Recent Comments

1. about 13 years ago on Tom Toles

   Simon_Jester, couple of points to make here.

   I have only this account for this site. If you make it a point to remember/cite everything that is said here, you are getting really Orwellian(Big Brother) on us all. If you get sick from eating undercooked meat from a restaurant you can then sue said restaurant and have it shut down. My comment was based on the fact that once the meat leaves the slaughterhouse(where it passed USDA inspection) it is up to the retailer, and the consumer to handle and prepare it safely.

   dannysixpack; Sushi is a prepared food as is steak tartar, that is unless you just go out and buy a steak or a fish to eat raw. Also what is the problem with undergoing a background check for a plane ticket? It can be done in little time as it is part of the waiting period to purchase a handgun, and since most plane tickets are bought more than 5 days prior to the flight running a check should not be that difficult. In regards to the self defense argument the Supreme Court has ruled that it is NOT the polices job to protect you. As the line goes “when seconds count the police are just minutes away”.

2. about 13 years ago on Gary Varvel

   Quickest way to tick of an atheist; believe in a compassionate God and take comfort in the belief that there is greater out there than the randomness of chance. Seriously though whenever you mention your belief in any form of religion in the presence of an atheist they seem to become really defensive and go on the attack. I guess it is because they cannot fathom the concept that there exists a being greater than themselves, and their ego cannot take that kind of a hit.

3. about 13 years ago on Tom Toles

   Well Simon_Jester, I am glad you remembered my comment, I don’t know if you are using it as a means of sarcasm or not. The written word doesn’t imply tone very well. However with regards to that statement I am pretty sure you took it out of context. If you under cook meat and get sick from it, it is your own fault. All meat is hazardous to your health when it is consumed raw. The FDA is there to put guidelines in place so that quality food is sent out to be prepared and consumed, not to make sure you have cooked it safely.

   Also, as far as the second amendment/airline security quote goes. Why don’t we just run a background check on all airline passengers 2 months before they have their flight? I have to under go a background check to purchase a handgun, but not a ticket to a plane. Both can and have been used to cause loss of life.

4. about 13 years ago on Ted Rall

   jmattadams, well said.

5. about 13 years ago on Matt Wuerker

   Hey when nothing has really changed I guess you can use the running for change line again.

6. about 13 years ago on Tom Toles

   Simon, I thought of Monty Python immediately.

   On another note, C. A. Brobst, you can raise the tax rate to 100%, but as long as the loopholes exist it WILL NOT MATTER. GE made $14.5 billion this past year and paid NOTHING in taxes due to loopholes. I paid more in taxes this year than GE because I cannot afford a fleet of accountants and tax lawyers to find enough loopholes to get me down to owing zero.

   When you consider that we have an entire industry dedicated to understanding and manipulating our tax system it basically means that it is to complex and ultimately flawed. I said it before and I will say it again; flat tax rate with NO, I repeat NO loopholes is the best way to go.

   And no I shall be attacked for my outrageous statements that the tax code be redone so the wealthy have to pay taxes. Not by supporters of the wealthy but by those who think that only the wealthy should pay taxes and not themselves. Happens every time I make this argument. So I say “have at thee”.

7. about 13 years ago on Glenn McCoy

   Ian Rey, good point and I agree wholeheartedly. Raising the tax rate does nothing so long as the loopholes exist.

8. about 13 years ago on Tony Auth

   Simon_Jester, a flat 10% tax on all gross income and profits means that if I make $35,000 per year I pay $3,500 in taxes. Companies like GE which made $14.5 Billion this past year would pay $1.45 billion in taxes this year.

   Harley, I said NO loopholes that goes for the rich and the poor alike. Treating everyone the same regardless of wealth, social standing, etc.. is the basis of my argument.

   As for businesses moving overseas to avoid the taxes, simply put a tariff on any product they make and want to sell in America. Also put quid pro quo tariffs on other nations we trade with.

9. about 13 years ago on Tony Auth

   How much did GE pay in taxes this year? As long as loopholes and exemptions exist within the current system it will not matter how much you tax the wealthy and corporations as they can use said loopholes to avoid paying anything. So since the wealthy pay nothing a redo of the tax code is the only way to have them pay “their fair share”. A flat tax rate with NO loopholes means those “extremely wealthy” people and corporations will actually pay taxes.

10. about 13 years ago on Tom Toles

    Well said Tigger.

    Oh, and Baslim Democrats also do that as well. All politicians want programs and money that goes towards their state/district so that they can get re-elected. This has been happening for a long time now.