Friday, June 29, 2012

Yesterday Sucked

Yesterday was one of the most heart-crushing days I've felt in a long time.  The Supreme Court affirmed the Congress's ability to force virtually any action through punitive taxation.  The Chief Justice short sightedly pointed to the lack of criminal and levying ability of the IRS to enforce the penalties, but should the issue become pressing enough for the Administration or future administrations then a simple accounting trick will resolve that problem.

This is what I mean.  Let's say you pay $10,000 in income tax with-holdings throughout the year (your employer kindly makes this deduction from your paycheck and sends it to the IRS on your behalf).  Now, your total tax bill from income comes to $9,900.  BUT, you have to pay the penalty because you didn't floss twice daily or whatever the next big mandate will cover.  So, that makes your total tax bill $12400 with the $2500 penalty added.  So, with a simple accounting maneuver the IRS can either say you owe a $2400 penalty for not flossing OR they can say, we've applied your $2500 flossing penalty to the $10,000 you've already paid.  The balance of $7,500 was applied to your $9,900 in income tax owed.  Suddenly you don't owe a $2,400 penalty that the IRS can't prosecute you or garnish you for not paying.  You owe $2,400 in income taxes which the law allows them to throw your ass in jail for not paying.

You think it won't happen?  Wait.  When the Income Tax was first passed it was only going to be a 1-2% tax rate on the top 5% of income earners.  This was proclaimed to be all the money our government could possibly need.  That has grown of course.  It always does.  Government found new power.  They couldn't help but use it.

When government got the regulatory bug in the early 20th Century corporations saw the usefulness in having Government regulate their industry.  By establishing licensing and reporting criteria government could raise the price on entering a new line of business, protecting existing businesses from new competition for marginally profitable industries.  AT&T flourished for decades under a licensing scheme established by the government that turned them into a monopoly.  Politicians and lack-witted economists called this a natural monopoly.  As soon as the monopoly was busted, new competition erupted in the field of telecommunications.  This isn't just limited to large corporations like AT&T.  In New York, it takes more education and examination to become a barber than it does to become a lawyer.  Why?  The answer from the politicians is public safety.  The real answer is, barriers to competition.  The same city tightly controls the number of taxis that are allowed in the city.  1/3 of the number of taxis operate now as did in the 1950's.

People are inherently self-interested.  I am a libertarian because I have a desire for true liberty.  Politicians are not exempt from being self-interested.  It's no surprise that the stock portfolios of congressmen outperform the indexes by a fairly good clip.  It's no surprise that businesses are willing to spend millions on political contributions to BOTH sides in an election.  Businesses wouldn't spend that money if they didn't get something in return.  Let's take RobertsCare (Obamacare no more) for instance. The major insurance companies supported this bill for 2 key reasons.  First, it essentially makes it illegal NOT to buy their product.  Big win!  Second, it puts in budgetary guidelines that make it difficult for new or smaller companies to exist under.  There is a requirement that a certain percentage of premiums revenue be applied to coverage payments and only 10% pay salaries, overhead, and profits.  For a large insurance company, 10% of billions is plenty of money to operate with.  What if a new company wanted to form to compete?  Can't happen now.  Without the volume that these large companies command, there isn't enough operating margin to satisfy the strict requirements of the law.  This is the classic barrier to entry.

Still on RobertsCare.  It was also heavily supported by the drug companies.  Why?  Because it protects their extended intellectual property rights.  They get what they want, they donated money to see it get passed.

More to come on this subject.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Hello, My Name is Will, How May I Serve You?

Before you ask, I'm not a waiter.  I'm not a greeter at Wal-Mart.  I'm a citizen of the United States and I've just been told that my government owns me.  They own the right to my work and my wages.  They can force me to buy anything they say to buy.  All they have to do is pretend that it's a Tax.  When my choices impact the cost of health care, I will be forced to make choices approved by my masters.


I am a slave.  You are a slave.  Extreme?  Try not to buy Health Insurance.

When the next "tax" in mandate's clothing comes down, try not to do that.

You can be a slave and live a life of luxury, but if someone has the power to send you into the fields to pick cotton, then you're a slave.  And make no mistake, this decision by Justice Roberts does exactly that.  He says that if the Government orders us to pick cotton or pay a penalty, that is within Congress' Constitutional authority to tax.  If you don't go pick cotton, you are forced to pay a tax.  If you refuse to pay the tax, they can seize your property.  If you resist, they can jail you.  If you resist jail they can and will kill you.

You are a slave.  I am a slave.

Ok.  Moment of self pity over.  Where do I sign up for the Revolution?

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Moving On and Coming Back

To say that I'm pretty disappointed in my fellow Americans is a bit of an understatement.  To say that I'm especially disappointed in the Republican Party is a joke.  I am angry.  It is not the burning anger of youth nor the cold anger of resentment.  It is a simmering rage.

Five months ago, I walked away from these pages in disgust.  Everywhere I turned people were proclaiming for Presidential candidates who's platforms involved more State control, more State spending, more State militarism and less Liberty.

Ron Paul has been defeated.  He will not be the next President of the United States.  I am angry.  But, I'm moving on.  I'm moving on because there is nothing else I can do.  I'm moving on because the cause of liberty does not die with Dr. Paul's bid.  I'm moving on, and over the next few weeks....I'm coming back.  I'm coming back to write on these walls, to talk about my ideas and my ideals.  I hope you'll join me.