Top Down Economic Policies

It amazes me how confused people get when discussing economics.  I would not be amazed if they were confused as to how the elasticity of demand is one of the most important things for companies to understand when deciding the marginal product they want to supply.  That's confusing and I do not know all that goes into that.  But understanding the media frenzy that is covering this so called "top down" economic approach should be much easier.

The Republican candidate for president, Mitt Romney, I believe wants to reduce all marginal tax rates by roughly 20%.  He also wants to eliminate enough loop holes and cut spending enough to make this change deficit neutral.  Eliminating loop holes meaning the deductions that many companies take advantage of in order to get around paying taxes.

Obviously since the rich and upper class citizens pay the most taxes and the highest marginal tax rates already, they will receive the largest tax cut.  When the poorest 50% of Americans pay around 3% of the taxes, how can you give that group a comparable tax cut anyways?  The fact is when it comes to Federal Income Taxes, the rich pay the most of the taxes by far.  Thus they will receive the largest tax cut.  That should be simple to understand.

Furthermore, cutting taxes for those making over $250,000 a yr in income/profit will cut taxes for the most important among us.  That is the larger of the "small businesses" in our society.  These companies are responsible for most of the jobs that are lost or created in our nation.  These companies usually file their taxes under individual taxed income and thus to reduce their taxes you have to cut taxes on the very rich.  Why do this?  If you cut taxes on people who create jobs and produce goods, they will be willing to produce more and thus hire more workers.  It allows them to invest more money to expand their business which is what we need right now with unemployment at 8.2% and the real unemployment being much higher than that when you calculate those who have stopped looking for a job because of discouragement or have taken a part time job for the moment.

The purpose of taxation is to raise money for the government to provide services.  The best way to do this is by raising money without impeding the economy.  That is what Mitt Romney wants to do.  Or at least that is what he says.  Forget about politicians for a moment.  That is what I and other people who understand economics wants.

Those who are against the "top down" approach are people who do not see taxation this way.  They see taxation as a way to more equally redistribute wealth.  To take from those who are the richest and most successful to help those less fortunate.  That sounds good even if it is immoral from a liberty standpoint.  But even if you think its benefits outweigh the costs when it comes to the morality argument, how about the economic argument?  If you tax the rich and the businesses who hire people and the economy continues to slowly progress or even go back into another recession, millions of more people will be negatively affected for many more years than would have benefited short term by the benefits of receiving government assistance through higher taxation.

I for one want to use taxation the way it needs to be.  Raise money for the federal government to do what the Constitution allows it to do while not impeding the economy from being a well oiled wealth creating machine!

Where did the time go part II

Personally I am doing really well right now.  I have recently lost some weight and would like to continue this. Such an important part of my life.  The motivation is coming from all over the place.  But most importantly I want to get or stay healthy.

I am still single but I go out and date I guess you could say.  This might be one of the motivating factors of me wanting to lose weight.  I have been seeing some people more regularly but nothing serious.  They are all more attractive than me so maybe that is why I need to lose more weight... haha

As a strong big tough guy I'd like to say I'm always strong but the truth is I have many weaknesses.  I live alone now and often get lonely.  Not that depressed lonely but I have almost always lived with someone.  I moved out of home as a Freshmen in college playing a little baseball and have not moved back home but for one year since.  But I have always lived with my future best man and younger brother or one of my best friends.  So this is different.  Humans are designed to be social.  And I'm a very social person.  Nothing wrong with admitting when you get lonely from time to time.

I deal with anxiety sometimes.  That is embarrassing to admit.  I really have little to get anxious about.  I have a good life as it is right now.  I have a good job and I'm doing what I love.  I am in good health.  But I worry about that.  I have never been one to get sick hardly ever in fact and have had very very little health issues in the past.  But I still worry about that from time to time and that is probably one of the motivating factors with wanting to get into shape.

