Bush Radio: "a simpler, fairer tax code" (Nat'l Sales Tax stump speech)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

NO, he does not mention the National Sales Tax by name. But read the whole post. Also remember that Tom DeLay and Dennis Hastert are STRONG supporters of a National Sales Tax (Hastert praised its virtues in his book), and Hastert promoted John Linder (R-GA), the proposal's author, to the House Ways & Means Committee SPECIFICALLY for the purpose of putting him in a more advantageous position to lobby for it.

So NO...Bush does not SAY "National Sales Tax" in his speech...but what the hell do you think he's talking about? It's a fair and simple method because his BASE would have more money left after "consuming" than you would.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050806.html

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. As families across the country enjoy the summer, Americans can be optimistic about our economic future. In the past four years, our economy has been through a lot: we faced a stock market decline, a recession, corporate scandals, an attack on our homeland, and the demands of an ongoing war on terror.

To grow the economy and help American families, we acted by passing the largest tax relief in a generation. And today, thanks to the tax relief and the efforts of America's workers and entrepreneurs, our economy is strong and growing stronger.

This past week, we learned that America added over 200,000 new jobs in July. Since May of 2003, we've added nearly 4 million new jobs. The unemployment rate is down to 5 percent, below the average of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. And more Americans are working today than ever before in our nation's history.

Recent economic reports show that our economy is growing faster than any other major industrialized nation. Small businesses are flourishing. Workers are taking home more of what they earn. Real disposable personal income has grown by over 12 percent since the end of 2000. Inflation is low and mortgage rates are low. And over the past year, the home ownership rate in America has reached record levels.

The tax relief stimulated economic vitality and growth and it has helped increase revenues to the Treasury. The increased revenues and our spending restraint have led to good progress in reducing the federal deficit. Last month we learned that the deficit is now projected to be $94 billion less than previously expected. I set a goal of cutting the deficit in half by 2009, and we are ahead of pace to meet that goal.

To continue creating jobs and to ensure that our prosperity reaches every corner of America, we're opening markets abroad for our goods and services. This past week, I was proud to sign the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. This historic agreement will level the playing field for America's workers and farmers, and open up a market of 44 million customers for products made in the United States.

To keep our economy growing we also need affordable, reliable supplies of energy. Next week in New Mexico, I'll sign a bipartisan energy bill that encourages conservation, expands domestic production in environmentally sensitive ways, diversifies our energy supply, modernizes our electricity grid and makes America less dependent on foreign sources of energy. And next Wednesday in Illinois, I'll sign a highway bill that will improve the safety of our roads, strengthen our transportation infrastructure and create good jobs.

Our economy is strong, yet I will not be satisfied until every American who wants to work can find a job. So this coming Tuesday I will meet with my economic team in Texas to discuss our agenda to keep the economy moving forward. As Congress considers appropriations bills this fall, we will work with the House and the Senate to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, or not at all.

We need to make the tax relief permanent, end the death tax forever, and

make our tax code simpler, fairer and more pro-growth.

---------------SNIP---------------

NOTE from Bush_Eats_Beef: Check out the following URLs from Bruce Bartlett, the National Retail Federation and others to learn how Junior wants to make the tax code "simpler, fairer and more pro-growth" with John Linder's National Sales Tax proposal. Give some thought to paying a 50 to 60% tax on EVERY dollar you spend, INCLUDING rent and medical visits:

http://www.nationalreview.com/nrof_bartlett/bartlett200408090847.asp

http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20050802-093835-4780r.htm

http://www.gopnation.com/humble/humble013105.htm

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/05-11-2005/0003595218&EDATE=

http://www.nrf.com/content/default.asp?folder=govt&file=talkPoint.htm&bhcp=1&bhfv=2&bhqs=1


---------------SNIP---------------

We'll continue working on Social Security reform. Social Security is sound for today's seniors, but there's a hole in the safety net for our younger workers, so I'll work with the Congress to strengthen Social Security for our children and grandchildren. I'll continue to press for legal reform to protect small businesses, doctors and hospitals from junk lawsuits. And we will work to make health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans.

