I was so dumb. I deal with words, yet I was taken in by the terms “cage-free” and “humanely raised” on my packages of chicken. Watch this video and learn exactly what those terms mean. Then go to Change.org and sign the petition telling the USDA to stop using such misleading labels.
Ever wonder why big corporations who seem quite rich end up paying less tax than you? Senator Bernie Sanders has listed six loopholes that allow them to get away with it–loopholes that, if closed, could mean $100 billion more in our federal coffers. Here they are (quoted from the website shown at the end):
The “check-the-box” loophole. Simply by checking one box, companies can claim that an entity it owns should be ignored by the IRS for tax purposes. By giving different stories to different governments, they can transfer profits between subsidiaries tax free. Closing this loophole would raise up to $78 billion over the next decade.2
The “Hewlett-Packard” loophole. Companies are supposed to pay taxes when they bring offshore profits back to America. But if their offshore subsidiaries only provide a short-term “loan” to the onshore parent company, they can dodge the law. At one point, Hewlett-Packard was found to be “borrowing” billions, tax-free.3
The “Real Estate Investment Trust” loophole. Real estate investment trusts are like mutual funds for real estate, and they don’t pay corporate income tax. But all sorts of companies, from private prisons to casinos, now claim to be real estate investment trusts in order to dodge taxes.4
The “carried interest” loophole. Wealthy investors pay hedge fund managers billions to manage their money. But this loophole allows those fund managers to pretend that their income is actually a capital gain from selling investments – and capital gains are taxed at a far lower rate. Closing this loophole would raise up to $18 billion.5
The “earnings stripping” loophole. CREDO members have fiercely fought corporate inversions, where big U.S. companies merge with a smaller foreign company to avoid paying taxes. The Treasury Department has already cracked down on one tax dodge related to inversions, and closing the other, the “earnings stripping” loophole, could raise up to $13 billion over the next decade.6
The “valuation discount” loophole. If wealthy parents put a restriction on selling a company before transferring it to their children, it is considered less valuable and so they pay less in taxes – even if that restriction is then removed or ignored. The IRS could overlook these meaningless restrictions and raise up to $18 billion over the next decade.7
To see the references the footnotes go to and to sign a petition asking President Obama to close these loopholes (he can do it without Congress’ permission), go to https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/3/#inbox/14ca3a01d7d1cc5d.
On this 150th anniversary of what is considered the end of the American Civil War, I feel that this Thursday Thought is appropriate.
Here’s an upbeat story to counteract all the stories of harm done by famous sports stars. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder guard, won a new car as MVP and promptly turned it over to a single mom as a way to brighten her life and as a reward for “all the hard work she’s done to keep her family together.” A local charity recommended this particular family to Westbrook.
I’m sure that Westbrook will have many more chances at being given a car and other valuables, including some very lucrative contracts. It’s nice to see him share his rewards for his hard work with someone who will be struggling for more years but now has needed reliable transportation for work and family, plus a chance to smile and feel good.
This is people helping people, the way things should be. In life, Russell Westbrook really is an MVP.
After a peaceful loving family Easter, I’m not ready to dive back into the world today. So I’ll dust off my teacher hat and give you the history of a common phrase you hear and use.
When someone suddenly blows up in anger, and usually we don’t see it coming, we say that he “flew off the handle.” This phrase goes back to a description of a character in an 1843 English book by Thomas C. Haliburton, called The Attaché; or, Sam Slick in England. It refers to how the business end of an ax, if loose, can unexpectedly fly off its handle when being swung. That’s appropriate for some people I know, because when they’ve done it I’ve felt as though an ax-head was firmly embedded between my shoulder blades.
What to do with egg cartons after coloring Easter eggs: use the bottom half in a drawer to store small items (thumb tacks, paper clips, earrings), or punch drainage holes, add soil, seed, and water, place in a sunny spot, and watch your seedlings grow. Later on, after the cartons get grungy or torn, toss them into your compost pile.
[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite E-book seller.]
Why not help Grandma see? That’s what this 8th grader decided to do to help his grandmother cope with macular degeneration. His invention may just offer hope to millions of people who can’t afford the $15,000 pricetag on what’s available now but might be able to afford his invention at a fraction of the cost. Watch this interesting this short video.
Today’s Thursday Thought is a good one for Easter and for everyday:
Enjoy the fun of the day, but, please, consider the person you’re pranking. We’ve all been the butt of cruel April Fools jokes that have humiliated us, or watched jokes pulled on others that were obviously an expression of the jokester’s prejudices, using the day as an excuse. These tricks not only feel bad but seem to give some legitimacy to cruelty and prejudices.
There are so many pranks that are harmless and so ingrained in our culture that few people are terribly embarrassed by them, like the Whoopie Cushion, switching the Push and Pull signs on a door, and putting hundreds of post-its all around someone’s office.
But something that is dangerous, will clearly mortify someone, makes a person look stupid, or is based on ethnics, gender, religion, or sexual orientation is not okay. And that means no posting of the victim online, which makes it even worse.
So, go ahead and enjoy the day. But be mindful of the person you’re pranking and how it will affect him or her. Remember that your joke reflects who you are as a person.