Loren Heal · Storify

Rand Paul Apologizes to Apple for Mistreatment by Congress

Loren Heal — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:50:10 GMT

Our insane tax code rewards companies that structure their businesses to avoid paying

Storified by Loren Heal · Tue, May 21 2013 07:50:10

From Forbes:
Apple released a 17-page position paper on its view of U.S. taxes the day before CEO Tim Cook is set to testify before a Senate committee on the issue.

....

The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, led by Sen. Carl Levin [D-Mich.] and Sen. John McCain [R-Ariz.] today released outtakes from a 40-page memorandum, claiming that Apple has used a “complex web of offshore entities” to avoid paying billions of dollars in U.S. income taxes. The subcommittee says Apple used U.S. tax loopholes to avoid paying taxes on $44 billion in “otherwise taxable offshore income over the past four years.” The senators also say that Apple set up at least three foreign subsidiaries that are “not tax resident in any nation” to avoid paying U.S. taxes.

Instead of examining our broken tax system, the US Senate is about to harass Apple-one of the greatest business success stories in history.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:11:19

I am offended by a $4 trillion government bullying, berating and badgering one of America's greatest success stories.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:13:44

I am offended by the spectacle of dragging in here executives from Apple using the brute force of government to bully a great success story.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:14:41

To US Senate: I say, instead of Apple executives, you should have brought in a giant mirror if you want to see who is responsible.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:16:12

Today we could vote to lower the corporate income tax but we won't. Today we could vote to let profits come home at 5% but we won't.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:18:19

Instead of doing the right thing we drag businessmen and women in here to berate them for trying to maximize their profits for shareholders.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:19:15

Money goes where it is welcome. If you want more money to be earned in the United States, make profit welcome here.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:19:53

Apple has done more to enrich people's lives than politicians will ever do.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:20:19

To the Apple executives here, I apologize for this theater of the absurd.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:21:02

I will do everything in my power to make our tax code simpler. I will not be a party to witch hunts that mistake cause for effect.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:21:50

If there is anyone to blame here it is not Apple, it is Congress and the tax code it created.
— Senator Rand Paul · Tue, May 21 2013 07:22:23

Companies are legally bound to produce maximum return to shareholders.

Legally. Bound.

So when Congress creates punitive taxes on profits, it guarantees that companies will use all of their creativity to avoid paying those taxes. It's ridiculous political pandering to haul those companies in front of Congress demanding to know why they do what they have no choice but to do.

Meanwhile, Keynesianism is Still Not Working

Loren Heal — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:35:35 GMT

A twitter rant from this morning.

Storified by Loren Heal · Mon, Apr 29 2013 14:35:35

Meanwhile, Keynesianism is still a disaster.
— Stutring Clusterfork · Mon, Apr 29 2013 07:29:36

Government spending, in and of itself,does not promote economic growth.
— Stutring Clusterfork · Mon, Apr 29 2013 07:36:01

If you say "A results in B", and B doesn't happen, then either you never tried A or A does not, in fact, result in B.
— Stutring Clusterfork · Mon, Apr 29 2013 07:40:52

No one sane would say we have not tried government spending. We've tried it over and over, and it does not work.
— Stutring Clusterfork · Mon, Apr 29 2013 07:43:49

Why doesn't government spending work? There are at least four reasons: taxation, regulation, bad aim, and dependency.
— Stutring Clusterfork · Mon, Apr 29 2013 07:49:09

When government spends, it gets the money from somewhere: borrowing, printing, or taxation. In the end, all of these harm economic growth.
— Stutring Clusterfork · Mon, Apr 29 2013 07:52:36

Government does not spend without regulating. This may be the worst aspect of spending, because it lasts long after the spending is done.
— Stutring Clusterfork · Mon, Apr 29 2013 07:54:46

Sometimes government gives away money apparently without strings, but there are always strings. That is why I said, a couple of months ago:

Show me someone who is unemployed, and I will show you a law or regulation keeping him that way.
— Loren Heal · Mon, Feb 11 2013 07:27:13

Back to today:

Government seldom spends on the right things. If something were a good investment, the private sector would already be making it.
— Stutring Clusterfork · Mon, Apr 29 2013 07:58:07

That's not to say that all government spending is bad. It's just that bureaucrats can't pick the right things to spend money on to improve the economy. Even spending on infrastructure doesn't, by itself, help the economy as a whole. The infrastructure that gets built may help the economy, but was that the best thing to spend money on?

