100 Years of Tax and Trade Policies.
Wednesday, 21 April 2010 09:43
Christian J. Riehle and Alphis
Marginal Tax Rates, Tariffs and Outcomes
Few Presidents have attempted to lower both taxes, on highest earners, and tariffs at the same time. Despite the evidence that lowering both levies has been economically beneficial, after the implementation of the Constitutional income tax in 1913, only two Presidents would significantly cut taxes and not increase tariffs.
While lower income taxes do lead to prosperous periods of domestic economic growth, growth is often inhibited by higher tariffs. Often higher tariffs have caused economic hardship, or at least have exacerbated difficult economic times.
Hereafter “taxes” references the highest marginal tax rate; the highest tax rate applied to the last dollar earned. This is a vital rate for two reasons: one, it determines the incentive to increase income, and two, the effected individuals are responsible for much of new investment and business creation. Historic tax rates are from the National Taxpayers Union.
1913 to The Crash of ‘20
When Woodrow Wilson assumed office, the income tax was new and tariffs were generally high,
Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 April 2010 09:46
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Religion and Politics
Monday, 05 April 2010 10:03
Christian J. Riehle
The left is in full attack on traditional religion. They show this by their oddly timed attacks on the Pope, and their selective outrage about what Conservatives say, while the actions of their allies get excused. The lesson is the left misunderstands traditional religion and they will redefine faith to fit their agenda. For the left, religion is political.
Pope Benedict has been under fire for weeks now. Critics claim, when the Pope was a Cardinal, he covered up sexual abuse of deaf boys in the 1950’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s. As more and more information comes to light, we will all learn more about who was involved. It is curious, however, that the Catholic Church has had disproportionate media attention over the last decade. Now, it is obvious that abuse happened over the last several decades, but many in the media seem to take great joy in reporting the abuse. Similarly, the reaction to Glen Beck’s statement, instructing congregants of churches who espouse “Social Justice,” to “run as fast as you can,”
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Return To Normalcy,…Again
Monday, 05 April 2010 10:15
Christian J. Riehle
The Obama Administration draws from the past, in countless ways, when it comes to rhetoric, even though more and more of the population isn’t buying what they’re selling. It’s time for Republicans to borrow a phrase from their past too. It’s time for a new, “Return To Normalcy.”
The original year was 1921. After the “Great War” (World War One), two terms of Woodrow Wilson, staggering taxes, a major stock market crash, double-digit unemployment and countless other shenanigans, Warren G. Harding ran to change the country’s direction. His campaign was deemed, a “Return to Normalcy.” It is time for the Republicans to call for such a return. Now, this is not to say that President Obama is Wilson. Such a comparison would be silly, but the Republicans are not the side who started using historical rhetoric to regain power.
Last Updated on Monday, 05 April 2010 10:17
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The Israel/Arab Dichotomy and Other Myths
Wednesday, 31 March 2010 14:24
Christian J. Riehle
As Americans, we assume that we can wrap the “Muslim World” into a tight little package and then sit and discuss it with broad generalities. We also see something enlightened about finding shame in our own country’s history of relations in the Middle East and close our alliance with Israel. Both of these assertions are short sighted and miss a larger point.
Muslims are not all in lockstep on any position. Even the term “Muslim World” is simply too broad. How can a billion people all think in lock step, be universally offended or have the same points of pride and shame. Would it even make sense that a Doctor in Morocco would have a similar mentality to an Indonesian textile worker or a Pakistani investment banker? Each of these people speaks a different language and lives in very different countries with dramatically diverse cultures. For westerners to continue to use the term “Muslim World,” would be to persist in painting a large part of the world with too large of a brush.
What about Arab’s? Certainly the term “Arab Street” is more accurate. No, this term again is too broad. What would an Arab Christian, living in Egypt have similar sensibilities as an Iraqi Arab Druze, or Lebanese Arab Muslim? In a recent conversation with an Arab Iraqi, who was a traditional Sunni Muslim, but largely secular,
Last Updated on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 14:30
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