the Democrats are back in power there is talk about the demise of the Religious Right. Kathleen Parker, decides to bring up the end of the Christian right in her April 5 column. Blogger John Armstrong also wonders if this is the end of the road for the symbiotic relationship between the GOP and the Right. He, along with Parker, thinks there is a … [Read more...] about Is the Religious Right Dead?
Around The Sphere
Our linkfest taking you to sites of varying viewpoints. Links do not necessarily reflect the views of TMV or its writers. So Who's Really Behind The Tea Party Movement? (You'd think it would be Lipton, since they're getting a lot of verbal product placement time.) Marc Ambinder cuts away all of the rhetoric on both sides and offers these answers. Can We Really Get Rid Of … [Read more...] about Around The Sphere
The DHS Outrage. If the Shoe Fits…
It's been a busy couple of weeks on the Fauxrage Watch, but there's no rest for either the wicked or the easily amused. Today's edition comes from the continuing outburst of indignation over a Department of Homeland Security report (download the .pdf) which warned law enforcement groups about potential "right wing extremists" who may be planning mayhem on the home front. At the … [Read more...] about The DHS Outrage. If the Shoe Fits…
Threaded Comments Disabled
Due to the sizable amount of negative e-mail received on the threaded comments experiment, they have been disabled. I recommend that if you want to respond directly to a person in the comments section, do one or more of the following: 1. Quote the person. 2. Start your comment with "@commenter's name:". So if the original comment is from myself, T-Steel, and you wanted … [Read more...] about Threaded Comments Disabled
Pakistan’s “Trust Deficit”
Pervez Musharraf and George W. Bush are gone, but the game goes on as, in the wake of $7.5 billion in new aid by the Obama Administration, the Pakistani prime minister complains of a "trust deficit" by US benefactors. The shell game over Islamist extremists that began after 9/11 is looking even worse. In proposing increased aid, President Obama said he expected Pakistan … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s “Trust Deficit”
Tea Party
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. . All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Tea Party
Eric Cantor’s Solutions Center epitomizes GOP’s failure to understand, relate
After reading this post at the Ohio-based blog, Plunderbund, about House Minority Whip Eric Cantor's attempt to offer online answers to (his notion of) constituent concerns, here's what I wrote in a comment there: What is most obviously out of touch about Cantor’s site is that it is geared ONLY toward people who: -already have a job -already have a house -already have … [Read more...] about Eric Cantor’s Solutions Center epitomizes GOP’s failure to understand, relate
Politico Poll: Obama Most Trustworthy And Palin Least Trustworthy Political Figures
A new poll by The Politico has some good news for Democrats and President Barack Obama and some bad news for Republicans and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in particular: It finds: *President Barack Obama has emerged as the most trusted figure in American politics. *Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has emerged as the political figure perceived as the most untrustworthy. *More … [Read more...] about Politico Poll: Obama Most Trustworthy And Palin Least Trustworthy Political Figures
REWRITE!
We can only hope Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke revised his speech Tuesday claiming the economy is showing "tentative signs" of improvement. At least President Obama in a major speech on the economy later in the day wasn't caught with his pants on fire. More on that later. In remarks prepared for students and faculty at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Bernanke mentioned … [Read more...] about REWRITE!
Some People Think About Serious Issues And Seriously Evolve
Like Dr. Laura Schlesinger. … [Read more...] about Some People Think About Serious Issues And Seriously Evolve
The Banks’ New Business Model
When I first heard about credit card lending banks hitting their best customers with higher interest rates and new fees it didn't seem to make sense. These changes were usually billed by banks as needed "risk management," but clearly they actually increased bank risks. Many good customers currently meeting their card obligations on time would now fall behind because of these … [Read more...] about The Banks’ New Business Model
Pirates Attack More Ships And Vow Revenge
Expect the issue of pirates -- and possibly escalations of violence by pirates -- to continue to grow because there are already signs that the pirates operating off Somalia intend to send a signal that the U.S. operation that freed a captive and ended in the deaths of three of their comrades won't stop them, and may even spur them on. The breaking news is that the pirates … [Read more...] about Pirates Attack More Ships And Vow Revenge
The Vileness Of Grandmother Palin
By SHAUN MULLEN GUEST VOICE I've had a jolly good time in recent days sharing the White Trash Chronicles, the latest and the greatest from presidential wannabe Sarah Palin and her extended family of questionable characters. But this latest post isn't funny at all, because the Killa From Wasilla has crossed the line from wingnuttery to vile. I had the misfortune to be … [Read more...] about The Vileness Of Grandmother Palin