Finally, dependency: when government spends, people and companies sit around contemplating how to get the next handout.
— Stutring Clusterfork · Mon, Apr 29 2013 08:00:51

Welfare, whether for individuals or companies, creates in the recipient a desire to get the next aid check.

The Government Is Too Big, and the Sequester Is Not Enough

Loren Heal — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:22:06 GMT

A twitter rant

Storified by Loren Heal · Fri, Feb 22 2013 07:22:06

Good morning, twitter. Cut government spending at all levels and on everything.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 03:56:37

We have too many laws, and too many people in prison because of them.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 03:57:16

You can say, "They broke the law!", but you're breaking about six laws right now. There are so many laws you can't help it.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 03:58:16

If you want people to respect the law, respect laws by not passing so many.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:01:13

Cut government spending. Cut regulation. Free the people. Watch us prosper.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:02:20

We have tried to make society perfect by passing many laws. We have found it's a fool's errand.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:04:08

Not only do many laws not perfect society, but make it ever more imperfect and living in it unendurable.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:05:18

Our budget deficit this year is a projected $850B. We need run a surplus of $500B per year for 33 years to pay off our debt.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:07:15

We need to cut $1.3 trillion in spending THIS YEAR. The sequester doesn't cut anything, but merely doesn't increase spending by as much.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:08:52

The President fights tooth and nail to increase the budget by $1.3 trillion over ten years, instead of cutting it by that amount this year.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:11:27

If you're still arguing that the spending is all Bush's fault, why is the President fighting to increase spending even more?
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:13:24

If a small decrease in the rate of increase in government spending will wreck the economy, then something is terribly wrong.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:15:01

Everyone's job is at risk. Everyone's organization has downturns. If you're in government arguing yours shouldn't, you need to get over it.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:17:02

During the Obama Depression, while America has suffered DC has been a boom town. They have sucked us dry.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:21:32

The bureaucrats and hangers on in DC have had their party. Now it's time for them to pay the band.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:23:57

Our government is too big, too bloated, and tries to control too much. Instead of looking to it, people should be looking to themselves.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:25:19

Americans can't look to themselves because the government has passed so many laws, rules, regulations, tax carveouts, and programs.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:26:15

Democrats in the Senate haven't produced a budget since April 4, 2009. That was before the first Tax Day Tea Parties.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:31:57

Cut the spending and the regulators can't bother us.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:27:18

The last time the Senate passed a budget, there was no such thing as Obamacare.
— Regulation Serf · Fri, Feb 22 2013 04:33:37

My First Recipe Post

Loren Heal — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:14:11 GMT

Bacon Corn Chowder

Storified by Loren Heal · Tue, Jan 08 2013 06:14:11

Ingredients:

1 largish onion.

4-6 potatoes

Some bacon

Carrots

Red pepper, black pepper

Chicken bouillon or chicken stock

Garlic, about a teaspoon

1 can creamed corn, or 16oz corn of some kind.

1 cup of milk.

1 tsp corn starch

Fry the bacon. I used two strips of leftover thick-cut bacon. Chop.

Put a small amount of water in a pot on medium heat. Commence adding ingredients until boiling, then reduce to simmer.

Chop an onion. Dump it in.

Sprinkle in the crushed red pepper and ground black pepper.

Chop or string some carrots. Dump them in.

Peel and chop the potatoes. Mince or mash some, and dump those in.

Add the bacon and corn.

Boil until the onion has turned clear.

Dump in the rest of the potatoes.

Add chicken stock or water and bouillon until potatoes are almost covered. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until potatoes are done as you like them.

