So I found this summary of the income tax on Wikipedia and I thought I should share.
In 1913
the tax rate was 1 % on taxable net income above $3,000 ($4,000 for
married couples), less deductions and exemptions. It rose to a rate of
7 % on incomes above $500,000.
During World War I the top rate rose to 77 %; following the war, the top rate was scaled down (to a low of 25 %).
During the Great Depression and World War II,
the top income tax rate rose again. In the Internal Revenue Code of
1939, the top rate was 75%. The top rate reached 91% during the war;
this top rate remained in effect until 1964.
In 1964 the top rate was decreased to 70% (1964 Revenue Act), and then to 50% in 1981 (Economic Recovery Tax Act or ERTA).
The Tax Reform Act of 1986
reduced the top rate to 28%, at the same time raising the bottom rate
from 11% to 15% (in fact 15% and 28% became the only two tax brackets).
During the 1990s the top rate rose again, standing at 39.6% by the end of the decade.
The top rate was cut to 35% and the bottom rate was cut to 10% by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA).
In 2003 the JGTRRA,
or Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, was passed, expanding
the 10% tax bracket and accelerating some of the changes passed in the
2001 EGTRRA.
If you look closely you see that income tax rate for the very rich (read top rate) decreased from 70% to 28% while the bottom rate increased from 11% to 15% under Reagan. Maybe that explains this graph of the national debt (God do I hate statistics). If you read his biography on whitehouse.gov you’d think we was forced to increase military spending (therefore running up massive debt) and only gave tax cuts to the poor. To be fair capital gains were first taxed in 1986 and the Act did close some tax loopholes.
On 60 Minutes an interview happened. With an author from the Penis state. The focus of the interview was the corruption that is prevalent throughout Florida and how that has influenced this guy’s writing. On the whole the interview was okay but I did like rational on why Hiaasen writes satire.
“From my experience, politicians are much more uncomfortable being made
fun of than they are being preached at and screeched at — you know,
and the soapbox routine,” says Hiaasen. “They’re much more uneasy
knowing they’re a target of ridicule. It really ruins their day. They
lose their breakfast over it.”
That’s why I think the Union of Concerned Scientists may be on to something with this. Nothing like encourage people to make fun of those who believe rhetoric can defeat empirical evidence.
On that Now show on PBS (Heidi mentioned it) there was also an interview with a Librarian from Connecticut who has refused to give up library records without a court order. Their gag order has been removed but a court is still debating whether they must comply. Now I understand that a the U.S.A.P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act is supposed to allow our law enforcement agencies to better react to or, better yet, halt, ‘terrorist attacks’, but at what price? If anything this Administration has shown that it needs close oversight, so why would Congress let them off so easily? I think that this guy has it right, if people stop believing in law (because, say some president acts like he is above it) than there is no law. Sigh. I am tired of the fearmongering that our politicians have been doing. I’m tired of the fact the politicians are not voting for their constituents but for the people who give them money. [Note: that’s for DMCA, the war in Iraq, the estate tax repeal, and a ban on gay marriage] Okay, the gay marriage thing may not be appropriate to put in that list but you never know how much money the Religious Right gives out so…
I should just do something and stop complaining but one can’t help but feel powerless when our one try power (the vote) seems to be tainted.
Also, I think that I will take Heidi’s advice and bugger off for one day this week. Sanity and all.
So Doomface showed me how to talk to God. This was our conversation:
Me: What is sin?
God: A fall from Grace, an act or thought against the Will of God.
Me: where is heaven?
God: All around us.
Me: really
God: For real.
Me: nice
God: Thank you for that remark.
Me: no problem
God: Should there be a problem?
Me: I don’t know! You are the omniscience one!
God: Me either. Thanks but surely I am not the only one.
Me: What?
God: Didn’t you understand it?
Me: no I didn’t
God: Which bit are you confued about?
Me: the part about you not the only omniscience one
God: Oh that part.
Me: yeah that part
God: How can I help you? ” Oh that part.” part ? Makes sense to me.
Me: well, it seems to me that you are saying that there are other gods
God: Well that’s okay. I agree. Why do you want to do it so much?
Me: you did it (or one of those other gods did)! I didn’t get asked!
God: Did I really? Why didn’t you do it?
Me: I lack omnipotent power you ass
God: Interesting gossip: said lack omnipotent power you ass.
Me: interesting indeed
God: Would you like to know more?
Me: yes
God: What would you like to know?
Me: is there more than one god?
God: Maybe.
Me: crap
God: Your criticism is noted, .
Apparently talking to God is like talking to a psychologist.
Apparently it’s been so long that I can’t get enough of this posting thing, but this is a cool program! Not that it matters to most of you but the amount of money the school will save on electricity could be substantial.
Stupid. Okay so check out the ‘Top Eponym Blogs’ section on Eponym.com. I’m not sure how they generate the list (how can this be a ‘Top Blog’? It only has one post!) but it looks like I’m a cool kid. Ragh! I’m hungry.
Also, this is mildly (not really) funny. You should read the first bit at least.
If you have time (I don’t) read this article on the 2004 election. It is a wonder that so many voters feel disenfranchised?
Inconvenient Truth is coming to Portsmouth on June 30 (Regal Theater).
So to give you an update on the bandwidth usage for this month. I am now at..
10Mbs
That is out of 100Mbs. Crap. I guess that means I need to make a decision in the next nine days. 
Stupid emoticon?!
Alright, so let see how much people like me this month. I should be doing work right now but my God am I apathetic today. Gwargh. I try to write some more tonight while I’m looking and apply to other jobs. Oh, and I don’t think that I can pay off my student loans on $13/hr, so it looks like I am stuck here for now. Congratulations Fuck you Ack on your new job for getting to leave first. I started here 3 months before you did so doesn’t that mean I should have left 3 months before you?!
And my fortune for today: You are about to become $8.95 poorer ($6.95 if you had the buffet)
Crap. 
Income tax?
