"
Subject: [NS2/CNS2] ***California Tax Reform Initiative
California has a ballot initiative which would overrule the disastrous Proposition 13, which has made it impossible for the bankrupt state to raise taxes, and replace unpopular and counterproductive income and sales taxes with a tax on the rental value of land - i.e. a Georgist Land Tax. If passed, this proposition will restore California to its place as one of the most progressive and prosperous jurisdictions on the planet.
Thanks to Frank dejong:
A proposed ballot measure which overhauls Californias existing system for raising public revenue has been submitted to the Attorney Generals office for the required review & fiscal analysis.
The reform proposal exempts the first $150,000 of each persons annual income from the states personal income tax and reduces the maximum PIT rate from the current 10.3% to 8%. The proposed measure also abolishes Californias sales tax which is a minimum of 9.75% in Los Angeles County and 9.5% in San Francisco (the rate varies throughout the state due to local surtaxes) as well as the state tax on corporate profits. Taxes on motor fuel, alcohol and tobacco products will not be effected.
The major source of state & local public revenue if the reform is approved will be a tax on the rental value of Californias land. The rental value of Improvements / buildings will not be taxed.
If approved by voters, all existing provisions of Article 13 of the state constitution (the tax article) will be revoked effective July 1, 2011, the first day of Californias 2011-2012 fiscal year, and will be replaced by the new provisions set forth in the Comprehensive Tax Reform Initiative.
Article 13A, added by Proposition 13 in the late 1970s, will be abrogated in its entirety.
The text of the initiative can be viewed on the website of the California Attorney Generals office. A link to the initiative at that site is provided immediately below:
htap://ag.ca.gov/cms_attachments/initiatives/pdfs/i848_initiative_09-0051.pdf
--Frank D. Walker
--Robert Wagner
Vermont
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
May you be right!
However, at this point it may only be proposed and still need to collect millions of signatures. May it succeed.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Concerning the Nobelist Analyzes Commons vs. Tragedy article:
Jeff, you ought to read Dan Daggets "Gardeners in Eden." You dont pay people to reduce their footprint. The human footprint by this new paradigm is necessary. Humans are a keystone species in many, if not most ecosystems. They need human use and activity. So if the market isnt handling it alone, you pay someone to thin the forest, or whatever. Just a thought.
--The Agrarian
Utah
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Hi, Agrarian, and thanks for the suggestion. Sounds like an interesting book. I find myself in a minority in liking both free and responsible exchange (the market) and people doing productive acts for reasons other than money, like love for nature or order or humanity or whatever. Of course these acts would be non-coerced, voluntary (call it citizenship? patriotism? matriotism?). Wouldn't it be cool to see a CEO of a New York brokerage house sweep up litter in front of their skyscraper just because he felt proud of what his firm had wrought?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Concerning the Marijuana is Safer Than Alcohol article:
i believe that the only reason marijuana is blieved to be harmful to humans is because of the historical baggage it carries, such as hippies getting high, or teenagers getting high and becoming reckless and rebellious. Ultimately, its people who have given cannabis a bad reputation.
--michelle
California
Monday October 19, 2009
Concerning the Gandhi's Life, Part One article:
That was a great biography, the best I read. Thank You because you helped me on my History progect that was due today and I'm doing it right now. He gave me another day because he saud he wasn't going to look at it until tomorrow. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!
--annonomys
Monday, October 19, 2009
Concerning the Capitalism: a brilliantly confused story article:
"None of this explanation appears in the film “Capitalism,” and if it did, we would see clearly how empty, how meaningless, how deceptive, how confusing, and what a tragedy it has been to use the term “capitalism” as if it meant or explained anything. A “love story”? The meaning is ironic, but confusion goes way beyond irony, as policy folly has not only caused human misery but is now catapulting the global economy into yet another boom and bust sequence that, because bailouts will no longer be possible for tapped-out governments, could really end in the collapse of civilization."
Fred; I really do appreciate your review and I think you aught to share it with Michael Moore on his blog.
htap://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-in-the-news/corporate-america-fighting-back
Capitalism is not free enterprize any more than Socialism is.
A mixed monopoly economy is not free enterprise.
It is also confusing to call money and credit "capital," so the current term capitalism must apply mostly to "financial capitalism."
Today the defenition of "Capitalism" must be the ownership amd managment of the nations and the worlds monetery and banking system and money supply.
So, once the term "Capitalism" is fully understood, the criticism of capitalism in the movie is valid.
To me capitalism is not free enterprize it is rent seeking or perhaps socialism for the rich.
--Warren C.
Massachusetts
Monday, October 19, 2009
Concerning the Montana Voters Oppose Cyanide Poison in Mining article:
I would like to know when this report on Montana was written. I can not find a date. I now live in Guatemala and it appears that a Canadian gold mining company is planning on opening here and we are looking for ways to stop it.
Thank you
--Katherine Sanchez
Monday, October 19, 2009
Concerning the Capitalism: a brilliantly confused story article:
I think rent and land value are indeed taxed - perhaps you mean they are not taxed enough? Or that rent and value vary due to the demand made on them - so how do you decide how to tax?
--Michael P
Switzerland
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
You're right: not taxed enough.
Actually, we could forget about taxing and concentrate on what's already commonwealth, what's already social surplus, which is "rent" or all the money we spend on the nature we use. To recover and share that, we might use taxes but could also use leases or dues or fees or whatever. The key is not so much how to collect but what to collect. Let's collect what's already ours, the socially-generated values of land, resources, and government-granted privileges (like corporate charters, banking charters, etc). Then disburse the lion's share as dividends to citizens. Call it geonomics.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Concerning the Capitalism: a brilliantly confused story article:
See the pyramid scheme symbol on the back of the USA one dollar bill? See the servitude infestation in capitalism? And the "pay up or lose your wellbeing" Chicago mob-like felony extortion widespread within capitalism? the "join or starve" felony extortion done to the 18 year olds? See how forcing competers religions kills membership in the cooperators church (Christianity/socialism)? AmWay (American Way) (New World Order) got "the exclusive" (legal tender) on the TYPE of survival coupons (money) accepted in supply depots (stores). (It puts AmWay-coupon slaving requirements called price tags on all the survival goods).
Us American Christian socialists are still patiently awaiting the natural fall of the pyramid-o-servitude, or the busting of the "free marketeers" felony... by the USA Dept of Justice. Us Christians are VERY CLOSE to issuing a cease and desist order until the servitude and inequality goes away... which means it turns into a commune. Commune is a word we LOVE when used in the word "community"... but its one the caps hate when used in the term "commune-ism".
Do a Google IMAGE SEARCH for pyramid of capitalist to see a full color picture made way back in 1911, when capitalism was first discovered to be a con/sham instigated by the Free Masons/Illuminati. Folks sure bought into the thing... hook, line, and sinker just the same. The caps didnt even check if a string was attached! Now THATS easy fishing, eh?
Time to level the felony pyramid scheme called capitalism. Abolish economies and ownershipism worldwide, and hurry. Economies just cause rat-racing, and rat-racing causes felony pyramiding. BUST IT, America! Look to the USA military supply/survival system... (and the USA public library system) for socialism and morals done right. Equal, owner-less, money-less, bill-less, timecard-less, and concerned with growth of value-criteria OTHER THAN money-value. Quit doing monetary discrimination immediately, and make it illegal. There are MANY measurement criteria of "value"... not just dollars. Try morals, efficiency, discrimination-levels, repairability, etc etc. Economies are cancerous tumors, and to cheer for their growth... is just insane. Profiting causes inflation, so if caps LIKE inflation, and if they LIKE a terrible time in afterlife when they meet the planets ORIGINAL OWNER before caps tried to squat it all with ownershipism, then keep it up with the felony pyramiding. I dare you. While us Christians are finally bulldozing that pyramid scheme back to level, lets make servitude and "join or starve" (get a job or die) illegal in the USA, and lets level the architecture seen in USA courtrooms, too. Right now, USA courtrooms are church simulators or "fear chambers", by special design. Sick.
Isnt that back-of-the-dollar pyramid... a Columbian freemason symbol? And WHERE is the USA gov located? District of Columbia? (Not even part of the USA!). How much more blatant can ya get? The "Fed" runs a pyramid scheme called the free marketeers. If youre using the "federal reserve note" certificates, or using no-other-living-thing-on-the-planet entitles of ownership, youre bought into a servitude/slavery con/sham... called capitalism. Pyramiding 101.
