What is a RINO? Trump calls out Gov. Lee in congratulation post to Bobby Harshbarger
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Saturday, August 03, 2024
Friday, August 02, 2024
Communist San Francisco?
by Rod Williams, Aug. 2, 2024- Donald Trump says so many preposterous, irrational, crazy things that one becomes accustomed to them. And, there is no time to ponder what he has said and refute it because by that time he has said something even crazier and more preposterous.
Today in campaigning against Kamala Harris, he referred to San Fransisco as "Communist San Fransisco." What does that even mean? San Fransisco certainly has problems. It has a soaring crime rate, massive income inequality, steep housing costs, a drug problem, dirt and decay, and homelessness. So do many cites although San Francisco's may be worst on these measures than most other cities.
Even if San Fransisco is in decline and even if it does have serious problems, that does not make it "Communist San Fransisco." Actually, most Communist cities were, and where Communism still exist still are, low crime cities. Also, homelessness was not a feature of Communist cites. People may have been severely overcrowded, but not homeless. Also, except for a tiny fraction of Party officials who lived quite well, in Communist cities there was less income inequality. There was massive poverty and a something like the equality of slaves, but income inequality was not a notable feature. Also, Communist cities were often clean. They might have been drab and ugly, but they were mostly orderly and clean. In a totalitarian environment, one can have order and clean streets.
San Francisco is one of the most decadent cites in America with lots of full-nude strip clubs, hookers walking the street in almost no clothes and platform shoes, and a large queer scene. San Francisco is often considered the gay capital of the USA. From the first "gayborhood" to the largest Pride March, San Francisco is a must-visit queer destination, for people of that persuasion. A lot is tolerated in San Francisco that would not be tolerated in other American cities. This however is not a feature of Communism. During the Cold War, Communist leaders condemned Western decadence and claimed that no prostitution existed in Communist countries. And, Communist countries were less tolerant of open expression of homosexuality than were Western countries.
In America we still have the same basic fundamental freedom everywhere. No city can suspend the Constitution. Saying San Fransisco is "Communist San Fransisco" is one of the dumbist, irrational things one could say.
I know that some liberals like to call anyone to the right of them "fascist." The term has lost all meaning and when someone calls you a fascist, it basically means, I don't like you and you are a bad person. That is unfortunate. The term "fascist" should mean something more specific. The term fascist however was never as precise as the term "Communist." There were few fascist scholars and there are not tomes of fascist analysis and doctrine. Communism has that. We know what Communism is. The word has a more specific meaning than the term fascist ever had. However, when used the way Trump uses the term, it will come to be meaningless much the way the term fascist has become meaningless.
It is amazing how Trump can say stupid things and get by with it. Some of it, by itself, is relatively harmless, like calling San Fransisco "Communist San Fransisco," but it contributes to a dumbing down of the electorate. It also creates a divide where differences that are matters of degrees are presented as massive chasms. It creates this them-versus-us mentality. It makes it easier to demonize others. It avoids analysis and thought and replaces it with thoughtless name calling.
After Trump grabbed the headlines by questioning Kamala Harris' ethnicity, this reference to San Francisco as "Communist," will simply go uncommented upon. That is what Trump is good at. One does not have time to refute one outrageous thing he says, because before you can, he has already said something more outrageous.
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Thursday, August 01, 2024
Donald Trump's Suggestion to End Taxation of Social Security Benefits
Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, July 31, 2024 -Earlier today, former President Donald Trump suggested eliminating the partial income taxation of Social Security benefits, which currently helps fund the Social Security and Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) trust funds. Without a replacement source of revenue, we estimate repealing taxation of benefits for seniors would:
- Increase deficits by $1.6 trillion to $1.8 trillion through 2035
- Increase Social Security’s 75-year shortfall by 25 percent – or 0.9 percent of payroll
- Nearly triple the Medicare HI 75-year shortfall, increasing it by 0.6 percent of payroll
- Advance the insolvency date of Social Security’s retirement trust fund by over one year
- Advance the insolvency date of the Medicare HI trust fund by six years
President Trump is likely referring to the fact that some Social Security benefits are currently taxed as ordinary income and have been since 1984.
Under current law, seniors that earn less than $25,000 per year ($32,000 for married couples) of “combined income” – that is adjusted gross income plus certain adjustments and half of their Social Security benefits – pay no taxes on Social Security retirement benefits. Above that amount, 50 percent of Social Security benefits are subject to income tax, with the revenue going toward the Social Security retirement trust fund. For seniors earning combined income above $34,000 per year ($44,000 for married couples), an additional 35 percent of benefits are taxable, with this revenue going toward the Medicare HI trust fund.
Although taxation of benefits has been a relatively modest source of revenue over the past 40 years, revenue collection is growing over time because Social Security benefits are getting larger and the thresholds for exempting benefits from taxation are not indexed to inflation. This year, for example, taxation of benefits is projected to raise about $94 billion.
Based on data from the Social Security and Medicare Trustees, we estimate that eliminating taxation of Social Security benefits for seniors would cut taxes and thus reduce revenues by about $1.8 trillion between Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and 2035. This includes $1.05 trillion less in revenue collection for Social Security and $750 billion less revenue for Medicare. Based on data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the total reduction in revenue would be $1.6 trillion, with $950 billion less revenue for Social Security and $650 billion less for Medicare. In these estimates, we assume benefits for non-seniors – including those benefiting from the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program – continue to be taxed.
