A consumption tax would necessitate a shift of tax burden away from wealthier Americans to middle and working class people, because wealthier people save more of their income. All sales taxes and value-added taxes are consumption taxes.

This is 10 years old, but the flat taxes discussed herein are still floating around the wingnut side of DC: [link]

Thank you Kathy A!

Although... how did the remaining leg end up over the bathroom door? The lawnmower couldn't have blown it there....

Speaking of wingnuts, what the heck was Bush thinking with his prime time press conference. After looking over the transcript, it looks like since his private accounts for social security idea isn't getting traction, he's deciding to try to push private accounts plus benefit cuts. That's just weird. Social Security reform isn't going to be happening though so I guess it doesn't matter.

Hi Aimee, fellow Windstar owner. Not too long ago I compared the Windstar's J.D Powers long term reliability ratings with some other vehicles and discovered the Windstar does very well, the same as the Toyota Minivan, not as good as the Honda, but the same or better than all the other Minivans.

what the heck was Bush thinking with his prime time press conference

For real. The networks were ready to organize a tar-and-feathers type of deal for him, horning in on their Thursday nights. His big concession to them was rescheduling his hour so it was 8-9, instead of 8:30-9:30. Disrupt only one hour, you know? Just the highest-rated hours of weekly television, during the first night of Sweeps.

Oh, the policy stuff? I was painting my nails instead. At least this time he was not wearing a mesmerizing necktie.

The networks were ready to organize a tar-and-feathers type of deal for him, horning in on their Thursday nights.

And there was nothing new. Take out the high gas prices references and he could have given the same opening statement 6 months ago. I get why he did it, but ya gotta have something or nobody will care.

Edit: I did get something new out it. It convinced me that Bush is done. Lame duck.

Although... how did the remaining leg end up over the bathroom door? The lawnmower couldn't have blown it there....

To accommodate the potty humor angle, of course! This song was usually sung before or after the Helen Keller and "man with no arms and no legs" jokes were pulled out, as well as any current gross humor that was floating around (I still remember a few Natalie Wood and Grace Kelly jokes 20 years later).

That's a relief, as my parents drive one.

I took today as a leave day to cope with a splitting yet non-migraine-y headache, but managed to be productive nonetheless. I cleared a stopped drain, took trash out, paid bills, got an affadavit notarized, switched my cable setup, and finally found out what the third song was in my earworm trifecta that I can never recall when near a computer: "Train in Vain" by the Clash. (Exile's "Kiss You all Over" and Tesla's "Love Song" being the other two.)

You are amazing, Matt, to do all that with a headache. I have a hard time being that productive without one.

Timelies all!

You know, it's just wrong to have to defrost your windshield in May...