Larry "Wingnut" Wendlandt
MaStars - Mothers Against Stuff That Aint Right
(anti-capitalism-ists)
Bessemer MI USA
--Wingnut
Michigan USA
Monday, October 19, 2009
Concerning the Capitalism: a brilliantly confused story article:
"Capitalism" is really a disease and the chief symptom of that disease is an inordinate Love of Money and RENT seeking.
"We can see more clearly what is going on if we use this definition for “capitalism”: Capitalism is the control of government by the big landed interests and their financial-capitalist partners in order to obtain subsidies and other privileges."
"But even more importantly, the term “capital” masks the underlying and more fundamental interest that receives governmental privileges: real estate, and more specifically, the big landowners."
"The main purpose of government is to serve the big landed interests."
....and the bankers that supply them with "financial capital."
--Warren C.
MA
Monday October 19, 2009
Concerning the Gandhi's Life, Part One article:
that gandhi rocks
--lalocura
Monday, October 19, 2009
Concerning the Libertarian Socialism -- A Contradiction, or a Plausible Principle? article:
a perfect system...
--Kelly
Saturday October 17, 2009
Concerning the New Consumer Debt Statistics article:
Yes! The answers are in my book A Life Preserver in a Sea of Debt: How to acquire a new mindset to transition from overspending to permanent financial stability. Visit www.alifepreserverinaseaofdebt.com
Also: Experts tell us the American economy will never be the same again, that we need a change, but they don't tell us how to make the change. My book tells America how to change.
My question to you is: How much are Americans paying in interest for revolving credit card debt for the most recent year? Back in 2001, it was above $2 billion dollars.
--Judy Guralchuk
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
The ABA (bankers) website used to offer an answer and may still.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Concerning the The Pure Free Market article:
"The government as well as the various levels of community associations would appoint members of land-value assessment boards."
--
Indeed:
The valuation of land is one of the most fundamental activities in economic practice, and is subject to strict and unvarying laws. It is peculiarly-and exclusively a governmental or communal function.The interpretation of the taxation of land values by some exponents gives the impression that it is to be the taxation of the highest bids or offers. They believe that these offers represent the actual values of land, and they propose not only to use them as the basis of taxation, but suggest that they should continue to be the amounts payable as rent. They contend that any other method of fixing values and rents is Socialism in a reprehensible sense of the word, and an interference with the liberty of individuals.
HENRY GEORGE was afraid of corruption, if the State should do anything more than take the valueby means of a tax. He said it was not "necessary that the State should bother with the letting of lands, and assume the chances of favouritism, collusion and corruption that might involve. It is not necessary that any new machinery should be created. The machinery already exists. Instead of extending it, all we have to do is to simplify and reduce it. By leaving to landowners a percentage of rent, which would probably be much less than the cost and loss involved in attempting to rent lands through State agency, and by making use of this existing machinery, we may, without jar or shock, assert the common right to land by taking rent for public purposes."( Progressand Poverty, Bk. VIII, chap. ii.)
Whether corruption was unusually prevalent among officials in the United States, or whether Henry George had not fully considered the practical application of his principle, this emphatic statement is out of harmony with the requirements of that principle itself, and with the results of experience. He modifies this statement in a later work, and leaves the question open: "Whether or no," he says, "this would prove finally the best way of obtaining for the community the full return which belongs to it is hardly at this stage worth discussing." (Social Problems, chap. xix.)
If the value of land belongs to the community, the management of this value also belongs to it. The taxation of land values carries with it a Government valuation of land. The Government valuation evokes the active interest and criticism of the landowners. Their activity opens the doors and invites or necessitates the interest of all other partiesto produce an all-round, representative valuation. No one can say when the machinery for this purpose will be full-grown. When local men have their voice in valuing local land, the valuation will really express "the general sense of fair play and justice." And before this valuation all others will disappear.
John Orr, "Taxation of Land Values"
htap://www.cooperativeindividualism.org/orr-john_taxation-of-land-values-1.html
--Gilbert De Bruycker
Friday, October 16, 2009
Concerning the Gates on Wealth Redistribution article:
Maybe this is why Rockefeller likes the idea of Globalization (a one-world-government) and why Obummer is of the same ilk.
--stevor
Friday, October 16, 2009
Concerning the Abolish the Presidency article:
I disagree with Mr. Foldvary on almost every topic on which I have seen him write, except this one. While my ideas are not exactly synonymous with his, he is on the right track here.
We should abolish the presidency, but we should not replace it with an executive elected by Congress, regardless of how Congress is elected. The executive branch should consist of a six-member secretariat for each Cabinet-level department, and each member of the secretariats should be hired to serve for six years. A Citizens Board of Nomination and Removal should nominate ten persons for each secretariat, and a Citizens Confirmation Panel would then elect six of the ten nominees to serve on each.
To coordinate the efforts of the various departments, each year one of the members of each secretariat should be selected at random as the delegate from that department in the Cabinet (although in the final year, it would automatically fall on the member who had not yet served in the Cabinet).
Most of the powers now vested in the president would instead be placed in the Cabinet. However, the Cabinet should have no power to nominate judges, veto legislation, and should not directly control the military.
Nominations of federal judges would also originate from the Citizens Board of Nominations and Removal, and then be confirmed by the Citizens Confirmation Panel. Further, federal judges should not serve for life, but instead for eleven years.
The Secretariat of the Department of Defense would act as supreme decision-making body for the military during times of peace. To prepare for the contingency of war, however, that same secretariat would nominate at least ten persons for the position of War Chief. The Citizens Board of Nominations and Removal would then rank them by an IRV vote, eliminating all but the top five. The Citizens Confirmation Panel would then rank those five by another IRV vote. The War Chief would be the top ranked person in that group, but would only take command if Congress should declare war.
I also think that we should alter the role of the Senate, change the way we elect both the House and the Senate, limit all elected, selected, and appointed governmental officials to one consecutive term in ANY office, requiring at least three years outside of government before serving again in any capacity, and further limiting terms of service to not more than eleven years in any twenty-five year period...but these are not directly related to the article, so I will not delve any further into them.
--Scott Trimble
Thursday October 15, 2009
Concerning the Gandhi's Life, Part Fifteen article:
I think it was awsome to know about gandhi the reaport was out of this world
--Luis
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Concerning the f37 article:
i just love your information it tells me so much ;)
--gabby
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Concerning the Financial Coup d’Etat? article:
Financial Coup d’Etat?
That is is what Rep. Marcy Kaptur called it in Michael Moores new movie Capitaliasm; A love Story.
Go see it.
--Warren C.
Massachusetts
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Concerning the Peter Maurins Easy Essay article:
restates the Gospel message better than any sermon or evangelist and does it in a few words... Every homilist and politician should be this succint
--Chris Caver
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary: Letters of Marque and Reprisal article:
Question
Can a member of Congress issue a letter of Marque and Reprisal to a private citizen without the Presidents approval?
Are these private citizens considered mercenaries?
Can Congress issue the Letter to our military allowing them to attack without the Presidents approval? if so, are the powers of the President as the Commander-in-Chief limited?
--Erik
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
why should self-ownership not apply to land? Gilbert De Bruycker
Self-ownership applies to the possession of land by the first claimer, but the ownership of the rent is not necessary for the application of labor to land, so equality then prevails for the rent.
--Fred Foldvary
California
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Concerning the Corporate Corruption Killing America article:
You make excellent and valid points. But just how can we overcome this two-party screw-fest? Twice in my voting life of 35 years have I voted FOR someone rather than AGAINST someone else. Frankly, Im sick of it! Like most anyone else, I have been afraid to vote outside the box because the chances that your vote is simply thrown away is too great. Chances are that someone who is a member of one of the two large parties will win. Not at least voting against the worse of the two, will make it more likely that the worse one will win. How can we break this cycle?
--Dr. Glenn E. Boley
Virginia
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Consider joining or forming a caucus in one of the major parties. The Democratic Freedom Caucus advances many of the same values found in these pages.
Tuesday October 13, 2009
Concerning the Government Fails to Realize Basic Economic Facts article:
When are we ever going to learn? Legalize and tax everything (worldwide, preferably) and put the non-taxpaying criminal out of business! Enough already with wasted money, time and lives when the solution is so simple!
--Dr. Glenn E. Boley
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Concerning the How Schools Get Money article:
I have a situation such as this one. My daughters school hasnt the funds for several of the activities in wants the students to participate in. We parents are then "asked" to sell products to family members, friends, and co-workers. this puts much pressure on the parents who should be doing other things. I wonder where the funds are for such activities.
