Comments for Economic Policy Institute

Comment on The Gingrich nonsense by Elmos_fire44

Elmos_fire44 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:49:00 +0000

I am having a discussion with a friend about the effects of
minimum wage. He cited studies done by Walter Williams and Sowell who say that
minimum wage has a negative effect on employment, especially on minorities. How
would you respond to these studies?

Comment on Working spouses cause inequality? Can this emerging zombie lie be killed? by Just curious

Just curious — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:08:00 +0000

The argument is that “high inequality is DUE [my emphasis] to more working spouses in high-income households
and well-off people increasingly marrying other well-off people,” as Larry states? Or that assortative mating is an important contributing factor? See, e.g., the view attributed to Besharov: “blaming the problem on the richest of the rich ignores an equally important driver, he [Besharov] said.” “Equally important” implies that other factors are at work.

Not sure this one qualifies as a “zombie lie ‘ . . .

Comment on Whitewashing the Apple by Sportsrodder

Sportsrodder — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:07:00 +0000

Apples’ insistance on quality products from their factories in China is understandable, however, their neglect of the circumstances under which their employees work is disquieting in not disgusting.

Comment on ‘Reformers’ playbook on failing schools fails a fact check by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:37:00 +0000

Great article the reason being that this is really only common sense. Comparisons of public and private schools are flawed by the fact that private schools can choose who gets in. Just like the post office, it has to serve everyone and go everywhere whereas the competition serves all the profitable routes. We are in the midst of the Great Money Grab. It’s everywhere there is a pot of money. Years ago the same bunch stole all the pensions and left everyone with a stupid “retirement account” IRA or 401(k) or whatever.

Comment on On Brooks’ muddled defense of the top 1% by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:41:00 +0000

THANKS FOR GREAT CHARTS. YOU THE BEST. I AM COMPILING FROM CHARTS A DVD ON WHAT HAPPENED TO TJHE MIDDLE CLASS
1945-1980 AND 1980-2009

Comment on No, NYT, there’s been no expansion of government benefits, no ‘entitlement society’ by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:31:00 +0000

WRONG! EXPANSION OF ENTITLEMENTS SINCE 1980
TO THE RICH

Since 1980 we borrowed 14,000 Billion. The Tax Book was Christmas Tree filled with goodies for the Rich and Corporations. It is a shame that they take more in Exemptions than they pay in taxes.
That is why OECD ranks Us:
#2 as Least Taxed–We pay 30% of GDP in fed—state–local taxes
#2 as Least Taxed Corporations–In 2011 They paid 1.5% of GDP in taxes
# 4 on Inequality–10% own almost 80% of our Wealth and take almost 50% of our individual income..80% get the crumbs
Suggestions:
1.Fed Fund election–6 months-3 primary- 3 general-free equal tv time-one debate a week=12-adequate to evaluate candidates no $$ no pacs
2.Members of Congress and White House can accept nothing with a financial value.
Keep them on the job not on the road
3.Progressive Flat Tax(by group)–tax to pay our way not leave for kids to pay
4.Burn Tax Book–gets enough added revenue to have a surplus to attack the debt

Yes! Simple. Yes Effective.
only bug I find is how to choose candidates.
clarenceswinneyold87uglymeanhonest
politicalhistorian lifeaholics of america
cswinney2@triad.rr.com

Comment on David Brooks’ bad example by maynardGkeynes

maynardGkeynes — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:19:00 +0000

They didn’t go to Yale?

Comment on No, NYT, there’s been no expansion of government benefits, no ‘entitlement society’ by Donald S. Broder

Donald S. Broder — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:24:00 +0000

I found the NYT article disturbing primarily because it showed so clearly that the residents of Chisago county have apparently accepted the Republican Kool-Aid that government social programs are by definition morally wrong. None of the residents themselves mentioned spontaneously the fact we’ve been paying for enormous tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, two useless wars, rapidly escalating health care costs and the worst recession since the Depression of our grandparents’ times. So these poor folks, clearly needing and deriving benefit from government programs, feel terribly guilty in the bargain. I am personally relatively well off. This country has been very good to me. I am happy to accept my responsibility to pay my fair share to help my neighbors. Once upon a time we were taught to accept responsibility for each other. That’s been poisoned by our political leaders who have been bought and paid for by the wealthiest among us.

Comment on The tax expenditure of the 1% by Jackmitchener

Jackmitchener — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:24:00 +0000

To get a good idea of just how lopsided the US Distribution of Wealth is . . . take a look at our Wealth Over People (WOP) Curve. Look under Politics and Taxation at Greensuit.org

Comment on Bad Apple labor practices: Promises have been made before by Chris Talerico

Chris Talerico — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:12:00 +0000

It’s good to see more attention being brought to this issue, but in the end the only people who I can see changing these conditions permanently are the Chinese workers themselves. We (and Apple) just need to stand ready to support them when they begin to demand stronger labor rights in earnest.