Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A Matter of Time for a VAT Tax
The insatiable thrust for federal spending continues. The will to correct our fiscal black hole is absent. Even the
Tea Party Republicans lack the strength of determination and votes to reverse the ship of state. No matter which party wins
the next elections, the deficits facing the budget are huge. Until a total reformation of the way the central government functions,
no solution is possible to balance the books. There is no way to escape this stark reality. Expect more gimmicks, additional
devaluation of the currency and the inevitable imposition of new forms of taxes. Read the entire article
10:43 am edt
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Foolish Exporting Natural Gas Policy
The lack of a government policy that promotes domestic energy independence in the United States is a tragic consequence
of playing politics for decades. The current rage is the natural gas boom that offers the alternative of producing a plentiful
and inexpensive source of fuel. Economic prosperity rests upon cheap and reliable power and natural gas offers the best option.
The pricing of natural gas is regional and quite different from trading crude oil. Loren Steffy reports in the Houston Chronicle,
"A surge in drilling for gas from shale formations around the U.S. has generated a glut of natural gas, pushing prices
below $2 per million British thermal units."Forbes set out the basic dilemma that conflict with the true long-term internal
energy benefit, from the use of our own resources, for the national interest. Read the entire article
9:46 am edt
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Corporate Spying and Intellectual Theft
Business secrets have always been the target of competitors snooping. Methods change with the times, but the same intent
behind intellectual theft is ageless. Cyber attacks are a prime example of business hazard and national risk. Remember the
Google incident with China? "In a January 2010 blog post, Google disclosed that it detected the previous month a highly
sophisticated cyber attack originating from China that resulted in the theft of its intellectual property . . . Google said
a wide range of companies were also targeted, including those in the finance, technology, media, and chemical industries.
"This is a big espionage program aimed at getting high-tech information and politically sensitive information."
Read the entire article
7:26 am edt
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
U.S. Corporate Tax Rate Consequences
Now that Japan lowered its own taxes, the U.S. stands on top with the dubious distinction of having the highest corporate
tax rates. Claims that, when you consider all the tax loopholes, subsidies, deductions and tricks, the effective rate is not
really the 35% level seem less reassuring. However, if you view any tax policy that focuses upon revenue collection, you miss
the entire significance of the dynamics in trade. The slogan "Free Trade" applied in real terms, means capitulation
of domestic production and prosperity for the sake of maximum international return on equity. In essence, the global corporatist
supersedes the home domicile country for the joy of worldwide plunder. Read the entire article
2:26 pm edt
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