Strange words

February 11, 2020

I was listening to a presentation the other day where two economists were interviewed about the short term future of our economy.

Each was an adviser in  a presidential administration, one democrat and the other republican.

I heard both of these economists, who might properly be categorized as one liberal and the other conservative, refer to tax cuts as “incentives”.

When did government not taking money from us become an incentive to us?

We deserve better

Brutus

14 Comments | Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Lost principle?

January 23, 2020

From Thomas Jefferson’s first inaugural address:

Still one thing more, fellow-citizens — a wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.

We deserve better

Brutus

17 Comments | Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

A little bit of tax relief

January 9, 2020

For those of you who were facing the requirement to make your first RMD (required minimum distribution) withdrawal from your retirement account in 2020 please be aware that the law changed in December.

Evidently now if you had not reached the age of 70 1/2 before December 31, 2019 the new age trigger will be 72 years old.  This lets you keep the money working for you an extra year and one half.  If you were 70 1/2 years old before January 1, 2020 the law stays the same.

The new law also allows people over 70 1/2 to continue making contributions to their retirement accounts as long as they have “earned” (payroll) income.

Contact your tax adviser to see if this applies to you.

We deserve better

Brutus

16 Comments | Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Government pensions

December 30, 2019

JerryK wrote this in a comment a couple of weeks ago:

Stop payments into City retirement funds (that are underfunded anyway) and convert employees’ equity into annuities. Subsequently make annual contributions into employees’ IRA accounts so they are on a level playing field with the private sector that has largely abandoned pensions. Contribute what we can afford, like the private sector.

I agree.

If any of us have to participate in the social security system then I believe that all of us should have to.

The pay that our government employees receive should compensate them fairly while they are working.  Pension plans should be eliminated.

We deserve better

Brutus

14 Comments | City government, County Government, El Paso Independent School District, Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Being in charge

December 1, 2019

We’ve heard a lot about our president not heading the advice of the military in regard to the punishment of some members of the military.

Evidently some people think that the subordinates are in charge.

The president is the commander in chief.

Whether his decision was the right one or not he had the right to do what he did.

The next thing we know the privates will be telling the generals what to do.

We deserve better

Brutus

9 Comments | Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Who are we giving to?

October 8, 2019

DavidK over at Refuse the Juice wrote this piece the other day.

It explains a lot about our lack of influence in congress.

We deserve better

Brutus

6 Comments | Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

On the border situation

June 14, 2019

Alligators ‘n Roadkill has an interesting post about the border situation.

You can read them here.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

11 Comments | Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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