Taxes, taxes, taxes

Craig links to a George Will column extolling the virtues of a national sales tax bill being proposed by John Linder, a Republican House member from Georgia. The proposal is for a nationwide 23% sales tax, and would abolish the IRS and, therefore, the lobbyists on K street. We'd replace the lobbyists with a thriving black market. In Erie County of New York State, as it currently stands, our sales tax would be 31.25%. If I buy a computer at $2,000, that's $625 in sales tax. If I buy a car for $25,000 (pretty cheap, nowadays), that's an extra $7,812.50 in sales tax. Which will be financed. Over the course of years. Yippee. If I buy a $40 shirt, that's really a $52.50 shirt. What they'll do, of course, is what they already do in Europe and mark the prices with the sales tax included, so it's not in your face. Except when a German buys something with 16% VAT, he's got paid health care with that. Even a Canadian with 15% (in Quebec, close to 20%) sales tax gets national health. If you want to abolish the IRS and K Street, all you need to do is lower the income tax rate, abolish all deductions, and do the old Steve Forbes tax-on-a-postcard proposal. Only you can't make it flat for everyone: 0-10,000 income = 5% 10,000 - 50,000 income = 10% 50,000 + = 15% Corporate = 15% Or something along those lines. I'd also abolish the income tax on social security income, for good measure. The only way this thing sells is if they take Republican Congressman Sensenbrenner's wonderful words in support of universal health care, and implement them: "the measure of a nation's commitment to the sanctity of life is reflected in its laws to the extent those laws honor and defend its most vulnerable citizens." Indeed.

Desperate to change the subject

Tom Delay, currently under investigation for being a corrupt little monster, had this to say yesterday in response to a family's personal tragedy:

"We promised the Schindler family that we will not let Terri die in vain," Mr DeLay said.

"We will look at an arrogant, out-of-control, unaccountable judiciary that thumbed their nose at Congress and the president."

He also said:

Mrs. Schiavo’s death is a moral poverty and a legal tragedy. This loss happened because our legal system did not protect the people who need protection most, and that will change. The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior, but not today. Today we grieve, we pray, and we hope to God this fate never befalls another. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Schindlers and with Terri Schiavo’s friends in this time of deep sorrow.

The republicans have declared war on checks & balances. They have declared war on separation of powers. They are only for those particular parts of the constitution that fit their agenda. They have declared a holy war of revenge against the judges, doctors, and lawyers who fought to carry out Terri's wishes, as well as against Michael Schiavo himself. Mr. Delay just yelled "fire" in a crowded theater.

Things to do with kids in WNY

Jen from Random Daily Thoughts has returned from a vacation, and discusses places in WNY that her little boy would enjoy. She mentions Becker Farms, the Buffalo Zoo, and the Jello museum in Leroy. A commenter suggests the Niagara Aquarium. Good choices, all. Here are my faves - all kid-friendly: 1. Butterfly conservatory near Niagara Falls, ON 2. Well... Niagara Falls, ON and Niagara Falls, NY 3. On a warm day, I love to lie out on the grassy "beach" near Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown 4. A walk in Niagara-on-the-Lake 5. Science Museum of Buffalo 6. Strong Museum in Rochester 7. Window-shopping on Elmwood 8. Thunder Rocks at Allegany State Park 9. Ellicottville 10. Between February and April, you MUST try these pancakes: Arcade Center Farm Pancake House 7298 Route 98 Arcade 585-492-3821 (cash only) 11. Vidler's in East Aurora (and lunch at Tantalus (avoid dinner - service can get slow & surly)) Finally, if you need the scoop on local restaurants, there's fantastic restaurant reviews in the Spree, and Rapaport's got the closest thing to Zagat's in WNY.

Holt & CBC

As per the Buffalo Beast

RIP Terry Schiavo

Finally, she can. And, finally, a whole lot of "15 minutes" have now expired.

Painful

This story is an absolute tragedy. You think the Terri Schiavo case is a tragedy? This, to me, is worse. And if you really want to weep like a fucking baby, read and listen to the 911 call.

South Park on Schiavo

I don't know how many of you watch South Park, but it's still fresh, funny, and chock-full of oft-not-subtle social commentary. Last night's episode was no exception. Last night, when Kenny died, he went to heaven, and it was revealed that his prowess playing a heaven vs. hell videogame on his new PSP was a test by God; since Kenny is the only kid to reach level 60, he's the only one who can direct the forces of good to defeat the forces of evil. (Evil outnumbering Good by about a billion to ten thousand). But the doctors revived Kenny, but he was in a persistent vegetative state. They installed a feeding tube. As that was happening, Kyle, Stan & Cartman were having Kenny's will read to them. Kyle & Stan got all of Kenny's possessions except one; Cartman got the PSP. The last line of the will was "if I'm ever in a persistent vegetative state, I ..." and the last page was missing. Cartman instantly made up a story that Kenny had told him he didn't want to be kept alive (so he could get the PSP). Kyle & Stan launched a media campaign to keep Kenny's feeding tube in. Obviously, the angels are upset that their savior's soul is no longer in heaven, and they come to Earth to ensure that the feeding tube is pulled. Satan's minions, on the other hand, do what they always do: use the Republicans. Satan's boyfriend whispering lines to a Republican congressman on the Capitol steps. The climax: the two competing groups arguing with each other over Kenny's body. The lawyer runs in and exclaims that he's found the missing last page: If I'm ever in a persistent vegetative state, I... don't ever want anyone to show me that way on national TV. Kyle & Stan "learned something today."

