Politics

Average Americans think about trade imbalances the wrong way. They have it exactly backward.

Anti-dumping rules are supposed to protect domestic producers and domestic jobs from unscrupulous foreign competition, but anti-dumping rules raise prices for their consumers and producers, shrink profits, and reduce the capacity of firms to invest, expand, and hire more workers.

All I want is a simple cup of coffee near where I work. Is that asking too much of free trade?

David John Marotta was interviewed recently on radio 1070’s WINA Schilling Show discussing property rights and their importance for a free society.

If you could only pick one, would you like to buy a ripe tomato or a local one?

Daniel J. Mitchell of the CATO Institute wrestles with the lack of no historical data to support the Starve the Beast model, only to find out that it’s because politicians have never really given it a shot.

The only two ways to balance the federal budget are to spend less or to collect more. Spending less is the preferred method, but that is just not happening. As a result, politics is pushing many in Congress to try to balance the budget by raising taxes.

Do any of these ideas suggest any incentive for the highly productive to continue producing?

Even to conservative political parties, starving the beast is not the ideal solution.

This kitten doesn’t rely on government. Be more like this kitten.

“Until the deficit is eliminated from our budget, … there is no end to inflation; there is finally no end to taxation; and the eventual result would, of course, be catastrophe.”

Studies suggest that $1.5 trillion is wasted on public sector rent-seeking.

Even if democracy is the principal objective, encourage the rule of law.

This kitten knows money doesn’t grow on trees. Be more like this kitten.

Property rights are among the characteristics most correlated with high levels of per capita gross domestic product (GDP).

Does a property owner have the right to use and dispose of his property as he sees fit even if that means he is being irrational, arbitrary, capricious, even unjust?

The recent AIG marketing campaign makes my skin crawl. In what they are calling “America’s Profit,“ AIG boasts that repayment of the bailouts created a positive return for taxpayers.

This kitten understands TANSTAAFL. Be more like this kitten.

Claims of “fair” or even “regressive” or “progressive” depend very much on what is used as the denominator.

The income tax penalizes productivity, discourages hard work, and suppresses investment.

The political party platforms on gun control and gun rights for 2012.

Currently homicides are largely committed by minority men age 18 to 39 with criminal records in urban areas killing others in the same demographic.

Here are the 2008 party platforms on the environment

The worst marriage penalty is for couples earning between $26,000 and $60,000 who have three or more children.

Stewardship suggests limits on how people ought to rule over their environment. It is not a justification for bureaucrats’ limitless rule over people.

You cannot argue this increased tax is their “fair share” simply because they are married.

To fulfill the financial resolutions of spending less, living within our means, and paying off our debt, the country first needs to encourage production rather than discourage it.

One of the strange and unintended consequences of targeting the rich with more taxes will be a greater gap between the rich and the poor as employees will shoulder their fair share no matter what.

Studies suggest that both a gambling addiction and success in politics correlate with psychopathic behavior. Had Dickens included a gambler personality in a Christmas Carol, it would have been a different story.

David John Marotta was interviewed on radio 1070 WINA’s Schilling Show on December 11, 2012 discussing the Fiscal Cliff, rising taxation, and economic discrimination.

Will millions of middle income consumers spending $2,200 each have a greater stimulus than thousands of small business entrepreneurs saving and investing $100,000 each in new ventures? You decide after watching this holiday video from EconStories.

Few of us ever think about how the Ninth Amendment preserves all of our rights not cited in the Constitution. What are some examples of these unenumerated rights?

Obama would have you believe that $2,200 is a fiscal cliff, but $119,878 is just paying their fair share.

It is a crisis fabricated 100% by politicians. And avoiding the fiscal cliff is being used hypocritically for additional political gain.

With the enormous increase in the taxation of dividends, high net worth investors may be tempted to abandon dividend-paying stocks entirely. This is not necessary.

“I was talking to a doctor in town who said he was surprised how many patients he had seen with clinical depression over the election results. I believe the definition of clinical is the thought that ‘Things will never be good again.'”

Many people support public funding of disaster relief partly because they fear being described as unfeeling and selfish. Is there a moral obligation to support this public funding?

Here are thirty reasons Obama doesn’t deserve a second term.

The presidential election should be settled by a single question: “Who caused the financial crisis of 2008?” President Obama’s entire campaign has centered on his claim that he inherited a mess caused by the failed policies of the past.

Though imperfect at best, the record of immigrants striving to reach our shores proves that are forefather’s defense of free enterprise created a fertile soil for human flourishing.

It might be a good idea to listen to those who watch the cause and effect in the economy on a regular basis.

Such a well-intentioned program which steals our youth, our love, our happiness, our faith and our self-esteem.

In 2008 Obama captured 66% of the youth vote. But unlike the liberal ideological baby boom generation, millennials are more pragmatic. Support for Obama among the 18- to 29-year-old age group has dropped to 48%.

Are half of college graduates unable to get a college level job?

A light hearted look at Bert and Ernie’s politics.

“Sesame Street,” for example, made more than $211 million from toy and consumer product sales from 2003-2006. Sesame Workshop President and CEO Gary Knell received $956,513 in compensation in 2008.

Perhaps the most significant part of the vice presidential debate was the exchange over Romney’s proposal to lower tax rates by 20% and close loopholes and deductions. Does the math add up?

Does flatting and reducing the top rates by 20% and eliminating deductions collect the same amount of tax?

David John Marotta was featured on radio 1070 WINA’s Schilling Show on October 9, 2012 discussing politics and the upcoming election, focusing on small businesses and their tax burden.

Just over 12% of small business tax returns had gross receipts over $250,000. Their marginal tax return is the highest and tax changes to this group is what has the greatest effect on employment.