Today’s solar collectors do an admirable job of collecting free energy from the sun but there’s one huge drawback: if too much energy is concentrated in one place, they run the risk of frying themselves. But that could all change in the near future as a group led by IBM… … Read More
What Internet Sales Tax and Gay Marriage Have in Common
Utah’s legislature recently
considering a bill to implement an online sales tax, which failed ;earlier
this month. Proponents, including brick and mortar stores, lobbied
for the bill to “level the playing field” by requiring online
sellers to collect the same sales tax stores in the real world do.
Author Connor Boyack makes the libertarian case
against internet sales taxes and government marriage:
Retail stores are required by the state to become tax
collectors, and online stores with no physical presence in the
state are not. Should the state then increase its size, reach, and
tax base in the name of fairness?
Absolutely not. Equality before and non-discrimination by the law
is important, to be sure. But increasing the size and scope of the
state is not the proper method to fulfill that objective. As is
usually the case, the opposite is true; reducing and ultimately
removing the other barrier is best. Because sales taxes are an
illegitimate imposition into a private commercial transaction,
political pressure should be applied to repeal that mandate from
existing establishments, rather than shackling those that are
currently exempt.
The same situation exists in the debate over same-sex marriage.
Proponents of altering marriage law in the states and at the
federal level claim that prohibitions against gay marriage are
unfair and discriminatory. They claim that equality before the law
demands that their relationships likewise be licensed and
sanctioned by the state.
As with sales taxes, the state should not be enlarged in pursuit of
equality in marriage licensure. Because ;the government has no
business being involved in marriage, the discrimination inherent in
existing marriage law is best remedied by removing it altogether,
or at least reducing the inequality by removing tax credits, estate
planning benefits, and other incentives currently restricted to
heterosexual couples whose unions are licensed by the
state.
Read the rest of the piece
here. … Read More
J.D. Tuccille on the Government’s Fight for Taxes and Against You
Each tax season, says J.D. Tuccille, Managing
Editor of Reason 24/7, as the U.S. federal government’s ongoing
spending spree grows ever-more clearly uncontrollable, politicians’
proposals inevitably turn to collecting taxes owed under the law,
but never paid. Closing the so-called “tax gap” is an easy sell to
the public because it sounds like simple fairness. But the IRS is
already the envy of international tax collectors for its
results.
The chance of the United States government collecting the tax
revenue its official predictions now call for is about zilch. When
government officials don’t get what they want, they tend to
escalate. That has happened with Prohibition, the war on drugs,
efforts to stamp out Internet gambling — and tax enforcement.
Tactics get nastier, and nastier, and — as they don’t achieve the
desired result — turn increasingly abusive.
So, as politicians and talking heads chatter on about closing
the tax gap, keep in mind that they’re talking about waging an
unwinnable but still nasty war — against you. View this article.
… Read More
Americans’ private financial data is sold on to debt collectors
One of the nation’s biggest credit reporting agencies is selling the private financial information of millions of Americans to debt collectors and other financial service companies. Equifax, which maintains a database with the salary and employment records of more than one-third of U.S. adults, is passing on this information to third parties without ever informing the individuals whose information is being distributed, NBC reported.
“It’s the biggest privacy breach in our time, and it’s legal and no one knows it’s going on,” Robert Mather, who runs a small employment background company named Pre-Employ.com told NBC. “It’s like a secret CIA,” he said.
NBC explains how Equifax legally obtains and passes on so much information presumed private:
What are the German Bankers Thinking?
Michael Ash: German bankers can be ruthless bill collectors, wild speculators, social planners and austerity hawks but they seem to ignore the damage they are doing to Europe … Read More
Bene Raia From ‘Market Warriors’ On Vintage Kids Toys And Collectibles
This holiday season, Market Warriors antiques pro (and mom of four kids under 10!) Benedicta “Bene” Raia weighs in on buying vintage gifts for her children, the contemporary toys that they collect, and what she wishes that she had held onto from her own childhood. Raia’s favorite collectibles, and area of expertise, include antique dolls and toys. According to Raia, “Anything that relates to how children lived and played 100 years ago is very interesting for me. I tend to compare those children with mine and I find the similarities amusing and the differences thought-provoking.” Raia adds, “It’s fun for me to see that my kids want to do what mommy does. I love that they are thinking like true collectors.”We interviewed Raia to learn more: Read More…
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Marvel Comics Glass Murder: Erik Jensen Allegedly Stabbed Cousin To Death Over Collectible
A bizarre and tragic scene unfolded on Chicago’s northwest side when a man allegedly stabbed his own cousin to death with a pair of scissors–all over a broken Marvel Comics collector glass. Erik Jensen, 45, who faces first-degree murder charges, reported told police he was “play wrestling” with his cousin, 43-year-old Raymond Ortega, reports the Tribune.The men had been drinking beer at Ortega’s Union Ridge home in the 5400 block of North Natoma Avenue when Ortega allegedly dropped the Marvel Comics collectors glass, shattering it. The Sun-Times reports there was a heated verbal exchange that soon turned physical. Read More…
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