The American economy is the envy of the world and we will keep it that way. We will continue to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of America, so more of our citizens can realize the American Dream.

Thank you for listening.


---------------SNIP---------------

The Boy King's original public response to a National Sales Tax:

White House Backs Off Bush Sales Tax Quip
By Tom Raum
Associated Press Writer

Published: Aug 11, 2004 9:08 PM EST

http://ap.lancasteronline.com/4/bush_sales_tax

WASHINGTON (AP) - Administration officials on Wednesday denied that President Bush is considering a national sales tax, a day after the Republican incumbent created a stir by calling such a tax "an interesting idea that we ought to explore seriously."

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry seized on Bush's comments — made while the president was campaigning in Florida Tuesday — and suggested such a plan would create a new tax on working families.

"Families already squeezed by rising health care costs, gas costs and college costs would have to carry a whole new tax burden," Kerry said in a statement.

The flap was prompted by an exchange between Bush and a supporter who asked during a town-hall meeting in Niceville, Fla., about Bush's position on legislation for a national sales tax. "He's talking about getting rid of the current tax system and replacing it with a national sales tax," Bush told his audience. "It's an interesting idea. You know, I'm not exactly sure how big the national sales tax is going to have to be, but it's the kind of interesting idea that we ought to explore seriously."

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

1. DU's "Top Ten Conservative Idiots," August 16, 2004:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/top10/04/166.html

George W. Bush flip-flopping flip-flopping screwing the poor

Can you smell the desperation? Our Great Leader, having discovered that he's lagging John Kerry on almost every issue from the economy to healthcare, is apparently starting to crack. Terrorism is currently Bush's strongest issue - hence the frequent pant-crap-inducing terror alerts - and that's pretty much it. So Bush has resorted instead to having his proxies conduct disgusting smear campaigns against his opponent (Swift Boat Veterans for "Truth") and, well, simply making up new issues. Last week Bush floated the possibility of - get this - abolishing income tax and introducing a national sales tax. "It's an interesting idea," Bush said. "You know, I'm not exactly sure how big the national sales tax is going to have to be, but it's the kind of interesting idea that we ought to explore seriously." Well that's just GREAT! What an exciting election-time issue! And so well-thought out and well-presented! Tell you what George, why don't you just release an ad announcing that anyone who votes for you gets a free trip to Bali, contraceptives supplied? Jiminy Christmas. Still, if there's one thing you can say about George W. Bush, it's that he doesn't flip-flop. Which is why, three days later, the Associated Press reported that "President Bush is distancing himself from suggestions that he wants to replace the federal income tax with a national sales tax ... The administration quickly denied the president was seriously considering such a tax." Nice going, Dubya.

[Inland]

2. Fucking piece of shit.

"halving the deficit" is a promise he made, then watched the deficit grow for a few more years---so it's only true when you pick his worst deficit year AND assume he doesn't get the tax cuts he wants.

And Bush has made the tax code even more confusing than ever, with provisions coming and expiring, different rates for different types of income, etc. etc.

Anyone who has any income other than wages KNOWS this to be true. Used to be you could do your taxes without software. It simply can't be done now, there is so much shit to look at.

[oscar111]

3. how would it be 55% sales tax?

i am not in favor of it, just want some idea of how the 55% was arrived at.

i myself calculated ... top rate now is 35%, plus say 9% sales tax, so now top tax totals 44%.

what am i missing? The move of dividend tax and inheritance and property tax into the new sales tax? Probably.. pls clarify for me.

[oscar111]

4. Shocks me that any official would back such

a wild and harmful idea.

[oscar111]

6. Let's abandon the trend to say 50 to 60%

too much to load onto Joe voter's brain.

just say 55%, please!

used to be, sources of all kinds would give out one stat, period.

now a fad is to give out two stats, never one.

This means casual listener Joe now has to try and recall twice as many numbers. I cant, he cant, no one can except the ghost of Einstein.

dump this dumb fad.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

8. OK, but read Bush's comments from August 2004 (in my post)

He was IN FAVOR of the idea.

Kerry exposed this one to the press. He made comments at the time like "For every American, every day would become April 15th...every trip to the supermarket would become a trip to H&R Block."

