Note in last sentence "Uncle Sam is no longer helping carry." I'm not an accountant but lowering the allowable interest and tax deduction to $10,000 the tax bill is making the wealthy to rich pay more federal taxes because they can't write it off. Hence gnashing of teeth that the world's coming to an end.

Republicans Bet The Farm

"....And the Democratic Party has also been put into a tight box.

As Democrats have denounced the tax bill for exploding the debt by $1.5 trillion, how do they propose to pay for all the free stuff, including free tuition and infrastructure, that they will have on offer?

There are only two options: borrowing and growing the national debt themselves or raising taxes, as Mondale promised to do.

Another problem for Democrats is the new $10,000 limit on the tax deduction for state and local income and property taxes.

In blue states like Oregon, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Hawaii, the top state income tax rate is 8 to 10 percent. In Jerry Brown’s California and Andrew Cuomo’s New York, it hits 13 percent — before adding property taxes on homes and condos in Manhattan and second homes out on Long Island.

Virtually eliminating state and local tax deductions is going to cause some of the rich to consider relocating to low-tax or no-tax red states in the Sun Belt like Florida. And it is going to put pressure on blue state pols to cease adding to the state and local tax burdens that Uncle Sam is no longer helping to carry....."

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-12-22/republicans-bet-farm

7 Comments

Entry #3,508

December 22, 2017
9:44 am

Apple sued after it admits to slowing down older iPhones

Apple sued after it admits to slowing down older iPhones

"Apple is being sued after it admitted to slowing down older iPhone models to keep them running longer.

On Wednesday, the U.S. technology giant said that it has algorithms in place to help keep an iPhone running at optimal performance if there is an older battery inside that can't keep up with the required power. The aim is to stop unexpected shutdowns of older iPhones and keep them running to the best possible standard.

However, Stefan Bogdanovich and Dakota Speas brought a class action lawsuit in California — where they are residents — against Apple, an official filing revealed Thursday. ..."

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/22/apple-sued-after-it-admits-to-slowing-down-older-iphones.html

2 Comments

Entry #3,507

December 21, 2017
11:25 pm

"It's The Most Wonderful Time in 8 Years" (vid)

Oops almost forgot - trigger warning.

Hilarious Trump Christmas Parody “It’s The Most Wonderful Time in 8 Years” (vid)

2 Comments

Entry #3,506

December 21, 2017
8:13 pm

House IT Aides Ran Car Dealership With Markings Of A Nefarious Money Laundering Operation

House IT Aides Ran Car Dealership With Markings Of A Nefarious Money Laundering Operation

LUKE ROSIAK
Source: Daily Caller

"....While Imran and Abid Awan ran their car dealership in Falls Church, Va. in the early part of the decade, Drug Enforcement Agency officials a few miles away in Chantilly were learning that the Iranian-linked terrorist group frequently deployed used car dealerships in the US to launder money and fund terrorism, according to an explosive new Politico expose.

The money that disappeared between the Awans’ dealership, some $7 million in congressional pay, the equipment suspected of disappearing from Congress under their watch, and their other side businesses — all while they displayed few signs of wealth and frequently haggled in court over small amounts of money — raise questions about whether the Awans might have been laundering money or sending it to a third party.

“Based on the modest way Awan was living, it is my opinion that he was sending most of his money to a group or criminal organization that could very well be connected with the Pakistani government,” said Wayne Black, a private investigator who served as law enforcement group supervisor in Janet Reno’s Miami public corruption unit. “My instincts tell me Awan was probably operating a foreign intelligence gathering operation on US soil.” ..."

http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/19/house-it-aides-ran-car-dealership-with-markings-of-a-nefarious-money-laundering-operation/

4 Comments

Entry #3,505

December 21, 2017
7:52 pm

Those Greedy, Churlish Capitalists Are Foiling Democrats Again

THOSE GREEDY, CHURLISH CAPITALISTS ARE FOILING DEMOCRATS AGAIN

"....Leftists are probably gnashing their teeth at the disparity between how corporations behaved under Obama and under Trump. What could possibly explain this obvious unfairness?

It’s called incentives or, more broadly, economic reality."

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/12/those-greedy-churlish-capitalists-are-foiling-democrats-again.php

2 Comments

Entry #3,504

December 21, 2017
6:33 pm

United States Sanctions Human Rights Abusers and Corrupt Actors Across the Globe

United States Sanctions Human Rights Abusers and Corrupt Actors Across the Globe

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0243

Executive Order Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-blocking-property-persons-involved-serious-human-rights-abuse-corruption/

4 Comments

Entry #3,503

December 21, 2017
5:56 pm

Trump Left On An Unannounced Trip. He Didn't Take Questions, But His Destination Speaks Volumes [PHO

I pray for a day we have peace but until that day it's wonderful that such a busy President is taking and has taken times to be with the troops to show his sincere appreciation and support for them.