Appreciated this article titled Nonconservative Groups Say IRS Scrutinized Them, Too from NPR today. Although it is troubling that either side of the political spectrum might be targeted, this story is much ado about nothing. Considering that it is the job of the IRS to make sure organizations allowed to avoid paying taxes really deserve to avoid paying those taxes, we should be hoping the IRS does a better job investigating tax dodging corporations and individuals.
(thanks/via: NPR)
Watch The Dream is Now Documentary about the Dream Act. Support the DREAM (sadly a birth date required to sign the petition).
(thanks/via: The Dream is Now)
Oh REALLY?! Memory problems?
(thanks/via: liberalsarecool)
Accusations of bias have flown during both Republican and Democratic administrations. Four days before the 1992 election, for example, Branch Ministries of Binghamton, N.Y. took out full-page advertisements in major newspapers stating that “Bill Clinton is promoting policies that are in rebellion to God’s laws.” The ads were a brazen violation of tax law, which requires 501(c)(3) organizations such as churches to stay out of election politics. Nevertheless, when the IRS moved to revoke the group’s tax status, the church accused the agency of bowing to pressure from the Clinton administration.
During the 2004 presidential campaign, a minister unleashed a diatribe from the pulpit of All Saints Church in Pasadena, Calif., against George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq. After the election, the IRS opened an investigation of the 501(c)(3) church. Although All Saints Church ultimately kept its tax-exempt status, leaders claimed the legal defense cost more than $200,000 and openly wondered whether political influence triggered the investigation.
—IRS targeting the Tea Party: A history of tax agency scandals from Slate Magazine
Funny that conservatives didn’t complain about IRS targeting All Saints Church in Pasadena under Bush (note it was not a diatribe, read text here). In retrospect the church’s criticism of fabricated arguments for invading Iraq was insightful and a public service.
More reporting on this issue, The Real IRS Scandal from TIME:
…the IRS does need to crack down on political groups masquerading as social-welfare organizations. Many of the nonprofit groups who claim 501(c)(4) status either flout tax law or flirt with the murky line between electioneering and issue advocacy, all while using their tax-exempt status to conceal their donors…(source)
More on this issue an article titled The Real IRS Scandal from the Los Angeles Times .
Even al-Qaida gloats about what’s possible under U.S. gun laws. In June 2011, a senior al-Qaida operative, Adam Gadahn, released a video message rallying people to take advantage of opportunities those laws provide.
“America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms,” Gadahn says, explaining that “you can go down to a gun show at the local convention center” and buy a gun without a background check.
Then a faint smile crosses Gadahn’s face. “So what are you waiting for?” he asks. (more)
Who DOES the NRA represent? Clearly senior al-Qaida operative, Adam Gadahn thinks the NRA is doing a great job supporting the al-Qaida cause.
(thank/via: liberalsarecool)
You MUST read this very powerful letter to the editor from Gabrielle Giffords: A Senate in the Gun Lobby’s Grip
Gabby Giffords is a hero for all of us!
(thanks/via: NYTimes.com)
Wow they’ve got some really intelligent (dripping sarcasm here) lawmakers in Tennessee who have found yet another way to take away from the already poor. Considering recent reporting in NY Times:
American students from prosperous backgrounds scored on average 110 points higher on reading tests than disadvantaged students, about the same disparity that exists between the average scores in the United States and Tunisia. It is perhaps the main reason income inequality in the United States is passed down the generations at a much higher rate than in most advanced nations. (source NY Times)
If these lawmakers had read that NY Times article they would have learned that investing in very young children reaps incredible gains.
Research by Mr. Heckman and others confirms that investment in the early education of disadvantaged children pays extremely high returns down the road. It improves not only their cognitive abilities but also crucial behavioral traits like sociability, motivation and self-esteem.
Studies that have followed children through their adult lives confirm enormous payoffs for these investments, whether measured in improved success in college, higher income or even lower incarceration rates.
Which leads one to wonder if Tennessee’s lawmakers are really just shooting themselves in the foot with their efforts to take money away from poor students in their state. Supporting parent education and encouraging parental involvement in education is great but likely the stick won’t work as well as a more progressive approach.
Read more here
Ked President at the White House making an important announcement April 1.
But her heresies are too big for such fig leaves, and they begin with her startling opening line:
It’s not a debt and deficit crisis, it’s a jobs crisis.Say what? The biggest argument in Washington is about which is more urgent, the unemployment problem or the deficit and debt problem. Democrats say it’s unemployment and therefore advocate stimulus, which causes an increase in the deficit (though not necessarily in the long-term debt). Republicans say it’s the deficit/debt and therefore advocate austerity, which causes an increase in unemployment. (To be fair, Republicans are willing to swallow a bit of stimulus as long as it takes the dubious form of lowering taxes on the rich.) (Read more/source)
(thanks/via: New Yorker)
Wealth Inequality in America (by politizane)
Mr. Boehner can you explain again why we cannot address this shameful inequality? Also, would you explain why we should tolerate working citizens living below the poverty level in order to protect wealth from taxes?
You should read every post from Robert Reich. He is knowledgeable, experienced, informed, and just a good read though what he writes might scare you.
Imagine a plot to undermine the government of the United States, to destroy much of its capacity to do the public’s business, and to sow distrust among the population.
Imagine further that the plotters infiltrate Congress and state governments, reshape their districts to give them……
(thanks/via: robertreich)
Funny or Die’s take on sequestration.
(thanks/via: motherjones)
Read more here
Regarding item #4, in this “deficit cutting” environment spending billions of dollars incarcerating law abiding, undocumented persons seems more than silly. Point number 5 often surprises others.
(thanks/via: thenationmagazine)