This revenue reduction would grow over the long run, significantly widening Social Security’s and Medicare’s 75-year actuarial imbalances. Based on Trustees’ data, we estimate the Social Security Old-Age and Survivors’ Insurance (OASI) trust fund imbalance would grow by roughly 25 percent – or about 0.9 percent of payroll – from 3.6 percent of taxable payroll to 4.5 percent. Meanwhile, the Medicare HI trust fund imbalance would nearly triple – increasing by 0.6 percent of payroll – from 0.35 percent of payroll to nearly 1.0 percent. This assumes the lost revenue isn’t replaced with revenue from other sources.
As a result of these changes, Social Security’s retirement trust fund would become insolvent more than one year earlier – in early 2032 instead of late 2033. Medicare’s insolvency date would advance by six years – from 2036 to 2030.
Upon insolvency, the law requires spending to be cut to match revenue. The 21 percent cut to Social Security benefits projected under current law would expand to 25 percent under this proposal. After-tax benefits would not meaningfully change – though reductions would be larger for lower income seniors and smaller for higher income seniors.
Importantly, consequences would differ if taxation of benefits were replaced with another source of revenue or offset with changes to benefits.
Importantly, consequences would differ if taxation of benefits were replaced with another source of revenue or offset with changes to benefits.
| Ten-Year Revenue Impact (CBO) | Ten-Year Revenue Impact (Trustees) | Effect on 75-Year Actuarial Balance | New Insolvency Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security Revenue | -$950 billion | -$1.05 trillion | -0.9% of payroll | 2032 (-1 year) |
| Medicare HI Revenue | -$650 billion | -$750 billion | -0.6% of payroll | 2030 (-6 years) |
| Total | -$1.6 trillion | -$1.8 trillion | N/A* | N/A |
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Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Judges strike down Tennessee law to cut Nashville council in half
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP), July 30, 2024 — A panel of judges has struck down a change Tennessee Republican lawmakers approved last year that would cut the size of Democratic-leaning Nashville’s Metro Council in half.
The decision Monday marks another court defeat for a series of new state laws passed to cut into Nashville’s autonomy, extending to its international airport and pro sports facilities. The wave of restrictions followed a decision by local Nashville leaders to spike a proposal in 2022 to bring the 2024 Republican National Convention to Music City.
In this week’s 2-1 ruling, the majority decided that state lawmakers designed a 20-member limit on the number of council members in metro governments to affect only Nashville, which has 40 people on its council. ... The latest court decision halts the law permanently, declaring it unconstitutional under home rule protections in the Tennessee Constitution because it singles out Nashville and fails to require approval by local voters or two-thirds of the metro council. (read more)
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Federal appeals court says there is no fundamental right to change one’s sex on a birth certificate
“There is no fundamental right to a birth certificate recording gender identity instead of biological sex,” 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jeffrey Sutton wrote for the majority in the decision upholding a 2023 district court ruling. The plaintiffs could not show that Tennessee’s policy was created out of animus against transgender people as it has been in place for more than half a century and “long predates medical diagnoses of gender dysphoria,” Sutton wrote. (read more)
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Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Monday, July 29, 2024
Franklin, TN named one of the best places to live for families in Fortune’s 2024 list
Families 2024 list, listing one city from each state. Franklin, Tennessee was the Tennessee city. The list further ranked the cities. Franklin, Tennessee was ranked as sixth best among the fifty selected cities. Factors that were considered in making the list were access to great schools, highly recommended hospitals, affordable housing, resources for older adults, and a strong sense of community. Below is what the article had to say about Franklin:
Located roughly 20 miles south of Nashville, Franklin retains the capital’s music scene while offering a more laid-back community. You can see big-name artists in small venues, and the city hosts the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival every year on a 230-acre farm, featuring acts like Dave Matthews Band and Noah Kahan.
The area has a lively downtown. There are a number of independent stores, many of which sit alongside art galleries on the historic Main Street. Dating back to 1799, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Factory at Franklin is just steps away, home to artisan goods, delectable food, and live entertainment. And Franklin hosts several spots on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, such as Company Distilling and O’ Be Joyful.
There are also lots of outdoors activities for the family, with nearby venues like Mistletoe Farm and Noble Springs Dairy, worth paying a visit for fresh produce or some animal fun. The famous Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile scenic byway that winds through Tennessee and beyond, is only a bike ride away to watch the sun rise. \
High schools are top rated and have received awards, with a 96% graduation rate and a culture that’s big on football and tailgates. Franklin is a major Civil War site, where the 1864 Battle of Franklin took place. The city has launched the Fuller Story Project, which aims to tell a more inclusive version of the area’s history. That includes a statue unveiled in 2021 honoring the U.S. Colored Troops, a segregated part of the Union Army, to depict the Black experience before, during, and after the Civil War.
Town Information
Median sale price for single family residences (2022) $803,281
Median household income $129,220 (continue reading)
The top ten cities were:
- Silver Spring, MD
- Township of Upper Merion, PA
- Chantilly, VA
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Mason, OH
- Franklin, TN
- Lafayette, CO
- Overland Park, KS
- Morristown, NJ
- Portsmouth, NH
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Sunday, July 28, 2024
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