A Tax On Meat

This guy proposes a 50% tax on the retail price of meat. He knows what's best for you.

Taxes: Too much, or not enough?

Eric Kirk and some others over at his blog think we're not paying nearly enough in taxes as we should be.

The Sacramento Bee's, Dan Walters, takes a look at taxation in California.

Meanwhile, in Maryland, it appears a number of the state's millionaires have left to state to avoid taxes. That seems to be happening all over the country, or so I've been hearing.

During all this, our supposed socialist neighbor to the north, Canada, seems to have been weathering the worldwide recession fairly well by most accounts. Why the difference with the United States? The Washington Post seems to think it might have to do with spending less on at least some aspects of government.

If you click on the subject titles on the bar above the graph, you'll get a different corresponding graph.

More on Prop 1F

This just in via the West Coast Libertarians Yahoo Group. The Republican Liberty Caucus of California's recommendation on Prop 1F:

NO on Proposition 1-F: ELECTED OFFICIALS' SALARIES. PREVENTS PAY INCREASES DURING BUDGET DEFICIT YEARS
This "feel good" proposition pretends to freeze legislator's salaries, but it does nothing of the sort. It pretends to be an incentive for responsible budget reductions, but it only guarantees more tax increases when legislators insist that they have to spend more. It does nothing to cut legislator salaries, nor those of the exploding state bureaucracy. This is a con game, to top off the shell games and slush funds of the other propositions.

Looks to me like the RLC is doing the same as so many others are in this upcoming special election and lumping all the propositions as a con game to rip of the people of California. I don't understand where they're coming from or why they're saying the prop pretends to freeze legislator's salaries. Maybe they've read something I haven't?

I don't know, but I suspect this is just another anti- Sacramento temper- tantrum rant. We shall see as more information comes out.

I've said before that I think Prop 1F is in a different category than the others. I stand by that, at least for now, but it will be interesting to see what the ballot arguments in the voter information pamphlet says. For now, I'm voting for it.

Today, April 13, Is Tax Freedom Day 2009

Today is this year's Tax Freedom Day. That's the average day when most of us have worked enough to pay off our federal tax burden. The Tax Foundation tells us it falls eight days earlier this year than last. Kind of hard to believe with all the spending going on but they explain it this way:

(1) the recession has reduced tax collections even faster than it has reduced income, and (2) the stimulus package includes large temporary tax cuts for 2009 and 2010. Nevertheless, Americans will pay more in taxes than they will spend on food, clothing and housing combined.

How a stimulus package that hasn't even really gotten started yet can affect this year's taxes is puzzling. I guess it's in the way they do their figuring and they're looking forward.

Of course, the above refers to the nation as a whole. States all have their own Tax Freedom Day with Alaska having the lowest tax burden. Their Tax Freedom Day is the earliest: March 23.

California finds itself in the top five, which should come as no surprise. In fact I'm surprised we only rank 4th highest with our Tax Freedom Day landing on April 20 this year. The other top five states are (1)Connecticut, (2)New Jersey, (3)New York and (5)Maryland. You can see where the other states rank by scrolling down the Tax Freedom Day web page to the state table.

Anybody want to bet Tax Freedom Day comes later next year?

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As far as income taxes go, it seems this time of year and the taxes always cleans me out. We have Melinda Walsh, CPA do ours. It's too complicated when you're self employed to do it myself.

Had my usual scare a few weeks ago when I took my taxes in to be prepared. She did some quick calculations as she always does and came to the conclusion I owed more in taxes than I could pay. I was freaked and was trying to figure how I could deal with it.

Not to worry, though, at least not too much. When I went in to pick them up it was less than half of what she originally calculated. It still nearly cleans me out but at least I wouldn't have make installment payments.

That's actually a good business technique, whether she means it to be one, or not. Makes her the hero of the day knowing she saved you some money. I'd recommend Melinda to others but I don't believe she's accepting new clients at this time.

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Speaking of who to blame and who to praise for all our tax worries, The National Taxpayer's Union has their latest congressional ratings up now. Republicans Jeff Flake and Ron Paul take the #1 and 2 positions in the House. Senators DeMint and Barrasso (never even heard of them before) come in #1 and 2 in the Senate.

Locally, our very own Congressman Mike Thompson has a string of Fs in his ratings. I would of thought he'd get at least a D. Likewise our Senators Boxer and Feinstein both have a string of Fs. You can check other congresscritter's scores by searching the NTU database.

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With so many states increasing their tax burden on the citizens, even despite federal stimulus funds, some still aren't content. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at New York, a state that seems determined to beat out everyone else for the title of highest taxed state.

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And don't forget, Noon on April 15, anti- tax rally in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse. Hmmm...might the Humboldt Democratic Central Committee show up for a counter- protest?