Veronica Apav
--veronica Apav
USA,Texas
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Concerning the The Pure Free Market article:
1/ Jeffery Smith asked: "Would they (talents, health, beauty) fall under self-ownership?"
Yes they would. But since land is also a creation of nature, why should self-ownership not apply to land?
2/ Concerning the the universal ethic, I would like to draw your attention to a few excerpts from EVOLUTION AND ETHICS, a book written by Sir Arthur Keith:
If mankind existed for the sole purpose of producing knowledge or wealth and prosperity, then clearly Universalism is a most desirable goal to aim at. But nations exist for another and less material purpose; they are subject to the compelling law of evolution.
Nations are units which the law of evolution has brought into being to fulfill an evolutionary purpose.
Isolation and inbreeding are the chief factors in the production of special peoples or races.
Until the introduction of civilization some 8,000 to 10,000years ago, man lived throughout the world in small, isolated communities or tribes, each under the dual evolutionary code. Its "home affairs" were under the control of the ethical code, observing the Ten Commandments, encouraging co-operation, friendliness, and sympathy. Its "foreign affairs" were in the hands of the cosmical code, taking every measure and employing physical force, if necessary, to ensure tribal independence, integrity, and continuance, reversing the commandments relating to killing, stealing, and lying when such conduct was advantageous for tribal welfare.
If we desire all national and racial frontiers to be broken down, and humanity to be united into one vast world state, then we shall count the submergence of one people in another as beneficial or good; but if we desire a world studded with free and independent nations, engaged in friendly and peaceful rivalry, then we shall regard the interminglings of peoples, whether by conquest or by peaceful penetration, as prejudicial or evil.
I hold that, if mankind is to be vigorous in mind and progressive in spirit, its division into nation and races must be maintained!
--Gilbert De Bruycker
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
1/ Jeffery Smith asked: "Would they (talents, health, beauty) fall under self-ownership?"
GDB: Yes they would. But since land is also a creation of nature, why should self-ownership not apply to land?
JJS: Because all crows are birds but not all birds are crows.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
I keep searching these cites and find nowhere to purchase this hand book. can you help me? --Lee Gollihugh
If you mean Lysander Spooners book "An Essay on the Trial by Jury", you may read it at htap://www.barefootsworld.net/trial01.html
--Fred Foldvary
California
Monday, October 12, 2009
Concerning the The Pure Free Market article:
"The universal ethic recognizes the equal self-ownership of all persons. Each person thus fully owns and has a natural right to his labor, wages, and products of labor. But self-ownership does not apply to land, which is a creation of nature."
However, talents, health, beauty may all be said to be a creation of nature, but obviously they are properties of individuals, not of society.
--Gilbert De Bruycker
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Would they fall under self-ownership?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Concerning the The Pure Free Market article:
Well done, Fred, you get to the heart of the matter when you write:
"Freedom is an absence of restrictions,... the relevant restrictions would be based on ethics.... requires a universal ethic as an expression of natural moral law.... values originate in the minds of persons.... so it is only ignorance that prevents humanity from achieving universal bliss."
President John Adams wrote, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Edmund Burke stated, "What is liberty without virtue?... Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites.... Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without."
Former Speaker of the House Robert Winthrop stated, "Men, in a word, must be controlled either by a power within them, or a power without them;..."
Now is the time to manifest our true potential for the blessings of liberty to everyone from the inside out. Such a simple deal, when you break the bonds of ignorance and grasp the concept of what we are all about.
--Nus
FL
Monday, October 12, 2009
Concerning the Marijuana is Safer Than Alcohol article:
This is so true. I strongly belive that marijuana is safer then alcohol and this just proves it. Marijuana is from our earth rather then alcohol that is made by man. its only common sense.
--joanna villanueva
california
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary: Economic Forecast, 2004-2010 article:
Fred,
Although this report was made 5 years ago, it has given me great light on the dark side of this current Economic situation. Many of these things are coming to pass as if they were prepared in orderly fashion. I know whats coming, although little do, and Im preparing, although most are not.
A depression is coming, and weve been warned.
Thank you.
--Levi Strauss
Virginia
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Concerning the MPs propose an army of peace professionals article:
Some additional comments:
We the people with sane thoughts and actions have the power to prevent the birth of an enemy.
Also, I am reminded of the cartoon character Pogo declaring "We have found the enemy, and it is us".
Implementing Geonomics is a sure way of loving neighbor as self by sharing the commons of creation.
No need for theft of the fruits of individual efforts, since the unbounded resources of nature are virtually free for all to enjoy.
Everywhere I travel and discuss matters of concern, I find folks very receptive to Henry George and Progress and Poverty and Geonomy. It just takes one key word in conversation to open the door to presenting truth that sets us free.
--Nus
FL
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Concerning the Parallels Between Iraq War and Vietnam War Are Piling Up article:
I suggest that we just pull the troops out and bring them home. Also, admit that Bush was wrong.
--Mary McLaughlin
South Carolina
Friday, October 9, 2009
Concerning the Penguins and Global Warming article:
I wonder; how many school children, who obviously are interested in this issue, will run right home from school and tell their parents to suport a green tax shift to save the penguins?
--Warren C.
Massachusetts
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Hah! Good one. But how many would run right home and tell their parents to support a green _subsidy_ shift?
Friday, October 9, 2009
Concerning the Can one article:
Hello! My name is Lyazzat. Please send me your e-mail. I would like to send to you message from me. I am from Kazakhstan. I will be waite.
--Lyazzat
Kazakhstan
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Concerning the f22fij article:
I keep searching these cites and find nowhere
to purchase this hand book. can you help me?
Lee
--Lee Gollihugh
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Concerning the MPs propose an army of peace professionals article:
Benjamin Rush, a Founder of the American Republic proposed a Peace Department for the first U.S. cabinet under George Washington. A recent proposal by Dennis Kucinich was first introduced in Congress 2 months before 9.11.01. Check out Wikipedia for more info on history and details of Department of Peace. Quantum Physicist John Hagelin has presented much info on the spiritual and mental aspects on the matter and how it relates to perfect government. The late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi advocated techniques for consciousness enlightenment to tap into the unified field of all the laws of nature. Only by realizing who we are and what we are here for, will we be able to experience the original intent of Genesis Chapter 1 of being made in the image of the Creator thereby bringing peace on earth and good will to all humankind. The spiritual and mental awareness must precede the material and physical manifestation for collective benefit (even though everything is connected - universe means one verse).
--Nus
FL
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Concerning the Ignorance, Apathy, Greed article:
I think this article is very accurate. I worked for a govermential agency as a paramedic for 9+ years and was injured on the job. I fallowed protocal and reportd my injury. I was harrased and had a long legal battle.I warned by other employees about the hazzards of going up against he goverment and doing the right thing. They were right. No one was willing to stand up to them, not even my union. and i lost my job and am still disabled and have yet to have my injury resolved. You have to have prople stand up. The other employees that had been injured were all in agreement with me behind closed doors as to how i was being treated was the same way they had been treated; however no one was willing to stand up and rist there job and felt they all felt it was useless to fight for something they were not able to win.
--Michell Brannan
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Concerning the MPs propose an army of peace professionals article:
I like the idea of peace professionals. There might be insights that could prevent violence. People could also train in non violent techniques.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Concerning the Penguins and Global Warming article:
i think its stupid that people can be so selfish to kill animals its pissing me off
--hayleigh rackley
ca
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
ALL in agreement that the American dollar has been de-stabilized to the point that nobody wants it. --myra texas
I want American dollars. If you have some to give away, let me know.
--Fred Foldvary
California
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Concerning the Iran Switch to Euros? Inconsequential! article:
Fred Foldvary did not read the article in the London Times about the consensus amongst oil producers, and also their customers such as, oh I dont know, CHINA, who are ALL in agreement that the American dollar has been de-stabilized to the point that nobody wants it.
--myra
texas
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Hmm. They sure buy a lot of T-bills -- which only pay interest in dollars.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Concerning the Saving the Penguins article:
Are the any non profit organizations that support this?
--bob mcdylan
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Concerning the f34 article:
like
--saji147
Wednesday October 7, 2009
Concerning the Gandhi's Life, Part One article:
very good, but will you sort out like one page is early life and so on?
--Carlson Chan
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Concerning the Foldvarys Economics Quiz article:
this is the good method of ceck yourself knowledge.
