" I'm becoming more convinced it was all fake."

It's the only time in our lives where the attending physicians never had a press conference, or made a comment.

That, and why somebody lowered a flag on a crane after the first shot rang out... .

"In any case, vat is less regressive when measured against lifetime, rather than annual, income"

Translation: if we move the goal posts just right, so we can cherry-pick and create a NEW metric, our argument looks ... well ... less worse.

" a figure that reflects the trend starting after the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act."

Translation: Republicans passed a surgical tax cut on Tuesday, so beginning Wednesday they could complain about "less people paying taxes".

The phrase itself is a misnomer, of course, because a) they're not counting the LARGEST tax, and b) they score things differently than in the past. How? Republicans have historically stuffed child-rearing subsidies onto the 1040, specifically to bolster their talking point not enough people "pay taxes".

"Thank you for the credit, but that duly goes to the Ways and Means department at The Economist."

Neither of whom pretend they're talking about THE ONLY taxes that count.

That'd be you.

"until it comes to something like the VAT."

Because the VAT is a regressive tax. And you want to replace parts of the sole progressive tax, with regressive taxes.

What part of the equation baffles you?

"Or, it would mirror every other western country."

...every country that puts the burden on the middle class.

At least finish the sentence, and do it honestly. Be sure to add in the social benefits the taxes fund.

Amazing, what you can afford when you're not borrowing money to hand tax cuts to billionaires.

"Because moderates and independents are fleeing Democrat party..."

All Electoral evidence to the contrary.

"Cool. What rate should the VAT in the US be?"

The VAT is NOT a progressive tax.

Our current fiscal problem is the code isn't progressive enough.

Your suggestion would (once again) shift the tax burden onto poorer classes.

Give BrainWorm a chance.

He's barely begun his campaign of disinformation.

Those things take time.

For example, did you know tap water affects children's fertility? It doesn't...but what does that matter?

On an episode of his podcast back in 2022, RFK said, based on a study done on frogs on the affects of endocrine disruptors (chemicals that can affect reproductive functions and "biological processes like normal growth, fertility, and reproduction"), that materials found in tap water could have the "capacity" to "induce these very profound sexual changes" in children.
Medical experts have refuted this claim. Dr. Andrea Gore, professor of pharmacology and toxicology at University of Texas at Austin, told CNN that while "sex in frogs is determined by environmental factors such as temperature and chemicals," the "sex of humans is determined at the moment of conception, and cannot later be altered by endocrine-disrupting chemicals."

Remember all of HRC's negative ads against Bernie?

Nobody else does either.

"We can only speculate."

When you're doing that, remind yourself he never faced an industrial-strength attack ad.

The oppo would've slaughtered him (wrongly) as a Communist, and (rightly) as someone who wanted to raise your taxes A LOT.

And these are just the numbers they're admitting to us.

The real truth must be much worse.

"This matters why?"

In America, they're called elections.

" I'd venture to guess there's a few here who are paid."

But ... No proof, right? Just a gut feeling.

Must be a day ending in "y.

"Stated differently if government taxes you more how is that not adding value to your life? "

Depends on the trade, doesn't it? If it's a waitress, and the value is $25 bucks a week, that's one thing.

If it's a billionaire, the value is a million dollars a week...that's some serious value.

" The halt comes after Israel bombed Lebanon on Wednesday, breaking the two-week ceasefire"

Well, it was good while it lasted.

Remind me: what's the measurement for 1/10 of a Scaramucci?

"It's been a joint effort to give us debt"

Now do it by trajectory. Worlds of difference.

Next, do it by market return. Worlds of difference.

Sincerely,
Actual Math

cc: Real-World Investing

"We have come to an agreement to ceasefire. The straight will be open"

So....basically, what we had billions of dollars ago.

"Threatens Iran with full force."

You misspelled war crimes.

But look at you, selling your morals for a MAGA hat!

"It's a complete waste of money to combat an issue that's not really an issue."

But enough about voter fraud.

" that's not conservative."

You're right. That's MAGA.

"Where we are spending money on ICE contracts. This is why some conservatives are conservatives."

Did your irony meter explode when you posted that?

It's not teh libz blowing billions.

That guy would sell his mother for a dollar.

"JD Vance Campaigns for Far-Right Nationalist Viktor Orban in Hungary"

JFC. Just when you thought JV Dunce couldn't get more spineless...

...he proves you wrong.

"Trump Donors Are Now Reaping Billions in ICE Contracts"

I'm sure the Slurpers will be along any time now to condemn Grift and Graft.

Anyone???

"Norkish declarations of fealty to him at cabinet meetings"

This.

The guy saw Kim, and thought, "That's what I want."

And by "that", I mean adoration, combined with servitude.