February 28th, 2008 · 1 Comment
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The following was sent to me in an email by a friend:
CLEAR EXPLANATION OF TAX CUTS…
Sometimes politicians, journalists and others exclaim: “It’s just a tax cut
for the rich!” and it is just accepted to be fact, without questioning it.
But what does that really mean?
Just in case you are not completely clear on this issue, the following might
help. Let’s put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand.
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten
men comes to $100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like
this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth man would pay $1
The sixth man would pay $3
The seventh man would pay $7
The eighth man would pay $12
The ninth man would pay $18
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that’s what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the
arrangement, until one day when the owner threw them a curve. The owner of
the bar said, “Since you are all such good customers, I’m going to reduce
the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the
first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what
about the other six men-the paying customers? How could they divide the $20
windfall so that everyone would get his “fair share”?
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that
from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end
up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would
be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he
proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth man now paid $2 instead of $3 (a 33% savings).
The seventh man now paid $5 instead of $7 (a 28% savings).
The eight man now paid $9 instead of $12 (a 25 % savings).
The ninth man now paid $14 instead of $18 ( a 22% savings).
The tenth man now paid $49 instead of $59 (a 16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to
drink for free. But once outside the restaurant-bar, the men began to
compare their savings.
“I only got a dollar out of the $20,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to
the tenth man and said, “.but he got $10!”.
“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too.
It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I did!”
“That’s true!!!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when
I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!”
“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!”
The nine men surrounded the tenth man and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine men
satdown and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill,
they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between
all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, democrats and
republicans, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest
taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack
them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact,
they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat
friendlier.
(Written by David R. Kamerschen, PhD, Professor of Economics, University of Georgia).
Here is my response to Mr. Kamerschen and his World of numbers and right wing disposition:
Oh, you didn’t hear the rest of this story…….
The 10th man owned a doughnut shop where the first five men bought a bunch of doughtnuts each day. The 6th through 9th men, were employees of the 10th man at the doughnut shop and were paid very little by that 10th man.
Men 1 through 5 weren’t as saavy with their savings and had very little money due in large part to the large sums of money they spent buying doughnuts from the 10th man who consistently rose his prices. Men 6 through 9 did not see raises from the 10th man as his employees, eventhough the 10th man raised the prices on his doughnuts and increased revenue at his doughnut shop at a good rate. In addition, the 10th man made his doughnuts smaller over time while asking for more money and also asked Men 6 through 9 to work longer hours to keep their jobs or he was going to replace them with other workers.
Before going out for beers the night in question, Men 1-9 all read in Forbes Magazine how Man #10 was on the Top 10 richest men in the country list and how his CEO salary with options had exploded from the year before. Man #10 was lauded by the writer for increasing the company’s bottom line by cutting cost like salary and increasing price per unit on doughnuts along with saving money on materials by using less dough to make smaller doughnuts.
Men 1 through 9 felt exploited by this because they were buying Man #10’s products and working for him but they were getting less and less from him. They overlooked it because, afterall, they were drinking buddies. However, after a night of drinks when better judgement can become distorted. Men 1 through 9 were sent over the edge when they learned that not only did this guy exploit them with his doughnut shop, he now gets to pocket even more money because the bar owner is giving him more money back on the bill. They thought, the least he could do, since they are buying all his products and working long hours to sell his products with diminishing benefits is give them back a litte more when it comes time sit down and have drinks.
So, angry because they can’t pay their bills at home, feed their children or put clothes on their backs plus they are now getting nothing back from the drinks bill being cut, they turned on Man #10 who seems unsympathetic to their plight despite the fact that Men 1 through 9 did a lot to get Man #10 to where he is now.
Man #10 moved out of the country, only to find out that people aren’t buying his doughnuts like the do in his native land. He returned back to this country, looked for another place to set up his doughnut shop but used his money to fight for relaxed gun control laws so he can protect himself from more men like 1 through 9 because he intends to exploit them like he did the others. Meanwhile, the new 1 through 9 had to dodge bullets going to and from work because their neighborhoods are flooded with weapons due in large part to the relaxed gun control laws lobbied for by the rich Man #10 but hey, rich man #10 doesn’t care because he doesn’t live in their neighborhood, he just needs those people to make those doughnuts and buy those doughnuts so he can get the new Benz, that 12,000 sq foot mansion and helicopter that men 1 through 9 can view on the show on VH1 about Man #10.
