Onion News Network

Study: Most Children Strongly Opposed To Children's Healthcare


New Wearable Feedbags Let Americans Eat More, Move Less

Shotgun Start

Lincoln Park Junior League wasn't like this.

Different League, Same Results

After winning the Spring Kickball championship at Mapleton #1, we decided to switch it up and play at Stazio Fields on Thursday nights. Well, we managed to go undefeated and take down the fearsome Fighting Biscuits in the championship game, 4-3. Our team was named Craig's Crew, in honor of the late, great Craig Schamalon, and I think he would have been proud of our team spirit.

Taxes

There has been a great deal of misinformation in the media regarding Senator Obama's tax policies if he is elected President. The political commentators who are spreading this misinformation are trying to scare you into voting against Obama with false claims about higher taxes. I will try to present the facts to you as best I can.

Income Tax
Certain political commentators have falsely stated that Obama will cause the biggest increase in taxes in history. This is done to scare the average American into thinking that they will pay more taxes, which simply isn't true. Obama plans to make permanent the Bush tax cuts for all income levels, except for those who make greater than $250,000. The tax cuts for income brackets above $250,000 will be allowed to expire as currently planned.

The Bush tax cuts are set to expire because of legislation passed in 2001 and 2003. The Republican-controlled Congress passed the Economic Growth And Tax Relief Reconciliation Act Of 2001 on May 26, 2001, with a provision sunsetting the tax cuts on December 31, 2010, causing the tax rates to return to their previous levels on that date. President Bush signed the bill on June 7, 2001. The Republican-controlled Congress also included sunset provisions when it passed the Jobs And Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act Of 2003 on May 23, 2003. Bush signed the 2003 tax cut on May 28, 2003.

In a May 27, 2001 article, the Washington Post reported, "By terminating the tax cuts at the end of 2010, negotiators were able to avoid some tough decisions. Since they could now distribute the same amount of money over nine years rather than 10 years, they effectively boosted the size of the tax cut while at the same time hiding its true cost."

Still, conservative pundits continue to misinform viewers about Obama’s tax policy. For example, on the June 16 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom, Republican strategist Andrea Tantaros falsely asserted that under Obama's tax proposal, "an average family making $61,000 - just alone letting the tax cuts expire - would go up $2,100. That's a lot of money for an average family." Tantaros completely ignores that Obama will make permanent the tax cuts for the middle class, and will only let the tax cuts expire for those making over $250,000.

Capital Gains
Another tax proposal of Obama’s is to raise Capital Gains taxes for people making greater than $250,000. In a June 9 interview with CNBC's John Harwood, Obama said, "[K]eep in mind on all of these proposals, what I have said is, let's make sure that we define the well-off so that we're not hitting the middle class. I generally define well-off as people who are making $250,000 a year or more, and that means, for example, if we raise the capital gains tax, I would exempt people who are essentially small investors..."

Once again falsehoods were spread about Obama’s tax policy. On the June 11th episode of Fox and Friends, commentators asserted that Obama would raise Capital Gains taxes on people that have incomes in the five digits. There are six digits in 250,000.

Social Security
The 6.2 percent payroll tax is now applied to all wages up to $102,000 a year, which covers the entire amount for most Americans. Under Obama's plan, the tax would not apply to wages between that amount and $250,000. Obama has said all annual salaries above the quarter-million-dollar amount would be taxed under his plan.

Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal wrote that Obama would raise the $100k cap meaning that a police officer and nurse earning a combined income of over $100k would have to pay additional taxes. This is absurdly false. First off, social security taxes are assessed individually. Secondly, Obama's plan only instates social security tax on individuals with salaries over $250K. Thus, a couple could have a combined income of $499k, and, so long as neither individual makes over $250k, they will not see an increase in social security taxes. Columnist George Will made the same false accusation in Newsweek, forcing the magazine to issue a correction in the following issue.

According to Obama’s website, he also plans the following measures related to taxes.
• Eliminate income taxes for any retiree making less than $50,000 per year.
• Obama will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 150 million workers the tax relief they need. Obama will create a new "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. The "Making Work Pay" tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.
• Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans: Obama will dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes. Obama will ensure that the IRS uses the information it already gets from banks and employers to give taxpayers the option of pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return. Experts estimate that the Obama proposal will save Americans up to 200 million total hours of work and aggravation and up to $2 billion in tax preparer fees.

That is probably enough dry tax related info for now. The non-partisan Tax Policy Center has done a preliminary analysis of both Obama’s and McCain’s tax policies. After I have read all of it, I will provide you with additional information regarding both candidates’ tax plans.

Gitmo

Those of you paying attention to news have heard about the Supreme Court's ruling on habeus corpus and the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Also many of you will recall my criticism of the White House's handling of the prisoners and how it relates to the U.S. Constitution. Here is a link to a column on the decision by conservative columnist George Will.

Luck of the Irish

Congratulations to the Boston Celtics, 2008 NBA Champions. An amazing team effort and suffocating defensive play helped Kevin Garnett, Paul Peirce, and Ray Allen cement their legacy as all time greats. It is the 17th championship for the Celtics.

News Media

It just shows how crappy the news is these days, when the best coverage comes from Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert. Thank goodness we have them.

Rafters Flipping Out

They built a kayak wave on the Colorado River near West Glenwood. A buddy of mine sent me a cool video of some rafters getting flipped on it. As he put it, "Look how chill these two are in the beginning..."

Rafting Carnage on the Colorado River from Philip Robert on Vimeo.

Tubin' Update

Well, despite the chilly water temps, Andy and another brave soul tubed to work today.
Article

Tube to Work

A friend and former co-worker is starting the first (to my knowledge) tube-to-work day in Boulder this friday. Andy Gruel is also the manager of my kickball team, so I know he is a pretty smart and creative guy. But this might be his funniest idea yet.

Boulder Resident Starts "Tube to Work Day"

Daily Camera

On Friday, Boulder resident and environmental engineer Andy Gruel plans to wake up early, put on his suit and ride four miles to his office -- on an inner tube.

Gruel is sponsoring what he calls "Tube to Work Day," an alternative transportation event that will take several brave participants to work down a brisk, and crisp, Boulder Creek.

"My office is right off the Boulder Creek, so I've always envisioned some kind of alternative commute," said Gruel, 28.

Starting at 8 a.m., Gruel plans to jump into the creek fully clothed in business attire and travel from Eben G. Fine Park, 101 Arapahoe Ave., downstream to his 49th Street office.

"It's an alternative way to get to work," Gruel said. "We think it's one of these things that could take off."

In addition to just being fun, he said, it's also another way to celebrate Walk and Bike Month, which encourages alternative transportation.

Gruel has been handing out fliers asking people to meet at the park shelter nearthe creek just before start time. The event is "bring your own tube," he said, and business-formal attire is suggested for added effect.

He said he doesn't have a lot of great advice on what to do when people get out of the creek soaking wet, except that having a dry change of clothes at the office or bringing along a plastic bag might be good ideas.

"You've got to fend for yourself," Gruel said. "Bring some clothes on Thursday and leave them on the desk."

And, since the creek doesn't flow both directions, Gruel said there's another small kink in the plans still to be addressed.

"How the heck are we going to go home?"

25 Years Ago

Today, June 5th, marks the 25th anniversary of U2's famous performance at Red Rocks Amphitheater. It was the concert video that put both U2 and Red Rocks on the World map. Here are a couple of cool articles about the show.
@U2
Denver Post

Music and Movies

I just got back from a great weekend in Trout Lake (near Telluride), where we had a bachelor party for my good friend Warren. I might share more on that weekend in another post, but during the 12 hours that we were in the car, one of our discussions was about great uses of songs in movies. Below are a few of my personal favorites that I can remember right now. I am sure that I am forgetting some classics, so feel free to share a few of your own in the comments.

Almost Famous - Tiny Dancer (Elton John)


Reality Bites - All I Want Is You (U2)

In Italian too, how ridiculous is YouTube?

Big Lebowski - The Man in Me (Bob Dylan)


Miami Vice - In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins)

Okay, this is from the TV pilot, but this scene changed television, so I had to include it. "It was real, wasn't it?"