Mix corn starch and milk, and dump in. Return to boil. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally until it looks right.

The Obamacare End Game

Loren Heal — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 19:36:13 GMT

Storified by Loren Heal · Sat, Sep 22 2012 12:36:13

Obama and the $5Trillion Lie

Loren Heal — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 17:02:43 GMT

It's really an incredible act of distortion.

Storified by Loren Heal · Sat, Sep 22 2012 10:03:37

On Romney: “He thinks if we just spend another $5 trillion on tax cuts that favor the wealthiest 2%, all our problems will be solved.”
— Obama 2012 · Fri, Sep 21 2012 09:16:45

What do you say when you encounter deceit of a kind that is multi-dimensional, projecting thoughts formed from one's own delusions onto others, while deceiving even the most practiced observer? My anger boiled for the casual voter, expecting to be able to believe what their President says -- at least to believe him on some level. But no part of the quote above is true.

Holy crap. What a lying, Marxist jerk. https://twitter.com/Obama2012/status/249180374234701824
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 09:18:15

No, @BarackObama, "we" did not spend $5T on "tax cuts for the wealthiest 2%". You spent that on expanding the Welfare state.
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 09:21:25

No, @BarackObama, "we" did not spend $5T on "tax cuts". We do not spend money on tax cuts, you Orwellian ghoul.
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 09:22:46

And @barackobama, That $5T is what you borrowed, not what you spent. You spent over $10T, and counting, and want to spend more.
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 09:25:23

Wow. What a sad sack of deluded pathology we have in the White House.
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 09:26:51

If you're still worried about Mitt Romney not being conservative enough, he at least knows we don't "spend money on tax cuts".
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 09:32:52

.@Obama2012 I'm sorry, who was the man who implemented trillions of dollars in stimulus that went overseas & to his "buddies?? Obama.
— Kathryn · Fri, Sep 21 2012 09:22:31

Barack Obama thinks all of your money belongs to him.
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 10:18:38

The Bush tax cuts originally expired in 2010. Barack Obama had complete control of the Congress at that point, but declined to raise taxes.
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 10:22:32

If Obama had wanted to raise taxes, he could have done so at any point from January 21, 2009 to January 2, 2011.
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 10:24:24

If Obama had wanted to cut spending, he could have done so at any point from January 21, 2009 to this moment.
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 10:25:50

Current tax rates, current spending levels, and the current deficit are all completely owned by Barack Obama.
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 10:27:17

He did. See ACA. RT @lheal If Obama had wanted to raise taxes, he could have done so at any point from January 21, 2009 to January 2, 2011.
— George Damian · Fri, Sep 21 2012 10:30:28

If Barack Obama is unable to change the spending levels, taxation, or deficit in Washington, why should he be president?
— Loren Heal · Fri, Sep 21 2012 10:37:55

Ah, here it is: The Jackal's Ass Behind Akin

Loren Heal — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 22:34:15 GMT

Akin's consultants are playing chicken with Karl Rove

Storified by Loren Heal · Thu, Aug 23 2012 15:34:15

Todd Akin's consultants appear to be playing a game of "chicken" with Karl Rove, FreedomWorks for America, and the RNC over money to finance Akin's US Senate campaign.

Rex Elsass runs Strategy Group for Media

According to the Wall Street Journal, "Mr. Elsass is skeptical of threats by Republican and conservative groups that they will refuse to spend money on Mr. Akin’s behalf if he stays in the race, suggesting they will change their tune if Mr. Elsass’s campaign rights itself. " [Emphasis added]

Interview: Akin's Strategist Elsass Speaks

One of the quiet figures in the center of the Todd Akin furor is Rex Elsass, a successful Republican media consultant based in Columbus, ...

Unfortunately, if this jackal's ass is wrong, some very bad things happen to America.

#IDontSupportObama Because He Golfs When We Have Troops in the Field

Loren Heal — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 03:36:39 GMT

Storified by Loren Heal · Mon, Aug 06 2012 20:36:39

#IDontSupportObama because he golfs when we have troops in the field.
— Loren Heal · Mon, Aug 06 2012 19:49:33

J's Twitter

@lheal yeah! bush never did that!

