"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them broken. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. When there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted--and you create a nation of law-breakers -- and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Reardon; that's the game and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand: quote is from the conversation between Dr. Ferris of the State Science Institute and businessman Hank Reardon.
Showing posts with label Hank Reardon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hank Reardon. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Monday, May 05, 2008
Are We Entering the World of Atlas Shrugged?
Have I just walked into Ayn Rand's blockbuster novel Atlas Shrugged or what?
Go to Gerald Prante http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/23183.html to read about this idiotic bill introduced by Rep. Paul Kanjorski. The current high price of gas has led to a lot of crazy proposals from gas tax holidays to creating a tax deduction based upon energy consumption. But Rep. Paul Kanjorski's (D-PA) may top them all in terms of its stupidity. From the Times Leader, Kanjorski's plan would do the following:
• H.R. 5800 would tax industries’ windfall profits.
• The bill would set up a Reasonable Profits Board to determine when these companies’ profits are in excess, and then tax them on those windfall profits.
• As oil and gas companies’ windfall profits increase, so would the tax rate for those companies.
• Kanjorski said his legislation will encourage oil companies to lower prices to prevent them from receiving higher tax rates.
"While Hillary Clinton may have failed ECON 101 along with John McCain, it appears as if Kanjorski may been enrolled in Marxism 450 at the time. In all honesty, nationalization of the oil industry (i.e. Venezuela) may be better than Kanjorski's ridiculous proposal."
"One can make a case for taxing that portion of the return to capital that comes from economic rents, but Kanjorski has probably never even heard the term. An economist who backed such a tax would understand that such a tax is not going to lead to lower prices at the pump, just as economists are setting the record straight on the current gas tax holiday gimmick. Furthermore, the justification for taxing economic rents would apply to all sectors, not just petroleum."
So what's next? An owner of a restaurant can't make above 50,000 dollars in profit per year? Oh, I forgot that already exists with the minimum wage laws. Where are Francisco D'Anconia, Hank Reardon and John Galt when you need them?
Go to Gerald Prante http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/23183.html to read about this idiotic bill introduced by Rep. Paul Kanjorski. The current high price of gas has led to a lot of crazy proposals from gas tax holidays to creating a tax deduction based upon energy consumption. But Rep. Paul Kanjorski's (D-PA) may top them all in terms of its stupidity. From the Times Leader, Kanjorski's plan would do the following:
• H.R. 5800 would tax industries’ windfall profits.
• The bill would set up a Reasonable Profits Board to determine when these companies’ profits are in excess, and then tax them on those windfall profits.
• As oil and gas companies’ windfall profits increase, so would the tax rate for those companies.
• Kanjorski said his legislation will encourage oil companies to lower prices to prevent them from receiving higher tax rates.
"While Hillary Clinton may have failed ECON 101 along with John McCain, it appears as if Kanjorski may been enrolled in Marxism 450 at the time. In all honesty, nationalization of the oil industry (i.e. Venezuela) may be better than Kanjorski's ridiculous proposal."
"One can make a case for taxing that portion of the return to capital that comes from economic rents, but Kanjorski has probably never even heard the term. An economist who backed such a tax would understand that such a tax is not going to lead to lower prices at the pump, just as economists are setting the record straight on the current gas tax holiday gimmick. Furthermore, the justification for taxing economic rents would apply to all sectors, not just petroleum."
So what's next? An owner of a restaurant can't make above 50,000 dollars in profit per year? Oh, I forgot that already exists with the minimum wage laws. Where are Francisco D'Anconia, Hank Reardon and John Galt when you need them?
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