Links and Minifeatures 2008 04 15 (A date which lives in infamy - every year!)

We had a revolution over taxation without representation. The question I want to have answered is "how much representation do taxpayers have now?"

And I'm not talking about getting a lawyer for tax court.

We are a long way down the road. We are now at the point where democracy is eleven people voting to make ten people pay for something they want. Whatever happened to "If you don't play the game, you don't make the rules"?

I know I'm not the only person who favors making April 15th national elections day. Let's make it happen!

America's Riskiest Real Estate Markets

In cities like San Diego, one of five major metros where transactions rose, that's good news, assuming it's sustained. What makes transaction volume a good indicator is that it shows how easy it is for people to get loans and how much confidence there is in the market. If mortgages are available and buyers have some faith in the value of the home, they're more likely to buy.

San Diego's present conditions suggest that over the next half-year, prices may start to rise. That's because "there's usually a three- to six-month lag between when transactions go up and prices go up," says Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel, a Manhattan real estate appraisal firm.

Another good sign for the coming year? Increased credit availability.

We took into account increased Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSE) loan limits. The new legislation will open up credit in markets such as Sacramento and San Diego by boosting the GSE loan limit by 125% of the median price. That's a huge deal for San Diego, where 18% of the market will see improved lending conditions, based on projections by Radar Logic, a New York-based real estate research firm.

John McCain gets it, at least partially:

McCain proposes consumer tax cuts to boost economy

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain proposed a summer gas tax reduction and other tax cuts on Tuesday in a bid to reassure voters he would help them navigate an ailing economy.

It may be just to get a some votes, but it's the right thing to do whatever his reason for doing it. These would reduce the cost of consumer items, making the consumer's money go further. This effects literally everyone

Obama and Hillary are proud of their willful ignorance:

The Democratic candidates quickly denounced the Arizona senator's ideas as a continuation of the economic policies of unpopular Republican President George W. Bush.

"I don't think America can afford four more years of the failed Bush policies, and that's what he's offering," Illinois Sen. Barack Obama told a gathering of construction labor unions in Washington.

Obama and his rival for the Democratic nomination, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, have accused McCain of being economically illiterate and out of touch with ordinary Americans' pocketbook concerns.

Where do the Democrats get these people that evidently managed to get through advanced degrees in law without understanding economics? Either that or they understand just fine, but are willing to lie and say they're clueless just to get a few more votes. There are precisely three possible cases: Ignorance, Denial, and Pretending Denial.

Whichever it is, nobody rational wants someone in that condition leading the country.

Ted Kennedy wants everyone else to pay their share of estate taxes

The methods the Kennedys use are available to anyone. But they're not exactly chomping at the bit to pay anything more than the absolute minimum they can get away with. All that stuff they want the taxpayers to pay for? They want to pay for it with other people's money.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Estate tax is essentially voluntary, and it's an issue we're all going to have to deal with sooner or later. By refusing to deal with it, you are volunteering to have up to 55% of your estate go to the federal government alone, instead of your heirs.

It's not news, it's Scrappleface! Dems Slam Bush for Latest Unilateral Move: