The American Spectator

The U.N. understand the Obamalinsky style of creating a crisis then doing anything they want in the name of resolving it — even when there is not a sliver of a connection between the crisis and the resolution.

The U.N. are hellbent on transferring wealth — both in the form of unconstitutional taxation and in moving U.S. industries to the former third-world countries. We created the wealth. Our people depend on it for work. The U.N. will move it elsewhere. We pay the price.

It’s bad enough when our own government is transferring wealth inside the U.S., but imagine the U.N. transferring it out of the U.S.

Do we really want to give it to the U.N., one of the greatest enemies of Americans’ well-being?

Come on!
— A.C. Santore

A VIOLIN PLAYING FOR THE TAX WRITERS
Re: J.T. Young’s A Tale of Two Taxes:

J.T. Young’s op-ed “A Tale of Two Taxes” claims that “for Washington’s tax writers, it is the best of times and the worst of times.” I don’t know who is crying for Washington’s tax writers, but for America’s family business owners, it is simply the worst of times.

Young repeats the disingenuous line that the death tax only impacts a “small percentage of respective filers.”  The problem with this claim is that it ignores all the people who don’t pay the tax by spending thousands — and sometimes millions — in tax-planning strategies.  Many family business owners use various legal tax means to reduce their overall liability — at the cost of productive capital.  Liberal-leaning economist Alicia Munnell found that the cost of such tax-sheltering activities actually equals the revenue raised. The family business owners who misallocate capital to avoid a large estate tax liability are certainly affected. 

Furthermore, the tax has secondary consequences on millions more Americans who rely on family businesses for jobs.  When a family business is faced with a large tax burden, it is often the employees whose jobs are on the line.  Economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin found that the Death Tax reduces overall employment in the U.S. by 1.5 million jobs.  

Young also claims that eliminating the death tax would be “expensive.” Yet it is the tax-sheltering activities described above which reduce economic growth and the source for long-run tax revenues.  When a business moves capital away from productive activities, it results in less income for the company and lower tax revenues for Uncle Sam.  Economist Steve Entin has determined that the Death Tax encourages so much capital misallocation that it actually reduces overall tax revenues.  In fact, Entin found that the Death Tax reduces revenues by $2 for every $1 of revenue that it raises.   
— Adam Nicholson
Director of Research, American Family Business Institute

GITMO WELFARE QUEENS

Attorney General Holder says some Gitmo detainees may end up being released in the U.S.; Director of National Intelligence Blair adds that “we need some sort of assistance for them to start a new life.”

I’ve got a new neighbor who’s just moving in.
His life in our country’s about to begin.He’s got an unusual work resume.
Last place of “employment” — Guantanamo Bay.
So, what should I make of this fellow next door.

Can I really believe he’s combative no more?
His terror war’s off ‘cause Obama decrees,
A “Contingency Operation Overseas”?
For DNI Blair, release isn’t enough.
Put detainees on welfare, and give them neat stuff.

And in-state tuition for college, I’ll bet.
No doubt there are Stimulus funds they can get.
Barack’s closing Gitmo; says “the World” did insist.
“Rehabbing” combatants; says they won’t reenlist.

But why only us does he chose to ignore,
By bringing these captured jihadi’s ashore?
This harebrained idea will cause voters to roar.
Most likely in two years and surely in four.
— Asher Embry