So what was the first thing Bush did in response?

HE DENIED IT, even though his "interest" had been documented.

And what was the first thing he did after he got "re-elected?"

He started DISCUSSING THE VIRTUES OF A NATIONAL SALES TAX.

Folks, please...study this one and realize what Bush has planned for you.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

5. Linder said in his original proposal that it would be 23%...

A National Sales Tax would be IN ADDITION to the existing State Sales Tax.

Most economists have said that in order to abolish the existing Income Tax, 23% would NOT be enough, that the number would have to be 40-50% or HIGHER, depending on the allowed deductions that remained.

SO...

Take your local State Sales Tax...mine is 8.25%...add 50% to it...and you are now spending 58.25 cents tax on EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND.

I strongly encourage you to look at the links I included in my post. They explain everything you would want to know about this proposal...INCLUDING "how the 55% was arrived at."

[Inland]

32. Start with the fed goverment's total tax rate re: GDP

for a balanced budget---About 22%, 23%---let's use that instead of the deficit fueling 18%.

If the total amont of goods and services gets a sales tax, then you have about 23%. But a lot of goods and services produed are GOVERNMENT goods and services, like, eg, VA care. So you aren't going to pay taxes on that--it seems redundant to have the governmnet collect on a free service. And some of it is impossible to tax at savings, like, say, national defense. In other words, the stuff that actually shows up at a counter for a tax is about 90% of the GDP measure.

Then deduct savings. Not a problem at the moment, since savings are zero.

Then deduct black market services, which, with a 23% incentive for fixing your leaky fauct.....

Then deduct everything that even the conservatives admit you can't tax at 23%, like baby medicine, water, diapers, school supplies, etc.

I have no idea what you end up with, but SOMEBODY is going to pay for the huge tax break for the rich.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

33. Excerpt from one of the Bruce Bartlett articles I listed:

There is no indication of what tax rate Speaker Hastert thinks would be necessary to replace all federal revenue. A current proposal by Rep. John Linder (R., Ga.) says that a 23 percent rate would be adequate. But such a low rate can only be sustained by making completely absurd assumptions about what would be taxed. Every serious economist who has ever looked at this question has concluded that a vastly higher rate would in fact be needed.

An unstated assumption is that the 23 percent rate proposed by Linder is comparable to existing state and local sales taxes, where the tax comes on top of the purchase price. Thus, a 5 percent sales tax on a $1 purchase comes to $1.05.

But that’s not the way the Linder plan works. He deceptively calculates the rate as if the tax is part of the purchase price. He calls this the tax-inclusive rate. Calculating the rate the normal way people are accustomed to with state and local sales taxes would require a 30 percent tax rate, not 23 percent.

When Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation scored the Linder proposal four years ago it estimated that it would actually require a tax-inclusive rate of 36 percent, not 23 percent, to equal current federal revenues. Calculating the rate in a normal, tax-exclusive manner would mean a 57 percent rate.

http://www.nationalreview.com/nrof_bartlett/bartlett200408090847.asp

[Inland]

35. So one pays the fed sales tax ON the state sales tax.

So every state switches to an income and property tax, since it leads to a tax break for its citizens and keeps it's goods and services from being priced out of the market, and the rate immediately becomes higher, and the fraud comes home TOO LATE.

Typical repug MO. Lie, get it through, shrug shoulders.

[gratuitous]

7. Hmmm, notice anything missing from this week's address?

Oh sure, a few dozen soldiers and marines bought it in Iraq this week, but that's not even worth a mention by the Dear Leader.

Sorry for your loss, military families. There, I've said more about the ongoing atrocity in Iraq this week than Mr. War President. I predict my presidential Medal of Freedom will be in the mail this week. Come by next weekend's garage sale and make an offer on it. It could make a nice coaster.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

9. This is a stump speech for his tax agenda.

He's had his ass handed to him on Social Security, so he's using the summer hire retail and service job numbers to prop up "the growing economy," and he's using THAT to stress the need for a "simpler and fairer tax code" to keep it STRONG.

Bush's Tax Advisory Panel turns in its recommendations on September 30th. Anyone who has been following the news on this subject knows what will be among them:

1). Do away with the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax)...this will PROBABLY happen.

