I agree that Obama inherited a crappy economy, and I think it is silly to assert that he bears any responsibility for the severity of the 2007-2009 recession. But it is very fair to hold him responsible for what’s happened since the recession ended. I’ve cited data…
Daily Analysis
Two Cheers for Spain’s Anti-Tax “Carrot Rebellion”
If there was a prize for fighting back against tax authorities, the Italians would probably deserve first place. I’m not aware of any other country where tax offices get firebombed. The Italians also believe in passive forms of resistance, with tens of thousands of…
Must-Watch Video From Reason TV on How Free Markets – not Obamacare – Can Solve the Healthcare Mess
When I travel, particularly overseas, I run into a lot of people who are totally confused about the American healthcare system. For all intents and purposes, they think the United States relies on the free market and that government (at least in the pre-Obamacare era)…
In a Debate for U.S. News & World Report, I Argue Obama’s Plan Is Worse than the Fiscal Cliff
I took part today in a nine-person debate on the fiscal cliff for U.S. News & World Report. We were all asked, “Is Going Over the ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Necessarily the Worst Outcome?” I said “no” because there are worse options, and I specifically explained that Obama’s…
Can Treasury Con 50 Countries Into Relinquishing Their Fiscal Sovereignty?
Fresh off new delays in its implementation of the disastrous FATCA legislation, the Treasury Department has announced that it is in discussions with more than 50 countries to sign bilateral agreements…
Another Leftist Admits the Real Goal Is Taxing the Middle Class
Obama has staked out a very dogmatic and inflexible position on class-warfare tax hikes and he obviously wants all of us to think only the “rich” will be impacted. I think it’s foolish to penalize investors, entrepreneurs, small business owners and other upper-income…
The Joint Committee on Taxation’s Head-in-the-Sand Approach to the Laffer Curve
I’m a big believer in the Laffer Curve, which is the common-sense proposition that changes in tax rates don’t automatically mean proportional changes in tax revenue. This is because you also have to think about what happens to taxable income, which can move up or down…
In the OECD’s Fantasy World, Higher VAT Taxes “Foster Growth and Employment”
Regular readers know I’m not a fan of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Heck, just take a look at some of the examples in this post and you’ll understand why. Well, the Secretary-General of the Paris-based bureaucracy just pontificated about…
The “Essential” Role of Tax Havens
Since one of my main priorities is to defend tax competition and tax havens, I’m always delighted to see others jump in the fight to defend fiscal sovereignty. Especially when those people clearly understand that so-called tax havens are necessary to restrain the…
No Time to Go Wobbly On Spending Cuts
These are dark times for advocates of sane fiscal policy. The President and other Democrats have interpreted the recent election as a mandate to raise taxes, and if the past is any indication, the instinct from Republicans will be to cave. As if that isn’t bad…