Cory Doctorow at Boing Boing reports some scandalous information on Americans’ knowledge of government programs (h/t BB). Apparently large numbers of Americans who rely on federal social programs aren’t aware that they’re dependent on the state (and its tax revenues):
Pew has a new poll out showing where Americans are on deficit reduction issues. Read it. It’s fascinating. Given our national delusions on foreign aid spending, that tops the list of things Americans would cut. Since you’re reading Thought News, you’re smart enough to know that we spend so little on foreign aid that we … Continue reading
I have a question for you, but first I have to tell you a story. Somewhere, deep in the hazy mists of the 1980s (a hazy time—see left), a specific branch of the American Right came up with a new politico-electoral strategy. See, it had turned out that Americans really liked Social Security and the … Continue reading
In case you missed this astonishingly good article from the Washington Post‘s Lori Montgomery on Sunday, let me hit you with a few of the highlights (underlining occasionally added for emphasis). The nation’s unnerving descent into debt began a decade ago with a choice, not a crisis. Wait…just a decade ago? I thought it was LBJ’s Great … Continue reading
The Fix‘s Chris Cillizza has a pessimistic read on new Pew Polling Data: In a new Pew poll, a whopping 52 percent said that there wasn’t much difference between President Obama and Republicans in Congress when it came to their respective approaches to the budget deficit. That’s a 19-point increase on that question since a November Pew … Continue reading
Just in case you hadn’t noticed…one of the GOP’s most destructive proposed budget cuts is starting to get some media attention. In an effort to cut down our more than $1.5 trillion budget deficit this year, we’re eliminating the $44 million U.S. Institute of Peace. Yes, that’s $44 “million,” with an “m.” First, let’s talk … Continue reading
I was going to write on the GOP’s proposed cuts to education and national service this week, but Richard Cohen beat me to it. Good news is, he did a bang-up job. Go read the article. Get angry. Get in touch with your member of Congress. Call them one extra time for me (DC doesn’t … Continue reading
Thanks to John Lennon (RIP) and Paul McCartney… Woke up (to clean air, thanks to the EPA/Clean Air Act), fell out of bed (whose mattress and pillows didn’t catch fire, thanks to the USCPSC), Dragged a (lead-free, thanks to the USCPSC) comb across my head (not a hair on it harmed, thanks to the Department … Continue reading
According to Felix Salmon and Stephen Culp, Tax rates in the USA are at their lowest (across the board) in 60 years. The most outrageous part: “If the taxes reverted to somewhere near their historical mean, the problem would be solved at a stroke.” In other words, if we put our tax rates approximately back at … Continue reading
Joshua Tucker at The Monkey Cage points out that Republican “mandate claims” stemming from the midterm elections are just so much grandstanding: the more the Republicans push repealing health insurance, the more they may run into a buzz saw: either push to repeal parts of the bill that are popular with the public, or push … Continue reading