And that boys and girls, Democrats and Republicans is how this country works. Keep letting the rich get richer off of the backs of the poor and watch the gap widen between the two. Suddenly the have nots get desperate and feel contempt for the haves who continue to exploit them. Soon we have a society where crime is of the essence. The rich can try it overseas but they most certainly will realize that the grass is not greener on that side and come back to the country where there is more money and people to exploit than anywhere else in the world.
Chad Wilson
Miramar, FL
Tags: Miscellaneous
February 26th, 2008 · 6 Comments
Sure the NFL combine is good theatre but I just can’t get over how unnecessary this whole festival is. First of all, I don’t think the NFL combine should be for Division-I athletes. Or at the very least, I don’t think NFL scouts should invite starters on the division I teams. The NFL combine should be a place for football players who did not receive exposure all season long like the I-AA, Division II, Division III and NAIA football players. Those are the guys you need to run through the drills because you have some misgivings about who you’ve seen them compete against on film. I think those are the athletes that need to be evaluated in the 40 yard dash, vertical jump, 3 cone drill, up and back drill, the go forward and comeback drill, the drop down, get back up and drop down again drill. The lay on your stomach and then run from side to side then turnaround and sprint then comeback drill.
As for the Division I athletes, everything I need to know about a prospect, I can find watching him film. If I watch Darren McFadden split the LSU’s safeties and then outrun their entire secondary for a 60 yard touchdown, running 4.6 at the combine is not going to erase what I saw on film. After my senior season at the University of Miami, I had a scout come in and measure the length from the tip of my pinky to the tip of my thumb. Are you friggin kidding me? Maybe that’s why I wasn’t drafted.
The NFL combine is no more than a glorified Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for athletes. It’s something to do when there’s no football to be played. Take a look at the top 40 times posted at NFL combine from 2000-2007:
4.28 - Jerome Mathis, (WR), Hampton - 2005
4.29 - Stanford Routt, (CB), Houston - 2005
4.29 - *Fabian Washington, (CB), Nebraska - 2005
4.30 - Darrent Williams, (CB), Oklahoma State - 2005
4.30 - Yamon Figurs, (WR), Kansas State - 2007
4.31 - Aaron Lockett, (WR), Kansas State - 2002
4.31 - *Johnathan Joseph, (CB), South Carolina - 2006
4.31 - Santana Moss, (WR), Miami - 2001
4.32 - Kevin Garrett, (CB), Southern Methodist - 2003
4.32 - Chris McKenzie, (CB), Arizona State - 2005
4.32 - Tim Carter, (WR), Auburn - 2002
4.32 - Antwan Harris, (CB), Virginia - 2000
4.32 - *Troy Williamson, (WR), South Carolina - 2005
4.32 - *Chad Jackson, (WR), Florida - 2006
4.32 - Tim Jennings, (CB), Georgia - 2006
4.32 - Jason Hill, (WR), Washington State - 2007
4.32 - *Chris Houston, (CB), Arkansas - 2007
4.33 - Carlos Francis, (WR), Texas Tech - 2004
4.33 - Chris Chambers, (WR), Wisconsin - 2001
4.34 - Domonique Foxworth, (CB), Maryland - 2005
4.34 - Tyrone Calico, (WR), Middle Tennessee State - 2003
4.34 - *Ahmad Carroll, (CB), Arkansas - 2004
4.34 - Dunta Robinson, (CB), South Carolina - 2004
4.34 - B.J. Tucker, (CB), Wisconsin - 2003
4.34 - Ken-Yon Rambo, (WR), Ohio State - 2001
Any of these names blow you away. Santana Moss and Chris Chambers are probably the most notable names on the list and while they performed in the NFL, neither have been able to establish themselves as #1 receivers on any of the teams they have played with. On several others, it may be too soon but even as rookies or 2nd, 3rd year players, they have not been able to make a big splash. There are tons of other players who are not on this list who showed that they were players on the field in college football and by God, they continued to do that in the NFL. Bottom line, if you can play then you can play whether or not you can run fast in some tights and track spikes on turf.
