Day: February 2, 2023

Democracy For All

There is a subjective issue.

Democracy means many things to many people….but for this post I will focus on returning the country into the hands of the voter and take the reins of government out of the hands of those high dollar donors.

This is about that infamous ruling by the Roberts court, Citizen United.

To end an era in which wealthy corporations have been given free rein to spend nearly unlimited money on political campaigns, Democrats in the U.S. House on Thursday proposed a constitutional amendment that would overturn the hugely consequential Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision by U.S. Supreme Court, saying the ruling “has dangerously eroded” the government’s ability to serve the public interest.

Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) led dozens of co-sponsors in introducing the Democracy for All Amendment two days before the 13th anniversary of the Citizens United decision, in which the court struck down a ban on corporate independent expenditures.

According to Schiff, the constitutional amendment—which the congressman first proposed in 2013—would:

  • Make clear the Constitution does not restrict the ability of Congress or the states to propose reasonable, viewpoint-neutral limitations on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections;
  • Distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities, including by prohibiting the latter from spending unlimited amounts of money to influence elections;
  • Allow states to enact public campaign financing systems, which can restrict the influence of corporate or private wealth; and
  • Take further steps to protect the freedom of the press in the case of future campaign finance-related legislation.

“It would affirm the right of the people to pass state and federal laws by restoring Congress’ and the states’ authority to place [limits] on political spending,” said the group.

In addition to overturning Citizens United, the Democrats aim to overturn the “fundamental flaws” and legal precedents that underpinned the court’s reasoning in 2010 and in “an entire line of cases dating back to the 1976 Buckley v. Valeo decision, which prevented meaningful regulation of campaign expenditures by corporations and special interest groups.”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/overturn-citizens-united

A fine idea that I support.   But I also know that this will go nowhere since the GOP controls the House and they are deep in the pockets of the abusers of campaign finance policies.

I would tell you to contact your representative but that would be counter-productive…..for no one in DC is listening to what you think or want.

This is a fine idea.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

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Fair Tax Act Of 2023

This post is for all who have no idea what the ‘Act’ is all about….those that spend all their time on TicTac or Twatter….or are more concerned with what new song some skinny blonde porks out or what celeb was wearing a sheer dress….the Act will effect all of us mere mortals and you should be aware before you start some dialog with little knowledge.

First of all….what is the Fair Tax Act of 2023?

This bill imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services in lieu of the current income taxes, payroll taxes, and estate and gift taxes. The rate of the sales tax will be 23% in 2025, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. There are exemptions from the tax for used and intangible property; for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes; and for state government functions.

Under the bill, family members who are lawful U.S. residents receive a monthly sales tax rebate (Family Consumption Allowance) based upon criteria related to family size and poverty guidelines.

The states have the responsibility for administering, collecting, and remitting the sales tax to the Treasury.

Tax revenues are to be allocated among (1) the general revenue, (2) the old-age and survivors insurance trust fund, (3) the disability insurance trust fund, (4) the hospital insurance trust fund, and (5) the federal supplementary medical insurance trust fund.

No funding is authorized for the operations of the Internal Revenue Service after FY2027.

Finally, the bill terminates the national sales tax if the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution (authorizing an income tax) is not repealed within seven years after the enactment of this bill.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/25

Now a break down how this act would work and effect you…..

Imagine this: Instead of paying federal taxes to the IRS, you pay them to your local cafe every time you buy a latte or to your supermarket when you make a grocery run — or to countless other businesses when you make purchases.

That’s a future proponents of the Fair Tax Act would like to see. The idea of implementing a national sales tax in lieu of our current federal tax apparatus is once again gaining steam after Rep. Buddy Carter (R. Ga.) introduced the bill to the House of Representatives earlier this month, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has agreed to bring the bill to a vote.

“This bill will eliminate the need for the [IRS] entirely by simplifying the tax code with provisions that work for the American people and encourage growth and innovation,” Carter said in an announcement.

The Fair Tax Act is unlikely to become law due to opposition from Democrats, and President Joe Biden has already said that he will veto the bill if it does manage to pass both the House and the Senate.

Still, the proposal has many wondering what a national sales tax or “fair tax” would look like.

https://money.com/fair-tax-act-national-sales-tax/

I love it when we are told that it is for us that this type of screwing is pointed to….but in reality it is aimed for the rich to pay less taxes than they pay now (and some pay no tax at all)

DO NOT BUY the hype…none of this is for you.

Be Smart!

Learn Stuff!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”