Most importantly is someone's spiritual life.  I can tell you right now that I do not stack up to my family.  I have two of the most God loving brothers in the world.  That is not a joke.  I have another brother that is married and seems to have kind of rededicated himself spiritually and a sister that has had life change recently and is also on fire for Christ.  My parents are as well and possible motivated by recent changes in our lives attending one of the greatest churches in east Tennessee at Northstar Church.

I personally am battling things and need to be better.  Prayer is needed.  I have been a Sunday Christian for a while now.  Don't get me wrong I still witness some and talk about Christ.  But I do not live it like I use to. I need to work on that as much as anything in life.

My church and family are awesome.  Personally I'm in such a great position in life.  My lifestyle has changed recently with exercise and eating right and trying to get in the scripture.  I have a long ways to go.  I guess until I die I will have to work on it.

I love America as well and will continue to blog and talk about politics and economics in our society.  Which is what I will begin doing once again with my next blog entry.

Where did the time go?

By my account it has been since February that I have blogged.  I apologize to those of you that occasionally read my blog for political commentary and other things.  I am ashamed that I have not prioritized this as much as I should have.  I will most likely bring some more political commentary with an emphasis on the economics of some current events and the upcoming presidential election in the near future.  But today lets get caught back up.

My life has changed a lot since I last blogged.  That has been like a 1/2 year so that is to go expected.  I still teach at Stone Memorial High School and love it.  Some things have changed.

I no longer teach Economics! Not happy about that but there is no economics offered at my school now.  I do not like nor agree with that decision.  I won't bore you with why it has been dropped.  Instead i am teaching U.S. History.  Not just any history but the Advanced Placement and Honors History courses.  Kind of excited about this considering I get the brightest of students.  But doing AP things is a little nerve wracking.  In fact doing this, golf, basketball, and baseball as well as PA responsibilities will keep me busy the next 10 months I'm sure.

I no longer coach girls basketball.  I will miss those girls.  I think from a Junior Varsity/Freshmen standpoint we have two of the most if not the most successful seasons ever at SMHS.  I had a small part in that but the players of course had the largest impact there.  My coaching style was not always appreciated by all.  That is to be expected in high school.  Coaching girls is also different.  I'm sure I will blog about this alone in the future about why I treat girls and guys very much the same on the court and in the classroom.  For the most part, I feel that I was appreciated and well liked by most all the girls and parents.  

After going to the Semi-finals in the TSSAA state tournament, the head coaching position opened up this past off-season and I applied for it.  I did not get the head coaching position.  Why? Well probably a lack of support from some.  I'm not too upset about it now but those reasons are the human reasons that "I" see.  But as a human "I" am very limited as to what I can see.  My relationship with God needs much work but I know he still guides me and loves me and the reason I did not get it is simple... God did not want that for me.

That is hard to accept because a head coach is what I want to be.  But to be honest I'm much better off now.  I am Neil Capps' assistant with the boy's basketball team.  Coach Capps has as much integrity as anyone in Crossville in my opinion.  In the summer that I worked with them I have changed the way I would have ran a practice prob by nearly 20%.  That means I have learned a ton in such a short time.  I'm learning from him and he learned from one of the best college coaches around and one of the best high school coaches around in Coach Buck.  I am now better prepared to be a head coach by far just a few months after I would cry and whine about not getting the girls head job.  How foolish huh?  I still have some disappointment about it but I am very much at peace in what I'm doing now.

For the record.. the guy they hired... Coach Walker... was an excellent choice.  I'd say people in authority would be impressed with the way me and him are already becoming good friends.  Some might have feared that I would have butt heads with whoever they brought in.  That is just part of my job though and stupid anyways.  Why in the world would I hold anything against the new coach?  There is nothing to be impressed with there.  People need to be professional in their lives and not be excited when someone does what they are suppose to do.  We have a great relationship and is fun to work with.  I hope he does well.

I'll cover more personal/spiritual things in my next blog which I plan to post sooner than the next half year.