--wazir
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Concerning the Land Crisis in India article:
This is a sad story. My field research in Bihar in 1956-57 provides useful background to the story. See Agrarian Crisis in India: The Case of Bihar (my book on the subject): F. Tomasson Jannuzi, Professor Emeritus of Economics and Asian Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
--F. Tomasson Jannuzi
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Concerning the f31 article:
What about constructing the hardor first to provide logistical support and this will also help with growth and development... With a adequate sized Harbor to support large ships such as (ship cruise and other vessel in need of logistical support)...
Wind power should be the main power source, with that in place you can eliminate or reduce power cast for small/large business willing to invest, several power source can be used to assist in cast saving to entice investors...
--Nick Blake
Tuesday October 6, 2009
Concerning the Gandhi's Life, Part One article:
ok!not too good, but nice.wtite it in some different way. its too old fashion.
--prince
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Concerning the f31 article:
Am a Montserratian returning home also planning on investing in my country in the near future, but it quit difficult when the goverment make it quit impossible for small investors like myself, (NO Incentives on the goverment behalf for small or large investors..
--Nick Blake
Monday, October 5, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary on Concealed Weapons article:
I commend Mr.Foldvary for his views on this issue.He has proven his ability to act in the benificial side of the people of the United States.We need more represenitives like him,especially in the White HOUSE.
--John Montini
Monday, October 5, 2009
Concerning the Is Jury Duty Involuntary Servitude? article:
Maybe you need to look at the jury management in the California court system. Being a jury commissioner in Ohio for the past 29 years (Columbus) we dont seem to have the problems you speak of in your article, we do have a very small percentage of the eligible population (3.5% +/- 2.0%) that don't show up but we find that they normally have valid reasons, moved out of the county/state etc.I believe California is still running a one day/one trial program that has now changed into 5 days on call? Seems pretty hard to schedule around 5 days on call and do they still allow people to be excused for reasons like loss of income, child care, etc? In Ohio we do so I believe working with the public (flexible reporting times, etc) works better that using the talisman selection and just an FYI, our demographic representation is well within NCSC disparity of 10 - 12%. Just a thought.
--T. Shields
Monday October 5, 2009
Concerning the Gandhi's Life, Part Fifteen article:
very good
--???
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Concerning the Support This Bill article:
With our state of affairs I think its critical for Every business that sells genetically engineered products (and products containing such), including roadside farm stands to be Clearly Labeled Immediately. There was nothing wrong with the food nature provided before science had to alter it. If the bugs dont want to eat it, why should we? We have to ask why we have more incidents of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease then other industrialized nation. We have to ask if genetically altered food can have a negative impact on our DNA over a couple short decades while making us more vulnerable to disease. For those of us who care and await answers, the option to refrain from genetically engineered food should exist. When the FDA and DOA drag their feet while food industry lobbyists have grown in power and size, we all suffer in ignorance.
--Rebecca Stacknow
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Concerning the Starting Another Year of War in Afghanistan article:
The US policy in Afghanistan is like someone mopping a floor with muddy boots on.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Concerning the Immigrants Human Rights Will Be Respected article:
Well belief it or not there are still people in this 21ST CENTURY who have had everything, thats why they dont understand the value of hard workers, but as hard we work and contribute to this society we may the same we should be honor with the universal human rights (ECONOMIC) as well as any other human been. thank you
--Froy
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Concerning the Corporate Corruption Killing America article:
Private health insurance will be trying not to pay out just as any insurance firm does. You dont need the hassle when you are sick.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Thursday October 1, 2009
Concerning the Gandhi's Life, Part Two article:
thank 4 for providing this most expencive knowledge. i am so charmed to this
please give much addition about gandhi's brother
--roshan sharma
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Concerning the Corporate Corruption Killing America article:
"Make no mistake: Corporate corruption is a true bipartisan effort, perhaps the most bipartisan enterprise.
Obama is no more of a real reformer than any Republican. That so many on the far right think he is a socialist is laughable. He is nothing more than a defender of the corporate-owned two-party plutocracy. To see anything else is pure delusion. The US is being flushed away."
*A populist Second American Revolution is the only way to save the nation. It will not come from the efforts of anyone that is a Democrat or Republican.*
Wake up America! Voting for Democrats or Republicans just perpetuates this corrupt system. They fiddled while Rome burned; we borrow while America sinks. "
Perhaps after everyone sees Michael Moors new Movie, Capitalism: A Love Story this weekend, Oct 2, 2009 the revolution will finally begin.
--Warren C.
Massachusetts
Wednesday September 30, 2009
Concerning the Congressman Criticizes US Corporate Welfare Giveaways article:
Public Option Health Care Please
--Cindy Martin
Wednesday September 30, 2009
Concerning the currency article:
Our local currency system has closed down. Unemployed people are deterred from participating because the UK benefit system (welfare) treats local money like national money and will claw back local money earnings by deducting national money from benefits. Therefore a system that might have helped unemployed people cope and find work is excludes them due to punitive rules.
--Diana E Forrest
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Concerning the Obama pushes to end fossil fuel subsidies and nuclear arms article:
If Obama wants rid of nuclear weapons he can find some nearer than Iran.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
The publisher replies --
Excellent remark! That is the kind of thing that a Quaker would say. It gently breaks through all the rhetoric.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Concerning the Foldvarys Economics Quiz article:
Its a good practice for economics subject
--Macoy Aguinaldo
Monday September 28, 2009
Concerning the Asset Tax Idea article:
Asset taxation is the most egregious of all taxation.
There are many situations where a person has assets but no income. Is he supposed to make a forced liquidation to satisfy the tax? For example, sell his property in at a fire sale price to satisfy what is, in effect, government confiscation of his property? A terrible idea. Taxes should be based on income streams, or consumption, not assets.
--John
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Or be abolished. If taxes are kept around, let's use them only to make polluters pay for pollution, extractors pay for extraction, and excluders pay for exclusive use of location. People who pollute, extract, and exclude generally are the wealthiest among us. So ability to pay is not an issue. For the rare case when a user of a location has trouble paying, there's always the Citizens Dividend and if that's not enough, deferment until the location sells. That's what most states in the US already do.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Concerning the End the First War of the 21st Century! article:
TRUE, I KNOW OBAMA DOESNT WANT TO RETIRE TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN AND EVEN IF HE WANTED HE WOULDNT DO IT FOR THE HIDDEN PEOPLE BEHIND HIM WHO FINANCED HIS CAMPAIGN AND PLANNED TO TAKE HIM TO PRESIDENCY, SO LETS FACE IT, ALL THIS STUFF IS NOT A MISTAKE BUT A VERY CAREFULLY DESIGNED PLAN TO DOMINATE MORE THE MIDDLE EAST.
--Javier
El Salvador
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
please user lower case letters. thanks.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Concerning the Gasolines True Cost article:
What about replacement cost, health costs due to the burning of gasoline and the amount of water it costs to manufacture gasoline? The cost is much higher!!!
--Brian Bartel
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Hear, hear!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
...what data is there to support the Laffer curve at the highest incomes? --Nathaniel Foote, California
The U.S. luxury tax on yachts during the 1990s greatly reduced their production, and it was repealed.
--Fred Foldvary
California
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
That tax cost my brother, just a guy working in a marina, his job!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
If you have the answers to those questions [rising sea levels], you can save the planet. Regards, --Amadeus Romer, Australia
We do have the answer: a green tax shift: pollution taxes and land-value levies that replace punitive taxation.
--Fred Foldvary
California
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Concerning the Suicidal Seeds article:
I heard something scary. That the government is trying to make it illegal to use germinating seeds. However, I have been unable to find proof of this rumor. I am not a farmer, but I still hope to God that this is just a rumor.
--Zach
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
Global warming.
The world leaders are full of rhetoric regarding the problem of global warming.
Some scientists say that no matter what we do today, it will be too little, too late; because we have reached the point of no return.
Many islands are slowly drowning because of the sea level rising. The questions I have for the politicians are as follows:
1-How do we stop the polar ice melting?
2-How do we stop the permafrost melting?
3-How do we stop the glaciers melting?
4-How do we stop Greenland melting?
If you have the answers to those questions, you can save the planet.
Regards,
Amadeus Romer
--Amadeus Romer
Australia
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Concerning the Government Debt -- Who Will Pay? article:
The Global Resource Bank at www.grb.net settles the worlds public debt
--John Pozzi
florida
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary: Photo-Enforced Traffic Fines article:
I think that cops need to look out for speeders and red light drivers not Photo-Enforced lights beacuse tax payers money gos to the cops to do there job!!!!!
--Anthony
usa
Saturday September 26, 2009
Concerning the currency article:
It is still Money just Limited to who accepts It...
--Buffalo Pete
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Concerning the Government Debt -- Who Will Pay? article:
"Very high taxes on the wealthy will reduce output, employment, and investment, and thus erode the tax base. Excessive taxation becomes self-defeating, as the deadweight loss exceeds the tax revenue. "
At some point of course the Laffer curve actually curves as he says it does. But its really a function of how much rent is being collected versas production threatened. Collection of rent doesnt hurt production at all, and the highest incomes are the densist percent of rent. So my question is what data is there to support the Laffer curve at the highest incomes?
--Nathaniel Foote
California
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Concerning the New FBI data suggest arresting druggies a waste article:
I think either an addiction or a conviction could ruin a life. But in the UK marijuana is easily obtainable. I do not think it could be banned in practice without spending a ridiculous amount of money and making the lives of both users and non users miserable. Lets legalise at least marijuana and divert the money to helping people get off it and other drugs. As for medical marijuana, why not? Doctors can prescribe heroin.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
So sensible! And so rare!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Concerning the Saving the Penguins article:
i think that we should do something about this and that we should protect them no matter what anyone says about them.
--ashleigh paige
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
Concerning the Who Owns the Oceans? article:
i want to own part of the ocean to make a floating platform for classify projects. i think if the world gives me some of the oceans i can make this world a better place for some of us. --brayan
Senior Editor Fred Foldvary replies--
See http://seasteading.org/
--Fred Foldvary
California
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Concerning the The Minuteman Project article:
where are the real minutemen, I want to join the civilian volunteer "army" to assist in resistance of the tyranny of our present government, the socialist marxist.,Thats what the minutemen are needed for NOW. ps I am not an old white man and if I were so what?
--g turner
The publisher replies --
You are a little bit late. The Bush administration left office several months ago. Part of its legacy -- much high government spending, much more paternalistic government, less freedom -- will take years to repair.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
Concerning the The Natural Laws of Economics article: What are the laws of economics based on? --Gisele
Senior Editor Fred Foldvary replies --
The laws of economics are based on human nature, physical reality, and deductive reasoning.
--Fred Foldvary
California
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary on Justice for the Native American Indian article:
Can I join their new nation? PLEASE??
--Suzy America
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Concerning the Incomes of young in 8-year nose dive article:
The falling income of young people explains a recent trend - retro gear and tribute bands. The last rich generation are hanging on to their youth.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Concerning the The Case against Literary (and Software) Patents article:
One problem with patents is that they are published, and also require a fee to be kept live. A manufacturer may refuse to buy a patent, wait for the inventor to go broke and default on the fee, and then get the invention for nothing.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Sort of, but not always. It could still very easily end up in court. The patent is not the property but one proof of originality. There are other proofs. Also, most inventors make lousy business people and need such a partner; generally there's far more than just one manufacture with an interest in the new idea. Finally, often a better protection than a patent is just to be first and hog market share and become a household name. Like the article said, usually the patent is like a flag on the field of knowledge that excludes latecomers, letting those who can afford to stockpile patents to monopolize the field. That's not good for inventors or society.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Concerning the Saving the Penguins article:
i think that the peguins need help finding food and shelter so they can survive.
--sarah dawkins
Monday, September 21, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
A Global Climate Crisis is when weather and climate conditions cause long-term changes to our environment, worldwide droughts, flooding, food supply shortages, and when these climate changes have an effect on the overall life for every person on this planet, and effect future generations. NY Times 9/13/2009. Mexico is enduring its worst drought in six decades. Crops are drying up in the fields and water is being rationed in the capitol. 40% of the farmland has been affected by the drought per government inspectors. Guatemala declared "a state of calamity" last week because the drought has caused large crop damages.
Most people and businesses particularly in foreign countries expect the United States of America to take leadership roles in such global crises. Unfortunately, the U.S. economy is driven by maximizing profits, with total disregard to any consequences whatsoever to the point of an economic depression and of bankrupting this country just like in the Great Depression in the 1930s. There is no long range business or economic planning, and owners of companies and stockholders are willing to sell out and take the money and run to other countries. The USA had been known a long time ago for being a country where capitalism and public investments into the economy was the land of freedom and of opportunities, and was an example to the rest of the world of how a free-market economic system functioned. But this is now long gone.
Obviously it is necessary to seek the most beneficial solutions for Global Climate Changes and for an abundance of inexpensive future energy supply that remain untouchable or that is immune to speculative investors and high profit manipulators, such as Enron. For additional information about Global Climate Change and Energy Research, please see: www.MZ-Energy.com ...
When fully implemented, Body Cell Regeneration Process can be considered one of the greatest human achievements ever conducted. The most valuable research ever conducted would be the development and production of abundant new global energy. My research of Hydrogen Energy and Hydrogen Energy Regeneration for most applications can replace depleting fossil fuel. The oceans contain 11% hydrogen, and with the combination of a hydrogen energy regeneration process, the world population would have sufficient energy supplies for several centuries. I have requested federal funding for fossil fuel regeneration and other noteworthy energy projects for many years, without success. For more details please see my website: www.MZ-Energy.com.
Manfred Zysk
1655 S. Elm Street, #5
Canby, Oregon 97013
E-mail: manfred5@canby.com
--Manfred Zysk, M.E.
USA
Monday, September 21, 2009
Concerning the Government Debt -- Who Will Pay? article:
Dear Fred:
I wonder if you could give us a prognosis of what might happen if the Federal Reserve Board actually got abolished or dismantled as a result of the political pressue on now to audit the Fed and even END the FED. (Ron Paul)
What if the Federal Reserve act of 1913 actually got repealed and Steven Zarlengas idea of incorperating many of the functions into the US Treasury Department, including issueing debt free treasury notes to replace Federal Reserve notes and proceed further to monetize debts, especially state bond issues?
If it came to be politicaly possible to actually end the fed and central banking in general what would we replace it with?
Do we go back to the old gold standard and using gold as currency or do we jump forward to a new kind of Fiat Social Credit Money system?
Just what is "Honest Money" anyway?
--Warren C.
Massachusetts
Monday, September 21, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary: The Natural Laws of Economics article:
What are the laws of economics based on?
--Gisele
Monday, September 21, 2009
Concerning the Saving the Penguins article:
my opinion is to save penguins
--omkar pimpude
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
...you clearly dont understand atheism.
--Jason WI
If you truly understood it, you would have explained it rather than just complain.
--Fred Foldvary
California
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
> become better informed than you appear to be.
--Santa Claus, Nevada
The legendary Santa Claus is a Laplander in Finland. The sources you provide do not explain why you as Santa Claus are instead in Nevada. Also, why do you need a foundation that seeks money when you can just magically send presents to the children of the world?
--Fred Foldvary
California
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Concerning the Many Corporations Going GM-Free, in Europe but Not USA article:
The U.S. need to adopt the same standards as European countries and I will boycott these companies in the U.S. until they use the same GM free standards everywhere!
--Paula
Friday, September 18, 2009
Concerning the How the Federal Reserve Bought the Economics Profession article:
Also in employment policy, what might work for an individual is confused with what will work for a large number. Education and training may well get a few workers, who have every desirable quality for a given job except some specific qualification, into work. But it cannot help everyone. All that happens is "eduflation" - employers demanding ever higher standards for job applicants, because they can.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Excellent point.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Concerning the Some Facts About Unemployment and Recessions article:
this was a very good acticle on umemployment. though you could have made somewhat adjustments, to what the scores or adverages today.
--kushay
wisconsin
Friday September 18, 2009
Concerning the Asset Tax Idea article:
I agree for these reasons:
1: Fairness. Those who own american assets will have to pair their share for roads , regulation, defense, police , courts etc.
2: Taxing either income or outgo exacerbates the problem of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Only a tax on accumulation can ameliorate this problem.
3. It has the appeal of not taxing people at all, only assets.
BUT: in order work:
1) ALL assets must be taxed.
2)only the NET Value should be taxed. A mortgage holder pay tax on the market value of the note, while the homeowner pay on the equity.
