This user-friendly site estimates the total taxes you would probably pay under both plans. Click on the “Show Detail” button after you get to the first summary page to see how these figures compare to an estimate of what you’d be paying under current law. This model was created by Quantrix and Jeff Gramlich, a professor at the University of Southern Maine, using research from the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan project of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution.
This site, run by an apparent Obama supporter, gives you a side-by-side comparison of the change in your tax liability. If you choose an income level at which you will likely see a tax increase under Senator Obama’s plan, it initially soft-pedals the result (”You probably will not get an Obama tax cut. This calculation is not perfect, and Obama has recently promised not to raise taxes for anyone making less than $250,000 per year.”) But at least it gives you the numbers. The calculations appear to also be derived from an analysis by the Tax Policy Center.
- (via Presidential Tax Calculators - Economix Blog - NYTimes.com)
1 year ago
FiveThirtyEight.com is an interesting site that does Electoral Projections by analyzing polling and political data. The site tries to give objective assessments of the likely outcome of upcoming elections. Whats intesting is how the site analyzes polling data. More reliable polls are weighted more in averages based on that pollster’s historical track record.
1. Polling data is aggregated and weighted according to reliability scores.
2. The polling data is adjusted for current trends.
3. Demographic data in each state is analyzed by means of regression analysis.
4. Polling data combined with the regression analysis to produce an electoral snapshot. This is an estimate of what would happen if election was today.
5. Snapshot is translated into a projection of what will happen in November, by allocating out undecided voters and applying a discount to current polling leads based on historical trends.
6. Results are simulated 10,000 times based on the results of the projection to account for the uncertainty in estimates. The end result is a robust probabilistic assessment of what will happen in each state as well as in the nation as a whole.
1 year ago
update: Extensive debate Fact Checking from factcheck.org
also:
Did Obama vote 94 times for higher taxes?
Verdict: Misleading - CNN Political Ticker
This bunches together votes that were for measures to lower taxes for many Americans, while increasing them for a much smaller number of taxpayers.
Did McCain oppose the comprehensive nuclear test ban?
Verdict: False - washingtonpost fact checker
The test ban was never submited for ratification due to overwhelming republican opposition in the Senate.
Did Obama vote to stop funding U.S. troops in Iraq?
Verdict: Misleading - washingtonpost fact checker
Obama was in favor of funding the troops, but could not agree to an indefinite extension of the war, wanted to have timetables for pull out in the bill.
Did Palin take on the oil industry as Alaska governor.
Verdict: Partially - yahoo/ap fact check
Imposed profits tax on oil companies, yet supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
1 year ago
An OpEd article in the washington post discusses some scary possibilities if McCain is elected and Roe vs Wade goes.
- Since McCain opposes abortion and if elected, its possible he could be appointing a Supreme Court justice if one dies or resigns.
- McCain appoints a conservative replacement and Senate confirms.
- Someone challenges Roe vs Wade, and Supreme Court overturns due to a conservative majority, and we are back to state laws on abortion.
- Women will have to travel elsewhere if their state prohibits abortion.
- Today under some laws, states could try to forbid residents to cross state lines for the purpose of getting an abortion.
- A Supreme Court that reversed Roe could also rule that the fetus is a person under the Fourteenth Amendment. This would be the opposite of Roe, making state support of abortion a constitutional offense.
- Even if Senate doesnt approve the appointee, leaving a 4-4 tie in the Supreme Court, a tie would keep the lower court’s decision standing. This means that the states that fell within the Circuit court in question would come under an anti-abortion umbrella allowing anything up to explicit reversal of Roe.
1 year ago
No one came out on top. O’Bama showed that he can keep his ground, even tho he doesnt have the experience. O’bama kept looking for common ground. McCain stayed on offensive the entire time. Russia and Iran hot topics. Economy talk fell flat. Both wear bracelets.
1 year ago