2). Abolish the Income Tax and replace it with a National Sales Tax

2). Abolish the Income Tax and replace it with a Flat Tax

3). Keep the existing Income Tax and ADD a National Sales Tax

4). Keep the existing Income Tax and ADD a Flat Tax

THOSE are the top possibilities so far, folks.

Don't think he WON'T push for this, and if you still think he won't, two words for you:

"Ambassador Bolton."

[oscar111]

10. Stumbleupon site, is touting "fairtax" site, i think

a penpal got fairtax nonsense from stumble site. {fairtax also calls it the "hide" term, "consumption tax"}.

I am trying to clear things up for him.

He likes michael moore, so i have hope

thanks for this thread! important.

For those without time to do link reading, it is good to post here briefly how 55% was arrived at.

sort of an 'Executive Summary" for all us "CEO"'s. lOL.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

22. Read the links in my original post...

...the "fuzzy math" is explained there.

:toast:

[sendero]

11. Like so much presidential blather..

... that comes before this, this idea is going nowhere.

Whatever the merits or detriments of a "simpler" tax system, Congress is not about to give up their best and most useful lever for raking in campaign cash, which is handing out favors via the tax code.

Honestly, one would have to believe in the tooth fairy to believe that there will be significant tax reform in our lifetimes. It isn't going to happen.

[oscar111]

13. Thanks for the thread! Vitally important. eom

xxx

[Democrats_win]

12. Hey bush! Take your job and shove it! The economy sucks!

Half the local newspaper is foreclosure notices.

Record fuel prices.

Unemployment in Adams County, CO: 5.9%

New Jobs? Not here.

People can't afford to go to the movies
Wage stagnation.

Defaults by corporations on pension funds.

Around 43 million Americans without medical insurance.

And all of this IN spite of his use of deficit spending.

[oscar111]

14. Want simpler? Clean Step plan

my plan is income steps, so progressive in the usual way. Higher tax rate on hi incomes.

Clean means no exceptions, no altering the step's rate in any way. Just steps.

CLEAN STEP TAX PLAN.

I like it. ahem.

[sendero]

15. I agree...

.. the "flat tax" crowd wants to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Yes, we need a tax system that is almost devoid of deductions, incentives, and other distortions that are most likely to benefit campaign contributors than to do any good for society.

At the same time, the tax RATE should be progressive, i.e., you pay a higher percentage as income rises.

The "flat tax" crowd tries to lump both "deductions" and "progressivity" into the "complex" realm, when in fact calculating a progressive tax based on income bracket could be done by the average 10 year old.

That said, I still don't think anything will happen. Congress loves to mess with the tax code, it is the best quid pro quo they can give to corporations and constituents.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sendero]

18. Sorry..

.... I don't believe anything promoted by the Republican party in general or George Liar Bush in particular will be remotely "fair".

A leopard does not change his spots. Every single thing George Liar Bush has done since he stepped into the white house door is of the rich, by the rich and for the rich.

If he's for it, I'm against it, because it is a trojan horse of some kind.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

19. NIce try and bullshit tastes like chocolate pudding.

[MissMarple]

20. A consumption tax has also been brought up by radical middle people.

That could give everyone a base that is not taxed and consumption above that would be taxed. So that, theoretically, a family or individual wouldn't pay any tax if their income was below a certain level. I think they would have to consider a graduated rise, though. A flat consumption tax wouldn't work as well.

Frankly, we do have to simplify our tax code (throwing an industry employing tax attorneys and accountants out of work) but, I don't trust George stand up for the working people, just the very rich and the corporations.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

25. The proposed income level for "prebate" checks is $18,000 per year.

So there's ANOTHER Weapon of Mass Deception from Bush.

He's walking around with his fake Texas swagger saying "Families are gonna get REBATE checks at the first of the month."

YES, they WILL, if the family makes $18,000 OR LESS per year.

Everyone else would pay the current state tax, and a National Sales Tax on food, clothing, rent, medical visits...

John Linder set the original figure at 23%. Lately, I've heard people tossing around 30 and 35%, but most economists say 40 to 50% or HIGHER.

