Tag Archives: Fiscal Policy

Fix the Mortgage Crisis By Subsidizing More Mortgages

April 1, 2008 – 4:28 pm

Sometimes the federal government is unusually annoying. This is one of those times. Efforts to create new tax breaks to encourage home purchases are gaining attention on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers gird for a major debate this spring on how best to shore up the nation’s troubled mortgage markets. Some Democrats, [...]

By Joe Martin | Posted in Politics | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Chicago: “Don’t Come Here!”

April 1, 2008 – 9:35 am

I was planning on visiting Chicago and doing some exploring with my wife and daughter this summer. Then I read about the cost of visiting Chicago. Starting July 1, a shopping trip to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile will cost more. That’s when the sales tax in the city hits an astronomical 10.25%, which may be [...]

By Joe Martin | Posted in Politics | Also tagged , | Comments (2)

Does the Math Add Up on Allied Drive?

February 29, 2008 – 5:00 pm

I must be missing something, because I don’t understand how this makes any kind of sense: Eventually, Olson said he put up $2 million and got financing from Anchor Bank and First Business Bank, spending an average $250,000 per property and about $130,000 in each to convert them. The project, he said, was a [...]

By Joe Martin | Posted in Politics | Also tagged , | Comments (2)

Silent Cal Speaks His Mind

January 22, 2008 – 9:37 pm

I’ve always liked President Calvin Coolidge. This 1924 White House speech was the first ever White House video recording. How cool is that? And why can’t he run for office in 2008?

By Joe Martin | Posted in Economics, Politics | Also tagged | Comments (0)

Explaining the Mortgage Crisis

January 22, 2008 – 9:34 pm

How dodgy debt is transformed into High Grade Enhanced Securities, sold for million by creative bankers, then recognized as just some dodgy debt.

By Joe Martin | Posted in Humor, Politics | Also tagged , | Comments (1)

Are We Slaves?

January 7, 2008 – 2:51 pm

Are we slaves to the state or are we entitled to the fruits of our own labor? Wisconsin state Senator Jon Erpenbach thinks that we’re slaves to the state: Sen. Jon Erpenbach has proposed a bill that at first glance appears to have nothing to do with video games: It would raise the age [...]

By Joe Martin | Posted in Politics | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Heating Aid, The Right Way

November 20, 2007 – 11:34 pm

Last year I was extremely critical of Governor Doyle’s plan to increase heating aid for poor Wisconsin residents. This year, I’m still critical of the state’s heating aid program. I’m certainly not opposed to helping my poor neighbors. In fact, I don’t really think I have much of a choice in the matter. Matthew 25:34-40 Listen Then [...]

By Joe Martin | Posted in Politics | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Disaster Relief in Bangladesh

November 20, 2007 – 6:56 pm

In case you haven’t been paying attention to the news, a huge cyclone ripped through Bangladesh a few days ago. Soldiers and relief workers raced Monday to get aid to millions left homeless by the cyclone, as officials said the death toll had topped 3,100 and was certain to keep rising. [...]

By Joe Martin | Posted in Politics | Also tagged | Comments (0)

A Borrowers Responsibility

November 18, 2007 – 3:49 pm

Two months ago, I wrote about the sub-prime mortgage “crisis”. Specifically, I wrote about Mrs. Audrey Sweet and her troubles repaying a loan from Countrywide. Two days ago, Mrs. Sweet stopped by our humble blog to plead her case. Countrywide forged my loan documents, they lied about the tax amount and my income to [...]

By Joe Martin | Posted in Politics | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

A War Tax

October 27, 2007 – 9:33 pm

Wisconsin Congressman David Obey wants to pass a war tax. I realize it’s more of a political stunt, but I discovered that I’m not entirely opposed to the idea. Noting that “we need to stop pretending that this war doesn’t cost anything,” Obey also announced that Murtha, McGovern and he will be introducing a [...]

By Joe Martin | Posted in Foreign Policy, Politics | Also tagged , | Comments (1)