Elizabeth Warren slams Trump for hiding his tax returns

Reagan Was The Real Villain

Ken O’Brien

The whole basis for the rise of the racist right led by Donald Trump has its foundation in economic grievances.

Underlying all the inflammatory rhetoric against minorities, immigrants and trade is the perception by the middle class that they have lost any prospect for economic stability and growth.

While Trump has seized upon the time-worn themes of demagoguery that blames today’s problems on “those people”, the reality is far simpler. 

Maher Rips Republicans Over California’s Booming Economy

The Lion Is Coming!

Congratulations Councilor Vecchia

Ken O’Brien

Kudos are due.

Over a year ago Councilor Albert D. Vecchia, Jr. spearheaded a concerted effort to stem the rising tide of local tax increases.

Monday night’s meeting of the Town Council confirmed his success.

The tax rate was set at $20.21 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. This was a marginal decline from the prior rate of $20.36.

Before proceeding I want to iterate, congratulations Councilor Vecchia and thank you!

The question that next arises is, “What now?” 

Council Kills Casella Contract Amendment

Ken O’Brien

By a vote of 7 to 2 the Southbridge Town Council voted down a proposed amendment to the contract with Casella.

I have listened with interest to the debate regarding this amendment.

After listening to tonight’s discussion I have come to the conclusion that the Council has made a serious mistake. 

Raise Taxes Or Increase Debt?

Ken O’Brien

At tonight’s meeting the Town Council took up the capital budget. This is a long needed as well as long neglected element of the town’s finances. Its very size is an indication of the extent to which the town has neglected its capital stock.

During the discussion of this matter the Council sidetracked once again into a discussion of its prior decision not to raise taxes.

That discussion centered on whether or not it was wise to incur additional debt obligations. It was estimated that doing so would increase the cost of these projects by an additional $240,000 over the ten year life of the bond. Councilor Steeves argued that it made no sense whatsoever to finance the cost of these projects through debt when it could be done through taxation within the levy limit without the associated interest cost. 

Southbridge Town Council: Budge It On Town’s Budget

Ken O’Brien

The gravy train is coming to an end folks!

For those of you who have been asleep for the past four months, we found out that the landfill wasn’t the $100 million bonanza we were originally promised.

For three years I’ve been trying to wake you up to the fact that bemoaning the tax rate when it is set in December is a fruitless exercise. That tax rate is effectively set in May when the Town Council adopts the budget.

Corporations: The Real Welfare Queens

Ken O’Brien

Profitable corporations are supposed to pay a 35 percent federal income tax rate on their U.S. profits. But many corporations pay far less, or nothing at all, because of the many tax loopholes and special breaks they enjoy. A new report by Citizens for Tax Justice documents just how successful many Fortune 500 corporations have been at using these loopholes and special breaks over the past five years.

Conservatives and Tea Partiers constantly bemoan “Obama’s Socialist Welfare State” and cut unemployment benefits, food stamps, fuel assistance, education and other programs that benefit our neediest citizens in an effort to reduce the Federal deficit and the national debt. Simultaneously they turn a blind eye to the true beneficiaries of government largess – the biggest and most profitable corporations. 

Taxpayers Aren’t Santa

Ken O'Brien

Note: At last week’s town council meeting the town manager noted that the tax rate was determined by the town budget which had already been settled upon last May. In what is becoming an annual ritual I thought it appropriate to reprint a post that The O’Zone first published on December 6^th of 2011. If so inclined, you may wish to examine the comments that were made by certain readers at the time this article was first published or last year when it was repeated. 

Eating Crow For Thanksgiving

Ken O’Brien

Councilor Nikolla’s words from the night of the vote on the Casella contract still echo in my ears. “I’ve read this contract. This is a good contract.”

I was among a number of those who disagreed with this assessment. The most ardent of the opponents were John Gatti, Jr., and Larry and Ann Beinema. We all suffered for our outspoken disagreement with the merits of that contract.

Monday night the chickens set loose by the decision to adopt the contract came home to roost.

Smokers of the World Unite! You Have Nothing to Lose But Your Butts!

Ken O’Brien

There is a widely held belief that liberals favor a nanny state.

Well, I don’t believe that. In fact, I believe that there is a fundamental and natural convergence of values between libertarians and liberals.

I start from the premise that anyone who makes an objective evaluation of history will conclude that the basic difference between conservatives and liberals is as follows; the primary concern of conservatives is property values: the primary concern of liberals is human values.

Liberals, Conservatives and Libertarians all proclaim their devotion to freedom.

But freedom toward what end? 

Southbridge’s Fiscal Cliff

Ken O’Brien

I have to start with a slight explanation here. The town of Southbridge operates on a July 1 to June 30 Fiscal Year. The state operates on a January 1 to December 31 Fiscal Year. Thus, the state aid numbers in the FY 2013 town budget are derived from the FY 2012 state budget.

That having been said, with the inclusion of the increase of $100,000 in the FY 2013 town budget at last night’s town council meeting it is still $31,001 less than the FY 2012 budget.

Sunday Photo-'Toons 1.33

Ken O'Brien

Taxpayers Aren’t Santa

Ken O'Brien

Note: At last week’s town council meeting the town manager noted that December 3rd’s meeting would address the annual setting of the tax rate. He reminded us that the rate was determined by the town budget which had already been settled upon last spring. In light of this I thought it appropriate to reprint a post that The O’Zone first published on December 6^th of last year. If so inclined, you may wish to examine the comments that were made by certain readers at the time.

Ben Stein Tells Fox And Friends We Have To Raise Taxes

Where’s The Outrage Southbridge?

Ken O’Brien

Parody post from Photo-'Toons 1.25

Last Friday the Southbridge Evening News carried an article titled, “Council planning to fix radio issues at school”.

It opened with the following three paragraphs:

“Almost as soon as the new Torrey Road school opened last month, staff discovered the building gets no cell phone service.

It didn’t take much longer to find that police radios didn’t work there either.

According to Chief Daniel Charette, that was actually known earlier. Back in November 2011, he started talking with the contractors about fixing the issue, but the individual involved left the company and it fell by the wayside.” 

Smoke Versus Clarity: Romney V. Obama Tax Plans

Ken O’Brien

It’s still the economy stupid.

In a run-up to Wednesday’s first Presidential debate it’s important to keep this in mind. And equally important, the issue is not the past but the future.

The core components of the economy issue are twofold – economic growth to provide jobs and the reduction in Federal indebtedness.

Romney Releases 2011 Taxes – Is He Unqualified To Be President?

Ken O’Brien

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney today released his 2011 tax returns.

From Mitt Romney’s official website.

This morning, Gov. and Mrs. Romney filed their 2011 tax return with the IRS. At 3:00pm today, the Romney for President campaign will be posting the 2011 return online. 

Taxes The Rich Don’t Pay Could Eliminate The Deficit

Ken O’Brien

While conservatives focus on the deficit issue they ignore job creation, and insist that tax increases on the rich wouldn't generate enough revenue to balance the budget. They're way off. But it takes a little arithmetic to put it all together.

The following analysis was conducted by Paul Buchheit who teaches Economic Inequality at DePaul University. He is the founder and developer of social justice and educational websites (UsAgainstGreed.org, PayUpNow.org, RappingHistory.org), and the editor and main author of "American Wars: Illusions and Realities" (Clarity Press).

In the analysis data has been taken from a variety of sources, some of which may overlap or slightly disagree, but all of which lead to the conclusion that withheld revenue, not excessive spending, is the problem.