Folks, read all of the info in the links I posted here. They should answer your questions.

THEN start e-mailing your elected representatives, and NOT JUST THE DEMOCRATS. Let the GOP know how you feel about this. Let them know you're going to educate everyone you know on the subject.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

23. One of the Bruce Bartlett links in my original post...

...dated August 3, 2005, concludes with the following:

"In my opinion, these kinds of tradeoffs are politically impossible. People will fight much harder to keep a current tax benefit than potential beneficiaries will fight for a new one. Consequently, the only way you can even hope to eliminate "sacred cow" deductions like that for state and local taxes is a complete tax code overhaul. Attempts to reform incrementally, as it seems the tax commission suggests, are simply doomed to failure.
Unfortunately, President Bush has never articulated a tax reform vision, which explains why he supports a long list of new tax gimmicks -- I mean incentives -- for energy production and conservation. None of these belong in a properly designed tax system, from either a liberal or conservative point of view. They just clutter up the tax code and make reform all the more difficult, because you have created new constituencies in support of the status quo."

http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20050802-093835-4780r.htm

[applegrove]

17. Reporters need to cut to the chase on this one. Is repealing the 16th

Amendment the plan? Will it be on the table? Yes or no? And don't let Bush give you the SS dance where the said nothing in detail about the policy.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

24. EVERYONE reading this thread needs to READ THESE LINKS:

On September 20th, Bush's "Tax Advisory Panel" turns in their recommendations.

I read an article in which the author asserted that Bush formed the "Panel" so they could work on this "agenda item" while "flying under the media radar."

He got what he wanted, because I've been yelling about this since the 2004 elections, and at least two thirds of the threads I post on the subject sink like a stone.

Here are ALL of the links I've bookmarked on the subject:

H.R. 25, Fair Tax Act of 2003 (Introduced in House):

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.25:

Bruce Bartlett: A National Sales Tax No Vote

http://www.nationalreview.com/nrof_bartlett/bartlett200408090847.asp

CNN Money: Bush economic agenda may be in trouble

http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/17/news/economy/bush_agenda/index.htm?section=money_latest


Kerry: Why Should We Believe His Attacks? Bush Increases Taxes on Middle-Class Families

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/newsevents/cite_why_believe.cfm

Pelosi: ‘National Sales Tax Would be Burden for Middle Class Americans, But Boon for the Wealthy’

http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=701

Retailers Say National Retail Sales Tax Would Make Every Day Tax Day

http://enewsletter.cygnuspub.com/ANSOM/ANSOM_may05_AOI.htm

President's Remarks at Ask President Bush Event ("You know, I'm not exactly sure how big the national sales tax is going to have to be, but it's the kind of interesting idea that we ought to explore seriously.")

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040810-15.html

Either it's an 'interesting idea that we ought to explore seriously' or it isn't

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/2321.html

Retailers File Comments Urging Rejection of Consumption Tax ("National Sales Tax")

http://www.nrf.com/content/default.asp?folder=press/release2005&file=NRST-comments.htm&bhfv=2&bhqs=1

National Sales Tax Calculator

http://www.nationalsalestaxcalculator.com/

U.S. Tax Reform: An Overview of the Current Debate and Policy Options

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=18340.0

U.S. tax overhaul faces political obstacles-IMF

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2005-07-29T002902Z_01_N28722429_RTRIDST_0_ECONOMY-TAXES-IMF.XML

Tax reform or impasse?

http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20050802-093835-4780r.htm

[wli]

26. wow, that's some evil stuff

Is the IMF in favor of this or against it? I can't tell.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

27. The links provide a good balance of who's for and against it...

...but, as I said elsewhere in the thread, the MAIN reason Bush developed a "Tax Advisory Panel" is that he wanted these so-called "experts" working BEHIND CLOSED DOORS...away from media scrutiny...to avoid what he went through when Kerry spilled the beans during the election. As Bush himself has said:

[wli]

28. I can't smoke out the IMF's position from those links

I guess I'm suspecting IMF austerity stuff and "reforms" to be factoring into it, but I can't find anything hinting at the IMF's positions.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

29. Did you read this one:

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=18340.0

This is one of the links I provided.