Tags: Chad Wilson
February 23rd, 2008 · 3 Comments
We’ve all heard the saying that even a “blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while” well that’s how I feel about the NCAA ruling yesterday to restore 8 wins originally taken from the Oklahoma Sooners football program in the 2005 season. If you recall some of my earlier postings, I was ranting about the NCAA needing to recognize that it can only fix things moving forward and cannot attempt to rewrite history. Perhaps someone in Kansas was reading this blog? I doubt it but none the less, it was nice to see that justice was served.
I have never been for the “rewriting” of history, it doesn’t serve a purpose. It also goes against our sensibility as human beings because we watches the games that Oklahoma won in 2005, we know they won them and then some “Governing Body” is going to tell us disregard what we watched and pretend it didn’t happen. Well, it doesn’t work that way and deep down I think the NCAA is beginning to understand this.
The real test for me will be what they do when all the information is out about ex-USC Trojan and former Heisman winner Reggie Bush. As you know from my past work, if the NCAA tries to take wins away from USC or even their 2004 National Title, it will be one of the silliest and morally bankrupt rulings in the history of college sports. Like Oklahoma’s situation, what may have went on with Bush was not institutional in that USC did not know of it nor did they condone it.
Anyway, enough with USC and Reggie Bush for now. I am taking this time to give kudos to the NCAA for giving Oklahoma their wins back. Now the 2005 Oklahoma Sooners can proudly say that they were 8-4 rather than 0-4 as the NCAA has originally dictated. LOL
Tags: Emil Calomino
February 22nd, 2008 · 4 Comments
In honor of the NFL Combine which kicks off it’s workouts this Saturday, let’s take look at some who have ripped off some of the fastest 40 times in history.
Much has been said about Bo Jackson’s speed. His fastest 40 was 4.12.
Current Patriots Wide Receiver Randy Moss clocked a 4.25 in a 40 yard dash once.
Hershell Walker ran a 4.25 for the Dallas Cowboys back in the day.
Still talked about to this day is Deion Sanders’ 4.21 forty yard dash at the NFL Combine. Sanders is said to have continued running through the 40 yard finish line and to the tunnel waving to coaches in attendance and telling them he will see them on draft day. Typical Deion.
Other speedy 40 yard gobblers
Ike Taylor: 4.18
Laveranues Coles: 4.16
Ahman Green: 4.19
Kevin Curtis: 4.21
Donte Stallworth: 4.22
Willie Parker: 4.23
Champ Bailey: 4.28
Darrell Green: 4.09
Joey Galloway: 4.18
Willis McGahee: 4.28 (pre knee injury)
Alexander Wright: 4.09
Ever wonder what Bullet Bob Hayes would have run in the 40 yard dash? Sprinter Maurice Green had a 40 yard time split during a 100 meter race timed at 4.24 seconds. Given the variables of reacting to a starters gun and the electronic timing, Green’s 40 yard dash would have converted to anywhere from 4.00 to 4.14 hand timed.
I personally observed track star Henry Neal run a 4.20 40 yard dash for the Miami Dolphins and I must say, that was pretty impressive. It was the fastest 40 yard dash I ever personally witnessed. However, I did have the displeasure of covering Joey Galloway as a rookie in Seattle Seahawks camp as a defensive back and I will say that he was every bit of 4.1 to 4.2 in the 40 yard dash back then.
Here’s to all of the potential rookies trying to grab a hold of the millions of dollars at stake on that 40 yard strip of turf in the Indianapolis RCA Dome. May a 4.1 or 4.2 forty be in the cards for you but I doubt it.
Tags: Chad Wilson
Can you feel it in the air, spring training is upon us! No matter what the knuckleheads in Congress, Bud Selig, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite or whomever do; they can’t kill Major League Baseball. I love baseball as I am sure many of you do as well. I am really excited about the upcoming season as I see so many different story lines developing. The Red Sox vs the Yankees, the Mets vs the Phillies, can the Rockies do what they did last year, what will Joe Torre do in Los Angeles?
