Last August, I shared a fascinating map from the Tax Foundation. It showed which states have chased away taxable income and which ones have attracted more taxpayers (along with their taxable income). In other words, what are the “Golden Geese” doing with their money?…
Daily Analysis
Support the VAT…if You Oppose Entitlement Reform and Want More spending and More Debt
I’m a supporter of a single-rate tax regime, especially if there’s no double taxation of income that is saved and invested. That’s why I like the flat tax. But I’ve expressed concern about the national sales tax, even though it’s basically the same as a flat tax (the…
Greetings from Obamaland…Oops, I Mean Greece
As much as I condemn American politicians for bad policy, things could be worse. We could be Greek citizens, which would be very depressing. Indeed, you’ll understand why I put Obamaland in the title after you read today’s column. Simply stated, Greece is a cesspool…
From France to New Jersey, High Tax Rates and Class Warfare Are Economic Poison
Back in the 1980s and 1990s, there was a widespread consensus that high tax rates were economically misguided. Many Democrats, for instance, supported the 1986 Tax Reform Act that lowered the top tax rate from 50 percent to 28 percent (albeit offset by increased…
Bill Gates Is Half-Right about Tax Reform
I generally get very suspicious when rich people start pontificating on tax policy. People like Warren Buffett, for instance, sometimes advocate higher taxes because they’re trying to curry favor with the political elite. Or maybe they feel compelled to say silly…
Sweden, Spending Restraint, and the Benefits of Obeying Fiscal Policy’s Golden Rule
When I first started working on fiscal policy in the 1980s, I never thought I would consider Sweden any sort of role model. It was the quintessential cradle-to-grave welfare state, much loved on the left as an example for America to follow. But Sweden suffered a…
Funny Cartoon Video Mocks Obamacare
Obamacare may not be good news for taxpayers or consumers, but let’s look at the bright side. At least the law has generated some superb political humor, including funny videos. *The head of the National Socialist Workers Party finds out he can’t keep his health plan….
Underwhelmed: Grading the New Tax Reform Plan from the Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee
An underwhelming proposal.
ABBA and the Story of the Most-Inane-Ever Tax Controversy
The tax code is a complicated nightmare, particularly for businesses. Some people may think this is because of multiple tax rates, which definitely is an issue for all the non-corporate businesses that file “Schedule C” forms using the personal income tax. A…
Great Moments in Tax Enforcement
I’ll be first in line if there’s a contest over who thinks most strongly thatpoliticians are corrupt, or whether they can waste money in creative ways. But if somebody asserts that politicians are stupid, I’m going to argue on the other side. This isn’t because I’m a…