A flat tax is advertised as the “freedom tax,” in which everyone pays taxes at a fixed marginal rate—such as 10%. Salaried workers pay by withholding from each paycheck, and never have to submit a tax return. It sounds good because it’s simple, but is it good? Continue reading
Blog » Governance »
Blog 122. What’s driving us crazy?
I hear folks complain that the overload of information and change is driving us crazy. A phone call used to be a rare interruption. Now, even robo calls “reach out and touch someone.” Continue reading
Blog 120. Whimsical growth
A kindly subscriber heard me telling this tale, and suggested the following outrageous story be offered for public amusement here. What happens if something doubles every day? Continue reading
Blog 119. Arctic ice, blue lies, and echo chambers
Why does climate denial flourish despite the evident facts of melting polar ice and the increasing blanket of greenhouse gases? Logic isn’t the answer.
Blog 118. Can Arctic Ice Cool Your Cocktail?
How come the scientific news seems flooded (as it were) by the melting of arctic ice? After all, is the arctic really melting? Should we believe all of the alarm over a little cold water? Let’s look at the data. Continue reading
Blog 117. Barking up the wrong tree?
The scientific societies are barking, complaining about the anti-science movement in the federal budget. Continue reading
Blog 116. Understanding the social angst
There’s an angst in American society that has no single focus, no single cause. Why do the political right and the political left promote simplistic, unrealistic solutions? Because the system itself promotes those who promote the problems. Continue reading
Blog 112. A frosty morning for the New Year
Here’s a photo of a frosty holiday morning in California. The frost illustrates the physics that determines the global climate. And climate is but one of the current worries of scientific associations, who worry about a frosty government. Continue reading