Cartman was right, for the wrong reasons; And Kyle & Stan were wrong, for the right reasons.

And in so many words, the young men of South Park have distilled the Schiavo matter. PS: They pull the feeding tube, and Kenny uses God's golden PSP to direct the forces of good to defeat evil. PPS: Before you dismiss this as anti-anything propaganda, the guys who write South Park as pinko liberals, they're actually not.

Audiopost

I have no idea why the bloody thing keeps posting itself. I might use it from time to time when the notion strikes and I'm away from a 'puter, but if it takes 2 days to post and does so over & over, maybe I'll re-think that.

PWN3D!

I know you find Joe Scarborough as irritating as I do. That's why you have to click this linky here and watch Scarborough battle scientific fact with wild-ass opinion. Guess which one wins?

Craig'll like this one

How do the Germans reconcile their love of automobiles with their environmental fetish? It's a tug-of-war that's been going on there for decades; hence, the creeping imposition of speed limits on autobahns. A report today (to which I'll link, but isn't in English) reveals that the opposition CDU have teamed up with the Green party to demand a ban on driving personal automobiles on Sundays. Why? In order to minimize diesel particulate emissions. I can't believe that the purported conservatives in Germany are proposing something so stupid.

The Amazing Race

The Amazing Race is the best show on television, IMHO. I don't really have time to summarize each episode. So instead, read Waveflux's extremely detailed synopsis of last night's goings on. As commentary, let me add that I'm thrilled that Ray & Deana are out. Ever since Colin & Christie, that show's had a villain team (remember Jonathan last season?) Ray was the villain this season, and he was a total prick to Deana. Good riddance. Rob & Amber I have a lot of respect for; they're playing the game better than, I think, any team that's come before. They'r really using the rules to their advantage, and the other teams are completely and detrimentally preoccupied with them. Rob Mariano is a brilliant strategist and extremely persuasive, and he and Amber have been getting along wonderfully as a team. That teamwork not only explains why I like them, but why they're doing so well.

More Buffalo Blogs!

Jag Skamtar is written by a Buffalo attorney who's learning Swedish. KT in Buffalo is brand new, and contains "musings on a variety of topics." Welcome to them both, and up on the blogroll they'll go...as soon as I can convince Blogger to work.

Bloggered again

I honestly don't know what's up with blogger, but I've been effectively unable to post since about 2pm yesterday. It's getting to be a bit frustrating.

"I didn't do it."

Nancy Naples is sounding a lot like Bart in the Simsons episode where he becomes a TV star for coining the catch-phrase "I didn't do it." She's not to blame for the fiscal crisis; She's not to blame for letting Giambra get away with raiding the surplus and tobacco money; and now, She's not to blame for having been wicked late on her taxes. Many times.

"Taxes for 1999 alone went unpaid for 18 months, gathering a late fee of $5,200"

Her excuse? My husband forgot to pay the bills. I can't imagine what my wife would do to me if I incurred a late fee of $5,200 like that.

Blogger

I swear, I had about 3-4 posts ready to go, but Blogger either ate them or forbade me from logging in at all. This has been happening a lot lately, and it's getting realllllly frustrating.

Ghouls

Astonishing.

The parents of Terri Schiavo have authorized a conservative direct-mailing firm to sell a list of their financial supporters, making it likely that thousands of strangers moved by her plight will receive a steady stream of solicitations from anti-abortion and conservative groups. "These compassionate pro-lifers donated toward Bob Schindler's legal battle to keep Terri's estranged husband from removing the feeding tube from Terri," says a description of the list on the Web site of the firm, Response Unlimited, which is asking $150 a month for 6,000 names and $500 a month for 4,000 e-mail addresses of people who responded last month to an e-mail plea from Ms. Schiavo's father. "These individuals are passionate about the way they value human life, adamantly oppose euthanasia and are pro-life in every sense of the word!" Privacy experts said the sale of the list was legal and even predictable, if ghoulish.

Ghoulish doesn't even begin to describe that.

Revitalize Buffalo

A promising group that is apolitical, and has a lot of great ideas, including the promotion of:

• The urban experience;
• Acquisition & renovation of a building to create a business incubator;
• Photography
• Music
• Neighborhood revitalization/beautification

All they need is a group of motivated people who love Buffalo, want to keep people here, and attract people and business here. "Our vision is to help build a smarter and cooler Buffalo and to enhance the region’s profile as an exciting and vibrant community by mobilizing the bright, creative and hard-working people of Buffalo and the region." So, if you're bright, creative and hard-working (or think you are), please visit www.revitalizebuffalo.org and join. Their next meeting is Thursday, April 28, 7 PM at the Delaware Park Casino (behind Albright-Knox). Please sign up and attend.

Outsourcing

Glad to see American pundits getting some work abroad. Apparently Zimbabwean dictator and all-around bad guy Robert Mugabe has hired Ann Coulter as an advisor:

'All those who will vote for the MDC are traitors,' state radio quoted Mugabe as saying to a ruling ZANU-PF party rally at Mutoko, 140 kilometers (90 miles) northeast of Harare.

Peas in a pod, she and he.