3) Multinational companies would have separate assets within the USA from foreign assets
--jec
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary on Justice for the Native American Indian article:
I agree that the American Indian deserves not only tax and other breaks, but that they should indeed be paid restitution by the United State Government for everything that was taken from them. We killed and maimed and stole from those peaceful people, taking advantage of their good nature. They shared but we took more than our share. Shame on us!
So what can we now do to repay the American Indian Tribes after so many years? I intend to find out who I should petition in Congress.
--Ron Knight
Thursday September 17, 2009
Concerning the History of Land Rights in Australia article:
could u send me a what when who how and why information about aboriginal land rights please??
cheers
--corey mattnner
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Concerning the Unlimited Toxic Waste Dumps Allowed on Public Lands article:
what does recycling do to the earth.
--johnathan
USA
Wednesday September 16, 2009
Concerning the currency article:
This is a great system to help contend with the bad times that are on the way. It keeps wealth in the community where it belongs. I think this is going to be a "must" for my community.
--Carlisle Rast
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary on Capital Punishment article:
Im totally against capital punishment!
--Michelle LaRoux
Wednesday September 16, 2009
Concerning the George Bush's Cocaine Problem article:
It's typical that the rich purchase justice like potato chips at Wal-Mart. The rest of us suffer while Bush junior is still getting away with murder. Someone please prosecute these assholes before they kill the rest of us! Don't forget to include Cheney. Thanks to the Bush era the Contitution, equality and Human rights are dead. Destroy congress. Shut the mouths of the Republican losers. No more lies!
--Greg Kammer
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Concerning the Weird Land Reform in Mongolia article:
"An enforceable title to land is the building block of a stable economy. People are being given an asset. They will be able to invest their savings in a business, sell their land, or use it for collateral to get a loan."
Using it as collateral for loans is what the banks like so they can collect rent for their money. That is the real hidden reason for privatization of the land.
--Warren C.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Concerning the Six Months of Stimulus: What We’ve Learned article:
Thanks for the update.
--The Agrarian
Utah
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Any time. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Concerning the Foldvarys Economics Quiz article:
I like the quiz because it explains why the option chosen is the correct option.
--Nnennaya Okoronkwo
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Concerning the What is God? article:
Excellent!
In the 19th century,the head of the Dutch East India Company, ultimately responsible for the rape and plunder of the East Indies for the glory of Dutch colonialism, had a sign on his desk that evinced what he really believed in.
The sign read: "God is good, but profit is better."
Jesus said: "The love of money is the root of all evil. You cannot serve God and Mammon."
--dana andrusik
Delaware
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Concerning the What is God? article:
I would check out Dr. Amit Goswamis work on this subject. htap://www.quantumactivist.com
--ri
Oregon
Monday, September 14, 2009
Concerning the What is God? article:
Fred is on to something profound here when he writes:
"The human mind acts from reason, yet without instruction will not grasp the reason of the universal ethical imperative. People readily believe in propositions that have no basis in logic and evidence, and often despite contrary evidence and logic."
And also Fred writes:
"Those who truly recognize the mystery and the glory and the order that is inherent in nature will respect human and non-human nature in their deepest sense."
Just prior to reading the words above, I had finished watching Dr. Jill tell her personal experience of left-brain and-right brain activity due to her having a stroke. It takes both hemispheres to really connect all the dots - how to love your neighbor as yourself. htap://www.wimp.com/havingstroke/
--Nus
FL
Monday, September 14, 2009
Concerning the What is God? article:
Dear Fred;
Regarding your mentioning my name in "What is God? -- My legal name is Santa Claus.
Im a Christian Monk, as St. Nicholas was many centuries ago. I advocate for the 2 million children in the U.S. annually who are abused, neglected, exploited, abandoned, homeless, and institutionalized through no fault of their own.
I take exception to your characterization of me as "made up" and "bizarre." I am neither.
I believe that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, not the crass, commercial, secular spectacle it has become in many places, and that the greatest gift one can give is love, not presents.
Perhaps, you should take a moment and visit TheSantaClausFoundation dot org and become better informed than you appear to be.
Also, you might want to read "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis, before expounding further on a subject that evidently has escaped your grasp and depth.
Blessings to all, Santa Claus
--Santa Claus
Nevada
Monday, September 14, 2009
Concerning the What is God? article:
"Logic is thus superior to God in that even God must follow the rules of logic. Logic is eternal, unchanging, and omni-present. Logic thus has the features we want in God.
Moreover, logic does not require sacrifices or worship."
Logic demands the sacrifice of all superstitions.
--warren c..
MA
Monday, September 14, 2009
Concerning the What is God? article:
AllahUAbhah.
Ya, Baha Ul Abah.
--Warren C.
MA
Monday, September 14, 2009
Concerning the What is God? article:
You lost me at "religion of atheism." Your piece is an otherwise alright bit of spiritual fluff, but you clearly dont understand atheism, nor respect it enough to devote several minutes on the internet researching what the position truly entails.
--Jason
WI
Monday, September 14, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
If the government subsidizes gambling in a state where it is legal (tax dollars fund centers) would not all states have to allow the same? -Don Dunklee, michigan
No, the states are sovereign. Each state may have its own policies.
--Fred Foldvary
California
Monday, September 14, 2009
Concerning the Fiber-Optic Cable versus Land Holders article:
I would like to of been informed of the cables along my property on the r.r. tracks before they were layed. I truely believe i am intitled to a settlement of some sort from the cable companys.
--Kathleen Myers
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary: Letters of Marque and Reprisal article:
What would be the prerequisites or procedures to obtain a Letter of Marquee and Reprisal. Wouldnt it help the average American against the rising police state and the future forced vaccines that are wanting to do??
--chris
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Concerning the Wasting Hundreds of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars article:
hi, in my opinion as a retired naval officer of more than 16 years, the dutch governement would demonstrate its wisdom by evaluating the roles of the defenceforces in the next 20 years.the financial mess of the national economy justifies a complete revieuw of present plans and the means we think we need to be able to realise those .if we then take a close look at the chapter äirforce"it is obvious that the netherlands have an airforce with a strong air-superiority component; the jsf-plans indicate that in the opinion of the airforce-staff this will remain so for the forseeable future speaking about
airsuperiority it will be helpfull to define the opponent[s] based on the recent experiences[ fi afganistan] it becomes clear that to support groundforces in the there prevailing circumstances, helicopters are more agile to operate than fi f-16 aircraft, that by the way have no part to play in an airsuperiority-role over there.
--h.p, varenhorst
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Concerning the The Reflecting Pool article:
I liked your site.
--Rob Miller
MA,USA
Friday, September 11, 2009
Concerning the Six Months of Stimulus: What We’ve Learned article:
Totally disgusted by our government for lackof oversight and stupidity
--
USA
Friday, September 11, 2009
Concerning the Scandal at federal oil royalty collection agency article:
Have been reading Progress and Poverty. Very compelling. George doesnt address a key point though. If you have $, then you can invest in normal capital (machinery, industries), or you can invest in land. Seems that land is only one option. It must compete with other investments in terms of cost and yield and resale value. Seems the play of the market would even out the benefits of land ownership with those of capital ownership. This makes it hard to see the landlord as such a villian.
--Joseph Mitchener
Colorado, USA
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
The landlord is not a villain. What's wrong is something for nothing, with nothing for others. That is, land value is social much more so than is capital value. When we let people reap land value by owning or investing or lending or speculating, we put money into the wrong pockets. Land value is something we must share, unlike capital value. Look at the US GDP. The biggest sector by far is FIRE, with manufacturing (capital) a very distant second (half as big). Plus, the FIRE sector has vastly fewer participants. So, when you base your economy on error, you get what we got. Let us recover and share the values we as a society generate, and leave the values we individually produce alone, untaxed.
Thursday September 10, 2009
Concerning the Stop Killing Prisoners article:
i think that they should keep the death penalty becuase it says in leviticus 24:17 if a man takes the life of any human being, he shall surely be put to death.
--henry sholts
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Religion can be a force for good and for not. The New Testament of Jesus seems like a step forward to me -- no eye for eye but turn the other cheek. Basing killing on Good Books is what makes religion iffy for me. Private practice of belief seems fine. Otherwise, give me science, something religion used to embrace.
