This is another episode of rethugs displaying their ignorance yet again

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/06/03/republicans_dont_believe_taxes_are_lower_under_obama.html

June 03, 2011

Republicans Don't Believe Taxes Are Lower Under Obama


When House Republicans met with President Obama earlier this week to discuss the debt ceiling, The Hill reports GOP members engaged in a lot of "eye-rolling" over his assertion that taxes are lower today than they've been in decades.

Rep. Terry Lee (R-NE): "He made a comment like the tax rate is the lightest, even more than Reagan."

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA): "We learned we had the lowest tax rates in history ... lower than Reagan!"

Of course, as Jed Lewison points out, total federal tax revenues as a percentage of GDP averaged 18.2% during Reagan's presidency, reaching a low point of 17.3% in 1984. During Obama's term, total federal tax revenue as a percentage of GDP have averaged 14.9%.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/02/981142/-Republicans-roll-eyes-at-Obamas-%28accurate%29-assertion-that-taxes-were-higher-under-Reagan?via=blog_1

Republicans roll eyes at Obama's (accurate) assertion that taxes were higher under Reagan

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Wizard's First Rule

I was curious about this book because the author is supposed to be such a big fan of Ayn Rand. I had already seen the television series based on Goodkind's Sword of Truth books (nothing remotely alike of course) so I wanted to see how that sociopath's philosophy was played out in the books.

Wizard's First Rule: People are stupid. They will believe what they want to believe and truth is irrelevant.

Sound familiar?

Leaves room for a lot of ethical questions when one knows the rule and has the potential to become adept at using it to one's own advantage.

This basic premise sure does seem to explain a lot these days. :-(

[hootinholler]

2. I had no idea of Goodkind's fandom of Rand...

I did enjoy the series and didn't notice anything particularly libertarian about them.

-Hoot

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. I don't think you would.

Everything I have read about the author mentions his fandom of Rand so I read the first book with probably too much of a hyper-awareness. Still, if anything, I thought the book included great ethical arguments against Rand's perspective. I didn't see anything particularly supportive of libertarianism in it.

[hootinholler]

5. Indeed

Zed is the best character, though. Always surprising. Always an admirable ethos.

The notion that compassion and love conquers all is a tremendous message throughout the series.

-Hoot

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. Which is why I'm enormously puzzled the author is linked with Rand.

The television show based on the books is of course wildly different, but still emphasizes love, compassion and service to other. I actually thought they did a fairly good job of retaining the essential nature of the three main characters under the circumstances. Except they could have made Richard a little smarter. He's a bit thick sometimes in the show. And of course the show isn't remotely as sadistic though Denna has her moments.

It's available on hulu.com "Legend of the Seeker"

I saw the show first because of my sister and then read the book. Kind of fun to compare to see what they chose to do with minor characters and subplots. Probably goes without saying there was no reference to pedophilia in a "family show."

Odd experience for me because I'm not much of a television person and generally avoid crossing media like this.

[AtomicKitten]

3. Everybody knows facts have a liberal bias.

derp

[Tennessee Gal]

7. Idiocy abounds. Combine this with the following:

One Year of Food = One Week of Tax Cuts. What's Wrong With This Picture?

http://www.commondreams.org/further/2011/06/03-0

Congress Chooses One Week’s Worth of Tax Cuts for Millionaires over Nutrition Assistance for Families that Need It

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/06/bait_and_switch.html


Taxes are lower than under Reagan and the right wing lunatics want to lower them even more at the expense of the poor and middle class by cutting programs.