{"id":42335,"date":"2020-12-27T10:43:33","date_gmt":"2020-12-27T18:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=42335"},"modified":"2020-12-27T10:43:33","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T18:43:33","slug":"open-thread-12-27-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2020\/12\/27\/open-thread-12-27-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread – 12\/27\/2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’d a tired day here in the CatBox.  It’s also slow day for news to report.  It’s a Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb.  My Broncos Play the Chargers, but it’s not televised here.  I’m ready for a nap.  Have a great day.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today’s took me 3:35 (average 5:48).  To do it, click here<\/a>.<\/font><\/p>\n

Cartoon<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

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Christmas Dinner<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

\"1227xmasdinner\"<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/font><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>On the campaign trail, Joe Biden argued for higher taxes on Americans who make more than $400,000 a year. Those tax increases, he said, would help fund his broader agenda and reduce inequality.<\/p>\n

But depending on the outcome of Georgia runoff elections next month, as president he will face either a Republican Senate majority that is dead set against tax increases, or a very narrow Democratic majority that will need to choose its battles carefully. <\/p>\n

That will present him with a political conundrum: How do you raise more money from the wealthy if you can\u2019t raise tax rates? <\/p>\n

One potential answer: do better on enforcing the existing tax laws. <\/p>\n

Tax experts have long identified a large \u201ctax gap\u201d between the amount Americans owe and what is actually collected. This is disproportionately a result of underpayment of taxes by high earners, especially in certain types of closely held partnerships and midsize businesses that face little scrutiny from either the Internal Revenue Service or outside investors. <\/p>\n

That is exactly the type of structure \u2014 including dubious deductions \u2014 that allowed President Trump to minimize his tax bill for years, according to reporting<\/a> on the president\u2019s taxes by The New York Times. <\/p>\n

One problem is that Republicans have been gutting the IRS’ budget for years, so they wont have the money to investigate and prosecute the rich.  I’m all for this , but to do it Biden needs to get IRS the funds to do it.  RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font> <\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (a blast from the past): <\/font>Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence (from The Concert in Central Park)<\/font><\/p>\n