He had the class to stop when troops were dying. Obama just keeps golfing. Because it's all about Obama.

Bush Says He's Not A Golfer In Wartime

President Bush said yesterday that he gave up golfing in 2003 "in solidarity" with the families of soldiers who were dying in Iraq, concl...

A Bigger Terror Threat Than My Shoes

Loren Heal — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 16:40:02 GMT

Our rail system is completely open and unguarded. There is also no way to guard it without destroying what it is to be American.

Storified by Loren Heal · Sat, Jul 07 2012 09:40:02

My view for the last several minutes. http://twitpic.com/a4zj32 · Loren Heal

That got me thinking about something I've noticed. A few miles from where I live, those train tracks and a two-lane US highway cross under six lanes of two combined Interstate highways. Over 20,000 vehicles per day travel on that section of Interstate. Taking out that overpass would disrupt the transportation system for several surrounding states.

I get felt up to fly from STL to DFW, but a train with tankers full of HCl, SO4, and various hydrocarbon distillates trundles on.
— Loren Heal · Sat, Jul 07 2012 08:33:48

It wouldn't take a bomb. There is no security at rural rail spurs and sidetracks.

I'm not telling the terrorists anything new. A well-placed ax head could derail a train. Ever mix HCl and SO4? No, because you're alive.
— Loren Heal · Sat, Jul 07 2012 08:38:17

A compromised HCl tank car would be bad, but the reaction of hydrochloric and sulfuric acid would be truly deadly. Think mixing Drano and bleach, but on a scale the average terrorist would love.

I have noticed that they only put the hydrochloric and sulfuric acid tankers next to each other some of the time.
— Loren Heal · Sat, Jul 07 2012 08:39:51

So we're safe.

But if I can come up with something like that, surely this guy can do better:

Brad Thor (BradThor) on Twitter

Instantly connect to what's most important to you. Follow your friends, experts, favorite celebrities, and breaking news.

When The Hammer, The Journal, and I Agree

Loren Heal — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 20:55:30 GMT

...you know you've got a good messaging strategy.

Storified by Loren Heal · Thu, Jul 05 2012 13:56:34

Krauthammer 2 Romney: Forget abt intellectual honesty & call the mandate a tax http://j.mp/NfKurJ @allahpundit @aceofspadeshq @edmorrissey
— Right Scoop · Mon, Jul 02 2012 16:38:56

Dear @MittRomney: Say, "I accept the Supreme Court's decision. It's a tax. It's also bad for the country. We must fully repeal it."
— Loren Heal · Mon, Jul 02 2012 17:03:34

Romney doesn't have to back-track, flip-flop, or be 'intellectually dishonest'. All he has to do is follow the law, as the rest of us do.
— Loren Heal · Mon, Jul 02 2012 17:04:42

Romney should say: "I don't follow the Court's reasoning, but I accept their conclusion. Ocare is the biggest middle-class tax hike ever."
— Loren Heal · Mon, Jul 02 2012 17:13:34

As the Wall Street Journal put it:

Romney's Tax Confusion

If Mitt Romney loses his run for the White House, a turning point will have been his decision Monday to absolve President Obama of raisin...

"Mr. Romney should use the Supreme Court opinion as an opening to say that now that the mandate is defined as a tax for the purposes of the law, he will work to repeal it. This would let Mr. Romney show voters that Mr. Obama's spending ambitions are so vast that they can't be financed solely by the wealthy but will inevitably hit the middle class.

"Democrats would point to the Massachusetts record, but Mr. Romney could reply that was before the Supreme Court had spoken, that he had promised Bay Staters not to raise taxes, and so now the right policy is to repeal the tax along with the rest of ObamaCare. The tragedy is that for the sake of not abandoning his faulty health-care legacy in Massachusetts, Mr. Romney is jeopardizing his chance at becoming President."