I love to watch football on TV but to me my favorite sport to follow is baseball. The fact that they play every day fits my personality better than football. Truthfully, when my football team loses I can’t handle thinking about it for a week. I like baseball because when you watch a game and your team loses, the next game is usually the next day or at most in two days if they are traveling. I plan to do a lot with baseball in this space during the season and as the season approaches. One thing I will do is a complete break-down by division to preview the season. Next week, I will start with the AL East. Please keep checking back and give me your thoughts on the season and my previews.
Tags: Emil Calomino
Another sport, another attempt at a comeback. America’s favorite windbag receiver, Keyshawn Johnson is contemplating a comeback but no one is urging this other than Keyshawn. Miami has luke warm interest but after going 1-15 last year, the Dolphins are interested in football players from American Somoa to Malaysia. Keyshawn should spare us all the image of him in pads trying to be the star he never was and just stay in that ESPN studio. Someone has to give that NFL Countdown some reason to watch after Emmit Smith bumbles around the show like he has a fresh concussion. Keyshawn says he likes challenges and the thought of leading a team to the Super Bowl really interests him. Hey, Keyshawn, if you couldn’t lead a team there when you were 25, what in Sam Hell Houston, makes you think you are going to do that at 35. Let the camera find you in front of it next football season because it will be a whole lot easier than you finding the endzone or maybe in the gameplan for a NFL team. Repeatedly looking at the image with this story may force Keyshawn to come to his senses.
Tags: Chad Wilson
If your list of possible steroid users is not long enough, reinsert Juan Gonzalez back into the game. Two plus years removed from his last plate appearance, the one time RBI machine and pitcher terrorist has reappeared with the St. Louis Cardinals. More fun for reporters as they get to ask more steroid questions this spring as Gonzalez’s name turned up in the Mitchell Report. Word is that he’s more slim and trim ala Pudge Rodriguez his former slugging mate in Texas. The talk is also that he is swinging the bat well but the questions linger. Can he make the club? If he does make the club, can he make it through 162 games. Gonzalez’s body was failing him before he took his hiatus. Juan better be cool on the homeruns because if hits too many, he will be avalanched with steroid questions like a Vermont skiier. Full story on Juan’s return can be found by clicking here.
Tags: Chad Wilson
Who was the NFL’s leading rusher in 1981 and how many yards did he rush for? This player led the league in rushing only once in his career and played only seven seasons in the NFL ending his career with the Washington Redskins in 1987. Post a comment to this with your answer. Let’s see who will be first.
Tags: Miscellaneous
February 18th, 2008 · 1 Comment
If anyone watched O.J Mayo’s 4 point, 10 turnover performance Sunday vs UCLA, it’s evident that this guy isn’t ready for the NBA yet. While Mayo turning pro after his freshman year at USC would be a big mistake, it would be a bigger mistake if he did and some NBA team took this guy in the first round. After all, he looked really average against UCLA, not the Spurs, Pistons or Celtics.
I am not saying Mayo will not be a great player someday, however, right now he looks like well a freshman in college. I know ever since Kobe and then LeBron went pro right out of high school all these young kids think they can do that as well but for every Kobe Bryant who makes it from high school, there are 15 kids who you never hear about.
My suggestion for Mr. Mayo is enjoy another year or three at USC and then turn pro. I am sure with some good coaching along with developing the mental side of his game, Mayo could be an NBA star someday. At this point though, if Mayo thinks he can turn pro and be productive at that level, he along with his advisers are deluding themselves.
Tags: Emil Calomino
The football season is over and the junkies are going through cold sweats and other withdrawal symptoms. If you are that hard up, try some nostalgia. Look at Super Bowl 14 between the Rams and Steelers on YouTube. It’s cut up into several parts but if you were born before 1972, you will find this interesting in some kind of way. Just the old CBS Football music will take you back in time. To view the rest, just go to youtube.com and put in Rams v. Steelers in the search box.
Tags: Miscellaneous