Thursday September 10, 2009
Concerning the The True Causes of Poverty in Kenya article:
think prverty is being brought up buy our own leaders in the government. istead of fighting to decreas their pokets to help the suffering kenyans ;they are fighting to increas thier pocket size . while the same kenyan they are saying is poor is the one paying tax to pay the expanded pockets
--ramsey mnjala
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Concerning the Six Months of Stimulus: What We’ve Learned article:
I think Americans should stop making mortgage payments until the banks come to the table and renegotiate mortgages that reflect todays property values and interest rates. I think we have fallen for the notion we need the banks. The truth is, they need us and will respond only when profit is involved. Refusing to make mortgage payments will force the banks to share our pain. Of course that will never happen. Americans have been dumbed down to the point they are in fear of their own institutions and lack the courage to stand up to their government, banks, Wall Street, etc. Sort of reminds you of the parent who is lax and weak, living in fear of an out of control teen-ager. Maybe you do reap what you sow?
--Wesley Barnard
indiana
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Concerning the saland article:
I think that the god of the bible the whites claim to worship must be bowing his head in shame. What judgement awaits those who destroy others for land god created for all? Remember, a wise man once said, "Whatever a man is sowing, this he shall also reap." People who till the soil should understand the illustration. Bloodshed is inevitable, either by millions of frustrated, angry Africans or by an angry Almighty God who created that land. Come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.
--Wesley Barnard
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Concerning the Poverty in Pennsylvania article:
Clearly, many families are struggling to make ends meat, yet big business has been unfair by creating many lower level positions and fewer middle and high management postions, yet holding the leverage to terminate or restruction regularly, in their effort to keep expenses down. Americans need to take care of each other. We need to look into the eyes for the hungrey and see ourselves. If we all gave a little bit to those in need, we would all reap the benefits.
--Michelle
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Also, we need to get over jobs in two ways. One, have the gumption to start a business or co-op and lose the boss. Two, demand a fair share of society's commonwealth -- it's huge! When we leave all the value of nature and land and resources on the table for others to claim by hook or crook, we thereby create the rich that we next lambast. So instead, let's use taxes, fees, leases, etc, to recover the socially-generated values (while de-taxing individually-created values) and share them via universal programs or vouchers or dividends.
Tuesday September 8, 2009
Concerning the Stop Killing Prisoners article:
killing is wrong for anyone and needs to stop even the court needs to stop killing I hate death row 2 wrong don,t make it right
--Gary
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Concerning the Questions About Healthcare That Need Answering article:
As it says in this article, the system that is needed is one that excludes nobody. Otherwise there will be people who dont get a service on account of, say, long term illness or disability.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Concerning the How Noise Pollution Could Send You to the Hospital article:
I completely agree! I am currently having a longstanding issue with a neighboring business and the fact that the city is allowing them to make all sorts of noise telling residents that "it is hard to measure noise levels". We listen to hammering, pounding and other mechanical tools from 7am to 7pm and have been told by our city that the law is on the side of the business not the residents.
--Andrea
California
Monday, September 7, 2009
Concerning the Honor Jury Rights and Henry George article:
I have long supported FIJA, the Fully Informed Jury Association, and I think they deserve mention in this context. With my dad, I learned about George from Archie Matteson ,Jr.
--Weld S Carter, Jr
Calif
Monday, September 7, 2009
Concerning the The Cap and Bribe Folly article:
I am OK with making polluters pay, but the whole cost - not just the amount above some cap. Why should they get a free ride?
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Monday, September 7, 2009
Concerning the forest article:
This is perhaps the only way that the forests in the poor countries can be saved. The governments of poor countries do not have the vision for recognising the long-term economic benfits of a particular rainforest, which can be obatined through medicinal products, wild food, forest tourism let alone recognising the environmental services that forests provide like carbon dioxide use and oxygen production, air cleaning, fertilising the soil, cotrolling erosion, habitats for wildlife, etc. Therefore, I believe this initiative may reduce forest loss.
--Ensermu Kelbessa
Monday, September 7, 2009
Concerning the f35 article:
It is surely the collusion and greed of land and banking monopolies that has crashed the global economy and destroyed our future, by inflating a global land-credit bubble. Sharing the earth through LVT is essential for a viable future but so too is democratic control of credit creation and its allocation. Private bankers will now begin to feed and inflate another land-credit bubble unless there is fundamental reform. Its time we Georgists addressed and embraced the monetary/banking reforms espoused by Lincoln, Rowbotham, and others to put the geoist manifesto on a firm footing. If the proposed geoist manifesto prioritises LVT, monetary reform and equitable, sustainable, people-centred development it would be a fitting replacement for both communism and contemporary capitalism. I much enjoy Progress Report.
--joseph glynn
Monday September 7, 2009
Concerning the Child Psychologists Help Spread Materialism article:
if you may wish to you can visit www.vedabase.net website and may recommend it to others, its quite an enlightning and knowledgable website
--Holly
Monday September 7, 2009
Concerning the Child Psychologists Help Spread Materialism article:
info@tennysoncenter.org
--Holly
Monday, September 7, 2009
Concerning the The Cap and Bribe Folly article:
htap://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/greenhouse_data.html
CO2 is harmless
--mike
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
In most quantities and places, just like water. But drowning is still possible.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
Dear Fred,
While I have no problem with the seniors "gambling" is there not a bigger picture to worry about? If the government subsidizes gambling in a state where it is legal (tax dollars fund centers) would not all states have to allow the same? The next step is some crime mob taking over the gambling with tens of thousands of mini casinos stealing from seniors and all of the associated problems.....effectively a government sponsored casino in all senior centers nation wide. Now that would give our economy a boost......unfortunately, government usually "dumbs down" to the lowest denominator, so stopping "gambling" is one senior center protects all seniors, some of our most fragile citizens. Last thought...while small stakes, do not most people residing in senior centers receive their income and health care from the tax payer? Should we pay for wasteful activities with our limited tax resources?
--Don Dunklee
michigan
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Concerning the US two-party system has reached a dead-end article:
End the two party system! While we can see it works quite well for them, (best health care on earth, book deals, lectures), it doesnt work at all for us! I just found a song on line about this issue, "The Partys Over" by political activist Ray Benich. It says, "GOP get off my peter, DEMOCRATS lie down, the partys over, were moving on, with out you".
Check it out www.DamnationOfAdamBlessing.net/abyss2.htm#b
--Geraldo
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Concerning the Minimum Guarantees for Every Human Being article:
Change: www.grb.net
--John Pozzi
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Concerning the Minimum Guarantees for Every Human Being article:
So, throwing money at people does alleviate poverty. You just have to throw it at the right people. Namely, not professional people with schemes for improvement, but poor people themselves.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary on Saturday Delivery and USPS versus Private Enterprise article:
I think the USPS is their own worst enemy. They raise the postage rate every year, and then wonder why people are corresponding via e-mail and paying bills online. To discontinue Saturday mail would be a mistake because, every time we have one of these Monday holidays, there would be no mail service from Friday until Tuesday. That is crucial if you are a person waiting for a pension check or something similar.
--Eileen
Saturday September 5, 2009
Concerning the Gandhi's Life, Part One article:
good report
--angel
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
Concerning a letter below on this page:
I want to own part of the ocean to make a floating plat form for classify projects. I think if the world gives me some of the oceans I can make this world a better place for some of us. --brayan
Look up "seasteading"
--Fred Foldvary
California
Friday, September 4, 2009
Concerning the Gates on Wealth Redistribution article:
Id like to see more.
--YG
Friday, September 4, 2009
Concerning the Is Liberalism Dead? article:
Hold up at least two fingers. I am among those who support freedom in trade, manufacture, thought, speech, and a whole host of other things, while also believing in equality in land.
--Daryl Sawyer
MD
Friday, September 4, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary on Abolishing the NEA article:
I could not disagree more with you. Its absolutely wrong to abolish the NEA. It funds much more than art which some individuals may find offensive,and furthermore, the government today takes less than a dollar from each taxpayer every yer to fund the arts, which is absolutely disgraceful .
Many great American symphony orchestras today are struggling to stay alive because of lack of government support, which is something that their European counterparts take for granted.
Any one who thinks that private donations provide enough for them to flourish in America is deluded. If certain people dont like certain things funded by the NEA, no one is forcing them to see these things.
--Robert Berger
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
But why accept poverty in general, starving artists in particular? Why not lose poverty by shifting taxes and subsidies and paying ourselves a Citizens Dividend?
