dagblog - Comments for "David Brooks, the insouciant conservative."

Agree that Will is off

Oxy Mora — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:43:24 +0000

In reply to Brooks and Will both claim a

Agree that Will is off putting; but on the other hand he doesn't make rookie mistakes on facts.

Brooks is not objectionable in persona but cherry picking a single poll result and then making a blanket comparison to the 1930's when 5 minutes of research brings up the 1935 Gallup poll is inexcusable, imo. Or heedless, or carefree attitude, kinda lazy---that kind of definition.

There are coalitions in a

Elusive Trope — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:38:54 +0000

In reply to A woman I know used a fast

There are coalitions in a number of communities across the country working to provide free tax services to the low and moderate income households. AARP is one the biggest players, providing it to everyone, not just seniors. These coalitions are always looking for volunteers to help out, and not just to assist in preparing taxes - although they could use help there, too. Potential tax preparer volunteers do need to go through a little training, but you don't need a CPA background. So if one is looking for a way to volunteer that makes a difference, this is one option.

A woman I know used a fast

Oxy Mora — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:30:09 +0000

In reply to No problem. For the past

A woman I know used a fast refund service. After it was completed and she left the office the service revised the return and over-deducted, somehow pocketing the difference. Eventually she was audited and it took a lawyer and several years to straighten out the mess. Glad you are working to prevent this particular form of fraud.

It is conundrum for me as

Elusive Trope — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:29:13 +0000

In reply to What's your take on

It is conundrum for me as well. I guess the whole embracing of the "family" perspective is so deeply woven into the culture(s) in America that it is just one of those challenges to be put aside for the time being (in part because America itself isn't a major factor in population explosion).

EITC does stop with I believe three children. So you receive the same credit if you have three children or seven.

What's your take on

Verified Atheist — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:01:10 +0000

In reply to No problem. For the past

What's your take on "encouraging" people to have children? I think we have similar beliefs about the overpopulation problem, but at the same time, once children are born, I don't want their needs to go unmet. It provides a real logical conundrum to me.

No problem. For the past

Elusive Trope — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:58:08 +0000

In reply to Thanks for the details. I

No problem. For the past couple of years I've been working with free tax preparation initiatives that push the EITC. There is a whole system (with HR Block in the lead) set up to get people in poverty to go through them for a quick refund, at a nice cost, and then a up front loan. They provide a debit card, which then swipes off up to 10% on each transaction. It is all part of the large check cashing/payday loan system that takes money from those who can least afford it.

Brooks and Will both claim a

Richard Day — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:51:09 +0000

In reply to David Brooks, the insouciant conservative.

Brooks and Will both claim a Buckley heritage.

The funny thing about Brooks is that he does not get mad like Will and he does not make me mad like Will does.

Will masks (ineffectually in my opinion) a real hatred toward the peasants. George always retreats to his bag of tricks (the gd Federalist Papers) in order to find scholarly reasons to slap down the poor and honor the moneyed oligarchy.

Will is a prick of the first order.

Brooks, on the other hand, appears to really believe what he writes. And his opinions are all over the place.

Therefore, Will really is a corporate front.

Brooks is also a corporate front, he just does not really know he is. hahahahah

Thanks for the details. I

Verified Atheist — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:28:40 +0000

In reply to The wrinkle with EITC to keep

Thanks for the details. I readily cop to being mostly ignorant about EITC other than the general theory.

The wrinkle with EITC to keep

Elusive Trope — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:25:41 +0000

In reply to The EITC does require them to

The wrinkle with EITC to keep in mind is that is provides a higher payout the more one earns, until an individual reaches a particular point. In this way it does offer the individual an incentive to increase their income.

Moreover, it is primarily a credit that is effective for those households with children. Individual household without children I believe cannot claim after they make something like 12K.

Ultimately, EITC is a supplement to an income for a family. At best they might receive back 3K (which is a nice chunk), but the average credit for individuals is about 1.2K. Hardly enough to shift someone out of their current economic position for the most part.

The EITC does require them to

Verified Atheist — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:15:10 +0000

In reply to Good points, both of you.

The EITC does require them to work, however. I'm of two minds on the EITC. On one hand, it seems reasonably effective. On the other, it underwrites corporations' willingness to pay less than a living wage. Of course, raising minimum wage (the most reasonable alternative, I believe) could result in lower employment, so maybe EITC is the best solution we have while not being a great solution.