So who wants more factories?
These results are unsurprising. First, the poll results and then my response:
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This Chinese guy makes some (though not all) valid points
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Tax Day Thoughts: Why isn't there a revolution?
I was thinking about this the other day and I wonder why more people aren’t more upset. If you make a reasonable but not huge wage, you’re paying between 22% and 35% as a marginal income tax rate. I realize the effective rate is a bit lower because of deductions and exemptions. And you pay payroll tax which, for lower-income workers is by far the biggest tax they pay. And you pay another 4.5% state income tax. Then depending on where you live, you pay another 6 or 7 or 8% in sales tax. You pay LOTS in property tax…even if you’re renting because the owner is passing that through to you. You pay way too much in this state to register a vehicle and then you pay tax on every gallon of gas or diesel unless you get farm diesel. In this state, you pay endless fees and other taxes…have you looked at your home phone bill if you have one or cell phone or electricity or gas? All loaded up with taxes. You pay an infuriating 29 cent tax every time you get a delivery. And on and on and on. I have to say I’m somewhat surprised that more people aren’t furious. The majority of middle-class people in this state probably pay around 40% of their earnings in tax and for upper-income earners it’s probably closer to 45 or 50%. And for people in high-tax states like California, it can be over 50%. Why isn’t there a revolution?
I’ll tell you one small part of the answer: payroll tax withholding reduces the pain of paying taxes. Withholding was Milton Friedman’s idea…and here’s what he had to say about it in 1995: “I played a significant role, no question about it, in introducing withholding. I think it's a great mistake for peacetime, but in 1941–43, all of us were concentrating on the war. I have no apologies for it, but I really wish we hadn't found it necessary and I wish there were some way of abolishing withholding now.”
Milton Friedman Helped Invent Income Tax Withholding
Also, although I mentioned it above, I'd like to mention with no small anger, that whenever I buy something, including online, I pay something like an extra 8% in tax. EIGHT percent. Even on expensive things like cars or new kitchen appliances or the many square feet of flooring we're looking at for the house we're remodeling. What the hell has government done to deserve that money? It's such an insane amount of money that you have to wonder where it goes. And the fact that the percentages continue to rise even though prices are also rising means government is growing its spending faster than inflation and population growth. Why isn't there a revolt against this disgusting impoverishing of the citizenry by grasping and undisciplined politicians?
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Just One Thing: I repeat, BRING HIM BACK
Yesterday the Trump administration changed tactics on their refusal to repatriate a man illegally deported to El Salvador. The administration admits the deportation was an error. But they're not trying to get Kilmar Abrego Garcia out of a brutal prison designed for the worst criminals and terrorists even though there is no evidence that Garcia has ever committed a crime (other than crossing the border illegally.) Yesterday, the new tactic was to get the president of El Salvador to say that he wouldn't send Garcia back to the US as President Trump sits by passively, acting as if the US is not fully in control of the outcome, which he is.
Not only is this spineless and disgusting behavior by Trump, but I also don't understand what he thinks is in it for him. News of the great work deporting thousands of illegal alien criminals is being swamped by this story, with Trump giving the anti-Trump media a ridiculously easy way to criticize him. To be clear, I'm in favor of deporting illegal alien criminals. I'm not in favor of our government breaking the law, especially to deport someone who may well not be a criminal at all. A friend asked me "From 1 to 10, with 10 being a full-blown constitutional crisis, how do you rate this situation?" I said, "8.3 and rising."
I have no opinion of Mr Garcia. He could be a good guy; he could be something else. I don't know. And neither does the administration.
If I were in Congress, if Trump doesn't fix this ASAP, I'd consider bringing articles of impeachment. The president MUST obey the law. This case is not borderline. Trump typically has obeyed federal courts. This time he's not and they're trying to make it about the liberal judge ordering the return of Garcia, but it's not about that.
Andy McCarthy does a great job here: What the Abrego Garcia Dispute Is Really About | National Review
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Today's Guests
Henry Olsen is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. He’s also the host of perhaps the single best political podcast, called Beyond the Polls
Henry Olsen on X/Twitter
Listen to Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen on Ricochet
This is by Matt Continetti for The Free Press and it relates to the big-picture of politics in America today: Trump Is the Policy - by Matthew Continetti
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Kevin Ingham is the Democratic pollster for the bipartisan Colorado Polling Institute. They recently released the results of a very interesting poll of Coloradans views on politicians, parties, and issues. One of the things that jumped out at me was how much the popularity of Democratic politicians has dropped...among Democrats. But maybe not for the reason you'd think.
Article about the poll: Poll: Democrats losing ground with Colorado voters - Axios Denver
Lots of interesting data here: March 2025: Statewide Poll | Colorado Polling Institute
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Other Stuff
Yesterday, State Senators Paul Lundeen and Lindsey Daugherty announced that they were pausing (meaning stopping for the rest of this legislative session) a bill aimed at verifying the age of
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I hope they win: U.S. businesses sue to block Trump tariffs
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Harvard reacts, and the gov’t reacts to the reaction
Harvard Refuses Trump Administration Demands, Jeopardizing Federal Funding | National Review
After Harvard rejects Trump admin demands, $2.2 billion in funding cut
Gov’t demands: Letter Sent to Harvard 2025-04-11
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I’ve said repeatedly and I’ll say again: putting aside Joe Biden’s insane open-border policy, I’d rather have America’s immigration problems than Europe’s: How Sweden’s multicultural dream went fatally wrong
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This is absolutely right, but I also wouldn’t stop here on entitlement reform: The Moral Case for Reforming Medicaid - WSJ
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I keep not getting to this. Maybe it’s because subconsciously I don’t want to get to it. But here we go: Jessica Simpson defends drinking snake sperm, describes taste
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It's way past time for this: Exclusive | White House readies plan for Congress to ax taxpayer funding for NPR, PBS
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Greg seems likeable enough but this gets old: Republican Greg Lopez is running for a third straight time to be Colorado's governor - The Colorado Sun
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Interesting that this was not on the cases flagged by CBI for review...what do you do with THAT information? Michael Clark released after spending 12 years for murder he maintains he didn't commit | Colorado Watch | gazette.com
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Good idea: Denver mayor establishes permitting office to expedite building process - Axios Denver
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Today's Video
Here's the RIGHT way to pronounce "banana"