The 2 Percent Solution
December 14, 2010It is no surprise that President Obama’s fellow “progressives” were dismayed at his agreement to continue the Bush-era income tax rates for everyone, including high earners. But their reaction to his deal with Republicans on Social Security taxes is revealing. The president was very pleased that Republicans agreed to reduce workers’ Social Security taxes by two percentage points next year. This break, which replaces the “Making Work Pay” credit that …
Living Without Reserves
November 10, 2010The residents at my condominium voted last night, as they do every year, not to put money aside for the big-ticket repairs and renovations we will someday have to undertake. I am always part of the minority that thinks we should put money into reserve funds, even though it would raise our monthly condo fees — which are not cheap to begin with — by 5 to 10 percent. But …
New U.S. Long-Term Care Plan Misses The Mark
June 10, 2010The recently passed health care reform bill reminds me of the cuisine at the Cheesecake Factory: It attempts to cover so many items (where else can you get Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp with a side of Buffalo Blasts?) that nothing is quite right. Like many items at the Factory, the little-known Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act that was included in the health care overhaul has an …
On Tap For Seniors: The Un-COLA
October 16, 2009For decades, politicians have obliged senior citizens who pleaded for help because fixed incomes were not keeping up with the rising cost of living. Retirees should be in pretty good shape now that the cost of living is falling, but lawmakers are still eager to hand out goodies to this influential voting bloc. Which is why Washington is likely to soon send checks to Social Security recipients to make up …
For Same-Sex Couples, Love Ain’t Cheap
October 15, 2009They say the best things in life are free. Being with a partner you love is certainly one of the best things in life, but, if you happen to be gay, it’s far from free. Two New York Times writers, Tara Siegel Bernard and Ron Lieber, recently attempted to calculate the price of being gay in America. While they acknowledge that the emotional costs of fighting prejudice are incalculable, they …
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