Tag Archives: tax reform

Paul Ryan justifies lower taxes on America’s most wealthy by reminding us that, contrary to what we might think, the Bangles are no longer culturally relevant

By Mark | September 25, 2017

This week, the Republicans are supposed to be sharing the long-awaited details of their tax reform plan, which, according to those in the know, will likely be ‘a massive windfall’ for Americans most wealthy. And, in advance of the announcement, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has apparently been given the task of convincing us […]

Posted in Economics, Politics, Uncategorized | Also tagged 1964, A World Without Love, Bodak Yellow, Cardi B, Civil Rights Act, Kimmel test, leeches, number one songs, Paul Ryan, Peter and Gordon, tax rates, tax the rich, taxes, Taylor Swift, The Bangles, the concentration of wealth, Trumpcare, wealth inequality | 13 Comments

Everything is pointing toward a Bernie Sanders presidential campaign… And only Elizabeth Warren can stop it

By Mark | December 17, 2013

For the past several weeks, one of my favorite people, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, has been publicly floating the idea that, if no other strong progressives, like Elizabeth Warren, come forward to announce a run for the presidency in 2016, he’d consider doing it himself. Someone, according to Sanders, needs to address the collapse of […]

Posted in Civil Liberties, Politics, Uncategorized | Also tagged 2016, Barbara Boxer, Bernie Sanders, campaign finance reform, carbon tax, Citizens United, cooperatives, Edward Snowden, Elizabeth Warren, energy efficiency, financial reform, global climate change, Global Warming, health care reform, income inequality, Koch brothers, money as free speech, Noam Chomsky, NSA, participatory democracy, Patriot Act, poverty, privacy, progressive taxation, public funding of elections, Sheldon Adelson, single-payer system, social security, Socialism, taxing the rich, Ted Deutch, the growing gap between rich and poor, threats to Democracy, Vermont, wealth inequality, worker ownership | 12 Comments

Author Amy Cortese on the burgeoning “locavesting” movement, and how we can harness it in Michigan

By Mark | October 25, 2012

Next Tuesday, October 30, Think Local First will be bringing author Amy Cortese to Ann Arbor to discuss her book Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit From It. Following is my interview with Amy, who, in addition to being a published author, has written for the likes of the New York […]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Economics, entrepreneurism, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Retail, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged Accelerating Community Capital, American Sustainable Business Council, Amy Cortese, Arbor Brewing Company, blood funnel, blue sky laws, butchershop, buy local, CDFI, Chamber of Commerce, Clare, community development loan funds, Cops & Doughnuts, crowdfunding, CSA, Dante Hesse, economic development, interviews, investing, Jobs Act, Judy Wicks, Jumpstart Our Business Startups, Kickstarter, LION, lobbying, local investing, Local Investing Opportunities Network, Localist, locavesting, Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit From It, Main Street vs. Wall Street, Matt Greff, Milk Thistle Farm, move your money to a credit union, Obama, Occupy Wall Street, Port Townsend, Port Townsend LION, private placement, public offering, Rene Greff, SEC, Securities and Exchange Commission, single-payer system, Slow Money, Small Business Administration, Stacy Mitchell, subsidies, tax loopholes, The Big Box Swindle, The Brinery, Think Local First, unaccredited investors, Woody Tasch, Zingerman's | 8 Comments

Joe Biden: “These guys bet against America all the time”

By Mark | October 11, 2012

God, I loved seeing Joe Biden put Paul Ryan over his knee and paddle him with facts. So, what’d you think? Here, if you didn’t watch it live, and can’t watch the above video in your cubicle, is a clip from the transcript. MS. RADDATZ: OK, on to taxes. If your ticket is elected, who […]

Posted in Economics, Politics | Also tagged Bush tax cuts, debates, Detroit Tigers, job creation, Joe Biden, middle class tax cuts, Paul Ryan, Republican obstructionism, tax the rich, taxes, threats to the middle class | 20 Comments

Robert Reich and Molly Ringwald answer questions on Reddit

By Mark | May 2, 2012

I doubt that they coordinated it, but, a few days ago, at roughly the same time, both Robert Reich and Molly Ringwald were on Reddit, answering people’s random questions. Following are some of my favorite responses. I was going to specify who said what, but then it occurred to me that it might be more […]