It's an IMF position paper on Bush's options for "tax reform."

The URL above offers a link to the full paper in PDF format:

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2005/wp05138.pdf

This IS IMF's position. I don't know what you're looking for beyond this...

[wli]

30. I apologize if I seem dense

But that looks like it's comparing various proposed reforms and isn't making many normative judgments. So I failed to figure out what the IMF is pushing for (if anything).

I'm not trying to antagonize you, but I'm failing to grasp something here, and if by any chance you could give me more hints, I'd be much obliged.

Thanks.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

31. No problem, but what I've offered here is all I've got.

The only other suggestion I can offer is Googling "National Sales Tax" and "IMF."

Good luck.

:toast:

[welshTerrier2]

21. tax wealth - not just income !!

taxes are a contribution citizens make to the national, state and local priorities established by their duly elected officials ...

each citizen should be required to pay taxes based on their ability to pay ...

we have mistakenly come to accept the concept that ability to pay correlates directly to the amount of INCOME someone earns ... BUT THAT IS VERY WRONG !!!

a person with an income of say, $100K per year may indeed have a greater ability to pay than someone earning $40K ... graduated tax rates based on income are therefore a very reasonable starting point ... but, what is a fair tax for a multi-billionaire with earnings mostly derived from tax-sheltered investments ... that person may have close to zero taxable income ... they are not paying anything even close to their ability to pay ...

a fairer system of taxation would include the taxing of wealth; not just income ... for too long, Americans have been conditioned to think of taxation primarily in terms of the income tax ... with a clearer focus on tax fairness, that needs to be changed ... a system that taxes not just income (at lower rates), but also taxes wealth (at graduated rates), would be a much better tax system ...

[Egalitariat]

37. This would only work if the government accepted "wealth" as payment

of the "wealth tax".

Right now, all they accept is cash. And the conversion of wealth to cash can be very expensive.

[welshTerrier2]

40. you mean like ...

sorry, gov, my money's all tied up in billion dollar bonds just now ... catch you next year ...

taxpayers should be taxed based on their ability to pay ... that's the bottom line ... we should not need to tolerate the failure of a taxpayer to maintain an appropriate degree of liquidity to pay their taxes ...

as to reasonable exemptions, for example a primary residence, fine ... my goal is not to force anyone to sell their home so they can pay their taxes ... but second, third and fourth homes or other "investments" need to be adequately liquid to meet current tax obligations ... the point is you can't just tie up all your money in "non-liquid" wealth and expect to be exempted from contributing your fair share to the national priorities ...

tolerances and flexibilities, where appropriate, can always be built into the law ...

[rman]

34. a simpler, even more unfair tax code

you can't fool us that easily.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

36. I just hope that people really start screaming about this...

I spoke with a friend the other day and he didn't even know this was a Bush "agenda item."

So, I very methodically laid the whole thing out for him and he looked physically ill. "You're KIDDING," he said. I mailed him the URLs I posted in this thread. He knew I wasn't kidding.

OTHER THAN the war in Iraq, the National Sales Tax scam is the WORST thing Bush has brought to the table yet. It would result in a HUGE gift to his "base" and the final death blow to the middle class.

[oscar111]

38. Links: too long, the articles, for us casual readers

Hi
excuse my provocative title, ...

just want to say many are too busy to go to long link articles to dig out an answer .

I get lots of flack for saying this to OP-er's. Some really flame me.

IMHO, the best way to get info across, is to distill it in one's mind and put out the key facts in outline form. Fact Sheets. Executive Summaries.

We average DU types cant take time to become experts in all 1,OOO facets of Political Economy.
But we can read fact sheets fast.

Ye experts , pls distill what you have learned from long "link-articles" and post that . With links as footnotes.

This thread has been much better than most, at getting info in distilled form to us. It is a very important thread!
=============
My gripe is mainly for other threads that rely only on links.
=================
Hope this helps. Again, thanks to Beef for this excellent thread!

[BenDavid]

39. Truth on Bush

"Bush as proof that you can be
totally impervious to the effects
of Harvard and Yale education."
--Barney Frank

Nothing else need be said.....