The Estate Tax

Can you believe it? The United States is currently in debt to the tune of more than SEVEN TRILLION dollars and what are our legislators doing? Why, they are about to eliminate the estate tax (which they label, conveniently enough for them, the death tax). By eliminating this onerous burden they will allow two percent (2%) at most, to avoid paying any taxes on their estates. These are the richest, by far, of all American taxpayers. Thus if you happen to have a billion or more (which you can't possibly spend) you will be able to leave it to your heirs who can then turn it into more billions that they can't spend. So much for the public good. The fact that they would even consider this at this moment in time suggests to me a serious form of insanity which seems to be characteristic nowadays of our elected officials. This obscene proposal has apparently already been passed in the House (does that surprise anyone?) but still has to pass the Senate (don't assume Senators are any more sane that Representatives). It's the American way, them as has, gets. The poor are only poor because they are too lazy to work. Besides, they can't afford tickets to move to China or India where they might find a job working for American firms.

Speaking of such things, would someone explain to me how it is that Toyota and Mishubishi can afford to build billion dollar plants in the U.S. and hire American workers while American firms claim they have to move overseas in order to compete? Do they pay Wal Mart wages? Do they get such huge tax breaks it makes it worthwhile? What?

Someone in Britain has suggested that perhaps Judith Miller is herself a CIA agent and that is how she knew Valerie Plame. Actually, I would not be surprised to learn eventually that Osama bin Laden is still a CIA asset. But I'm really not much for conspiracy theories. As near as I can figure out the entire Bush/Cheney operation is nothing but a gigantic conspiracy to transfer taxpayer money to an elite group of the already filthy rich.

I sign a lot of petitions none of which seem to produce much in the way of results. I will not sign the current buzzflash petition to the effect that either the Bush twins join the military to go to Iraq or else the troops come home. It's a really stupid idea. Besides, why endanger the troops any more than necessary?

Still waiting to get some closure on Plamegate, Edmondsgate, Gannon/Guckertgate, torturegate, Halliburtongate, slimeCindygate, medicaidgate, pharmaseuticalsgate, and Iraqidisastergate, to say nothing of 9/11gate, stolenelectionsgate, JohnRobertsgate, and Tom DeLaygate. I never give up hope because apparently I am really stupid. Be of good cheer.