Friday, September 4, 2009
Concerning the The Autoimmune Epidemic: Bodies Gone Haywire in a World out of Balance article:
Excellent! I have been dealing with autoimmune challenges for most of my life. (Ive only been somewhat under treatment for the last year and a half). Respiratory problems that torpedoed my goal of being a singer. Digestive problems and food allergies (which are closely connected to autoimmune disorders). Mysterious inflammation and pain, fatigue, skin problems, infections, etc. In fact, in my teens I was thought to have lupus. M.D.s, even at the University of Chicago Hospitals, were unable to help these symptoms. And yes, some of these poor miseducated souls did suggest it was "all in my head." Only nutrition and other lifestyle changes have helped -- much of that occurring under the care of a chiropractor, whom I paid out of my own pocket for a good long while. The biggest causes of autoimmune disease are certain vaccines, misuse of antibiotics, and the Standard American Diet (SAD) -- in all of which Big Medicine (BM) has been complicit. The easiest place to get a life-ending infection is in a hospital. Govt. health control will only make sure that more people get more of the same. You guys cant stress this enough. Just as economic health depends on natural laws, so does physical health. There is no such thing as health care reform that does not involve individuals caring enough about their own health to take charge. Of course, we need to remove the privilege system to fully enable that.
--David Harrell
IL
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Concerning the Katrinas legacy & Is population growth a Ponzi scheme? article:
David R. Francis writes: "But the public pays a cost for a bigger population: congestion on highways, farmland turned into housing developments, environmental damage, and climate change." Id have hoped that an editor as astute as Jeff Smith would have appended a correction to that! Those negatives are by no means a necessary result of population growth. Congestion on highways can be solved by appropriate investment in public transportation, funded by the land rent it creates. The "farmland" Mr. Francis laments is all-too probably a subsidized corporate farm in the first place. And it has been demonstrated in any ways that environmental damage and climate change cannot be addressed by efforts to control population per se. Population control comes from prosperity -- not the other way around.
--Lindy Davies
Jackson, Maine
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Concerning the Marijuana is Safer Than Alcohol article:
You can foment a right for the usage of pot. You have yet another right to denigrate yourself.
Nevertheless, I also have rights...the right, for example, for my vehicle driver not to be "stoned to the bone" with anything psycho-active, much less being drunk.
What are the guarantees that the legalization of pot is not going to give the pot user the same opprobrium earned by the drunk? And whats going to stop him/her by getting behind the wheel? All you loadies miss the point! You can yell for the right to do anything! But wheres the responsibility? And can you guaratee it? Another Pandoras box you want to open! Next is the right to be loaded while performing heart surgery.
Alcohol usage is the lesser of two evils. But one hit of high grade pot, the "two hitter quitter" kind, invariably is going to make the user instantly as useless as a snot-flinging, spaghetti-legged, rubber-lipped drunk. But...you want that also in society. Ive been around drug users. Kinda useless. Something like a Cheech & Chong character: ey man! Far out, man!
Like Freewheelin Franklin use to say, "Getting drunk and loaded is like pissing into the wind." Even a cartoon pothead knows better!
--Ken Setive
dont recnize nomo
The publisher replies --
In order to be taken seriously, you should address the actual facts and arguments that were in the article. But you completely failed to do that. Did you even read the article?
If someone trips on a banana peel and is injured, would you suggest that all bananas should be illegal?
Instead of just making a knee-jerk reaction based on emotion, try going through the reasons and ideas in the article; then you should be able to make an answer that is taken seriously.
Wednesday September 2, 2009
Concerning the History of Land Rights in Australia article:
The idea of very heavily taxing land values while not taxing any improvement built on the land or any activity on , in or from the land would have the effect of eliminating all motivation for grabbing land for the purpose of collecting the community created value of the land. Since all land value is created 100% by the community, there would be no motivation to own land in such a way as to make one responsible for this kind of tax unless one fully intended to make very effective use of the land. This would end all land speculation and all pressure for getting hold of aboriginal or any other land except for what made absolute economic sense. Where this is tried even if only to a limited extent urban sprawl stops, cities become more compact and land speculation drops off. Mining operation might still continue but the vast unearned profit in doing so from pocketing the community created value of the mineral in the ground would make such ventures highly undesirable unless absolutely necessary to the economy. If the land is to be grabbed, it will automatically have to benefit everyone by this method instead of being the premier way of ousting humans from their own planet leaving them no stake in it.
--Wendell Fitzgerald
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Concerning the The Menace of Privilege, Chapter Four (third part) article:
Having read this installment nine, I find the author very interesting and pulling me
to continue the past and future readings of this ongoing subject.
--Vicki S. Kinser
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Concerning the Mexico and Argentina ease drug possession law article:
The war on drugs approach can be counter productive. Ruth Wyner and colleague Brock ran a homeless shelter in Cambridge and liaised with local police, but she refused police a list of people who had been banned for dealing or using drugs. They were arrested and sentenced because people had been dealing drugs in their courtyard. Guess what Wyner found in prison. Drugs.
With such a risk of prison, who is going to want to work helping drug users?
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Monday, August 31, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
i want to own part of the ocean to make a floating plat form for classify projects. i think if the world gives me some of the oceans i can make this world a better place for some of us. --brayan
Look up "deasteading"
--Fred Foldvary
California
Monday, August 31, 2009
Concerning the Wall Streets New Rent-Seeking Trick article:
A substantial proportion of the revenue from shares consists of economic rent. HFT is just another technique for creaming off what should not be left in private hands in the first place.
--Henry Law
Sweden
Monday, August 31, 2009
Concerning the Is Liberalism Dead? article:
It is time that the Israelis realised that they are being used as the USAs base in the Middle East. This has lured them into a false feeling of confidence and they think they can refuse to negotiate with the Palestinians except on chosen terms because they will always have backup. I hope President Obamas change of policy may be enough to give them a reality check.
--Diana E Forrest
UK
Monday August 31, 2009
Concerning the currency article:
Great Idea. We need to break the power of the financial sector.
--Jeff Bridger
Monday, August 31, 2009
Concerning the Is Liberalism Dead? article:
"How many people believe in both equality in land and freedom in trade and money?"
I do!
--Lindy Davies
Waldo County
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Concerning the Foldvary on Protectors and Predators article:
This is excellent but needs to be a little careful with "scientific style." That is, you have no dates or references here. I know most of this is true, but thats just me. Also, you need to be more specific. This is on the internet and goes out to the world. When you say something like: "The reported yearly death rate from medical error is over 120,000," you dont say what country, give a reference, etc. It cant be used by anyone who wants good data. This is good work but perhaps you could try to update it with my suggestions.
--Fmckay
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Concerning the Who Owns the Oceans? article:
i want to own part of the ocean to make a floating plat form for classify projects.
i think if the world gives me some of the oceans i can make this world a better place for some of us.
--brayan
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Concerning the Poverty in Pennsylvania article:
Agreed, that families are struggling and more realistic safety nets are demanded to ensure that basic necessities can be covered without making beggers out of families.
--Elouise Edmonds
Friday, August 28, 2009
Concerning the Boeing is Corporate Welfare Queen article:
Did Boeing locate in Springfield with this tax incentive?
--Christine
Friday, August 28, 2009
Concerning a letter below on this page:
Dear Editor,
How does one become a columist for the Progress Report? Do I need to be selected from the cream of the crop? Do I need creditionals or is an autodidact like myself completely worthy? Do political beliefs have to be strictly in line with yours or do you like a big tent? Do you prefer trial runs or a portfolio? Or am I just hitting a brickwall running?
I patiently await your response.
--H.A. Coverley
UK
Managing Editor Jeffery Smith replies --
Hello, and thanks for asking. All anyone who wants to write for the Progress Report needs to do is write well. That is, the more factual, the better. The more references to reputable sources, the better. The more timely, the better. The more people doing something, the better (to balance any abstractions). The more analogies, the better (people learn from stories). The more solution-oriented, not just problem-centered, the better (society needs progress!). And to top it off, the briefer the better, since less is more. The word range is 650-800. If you come in at 650, then you have a chance to be re-published later in a bigger more mainstream newspaper, since that is their length limit, usually; just give us credit (they'd want to know about previous publication, anyway). So, eager writers, send in samples!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Concerning the Americans Told to Pay for Russian Outer Space Program Scandals article:
Why are they sending tax dollars to Russia.Scrap/close NASA if there is no money. Can someone tells me the importance of space flight.Perhaps in other department NASA would have economic contribution to the American people but the space flight i do not know what assist they offered.
--rolando v. padama
Friday, August 28, 2009
Concerning the f34 article:
That what I am talking about!
--KALINGA KARAGI,SR.
Send a Letter
Use this form:
