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By The Numbers

Politicians use amazingly small numbers in pursuit of ‘fairness’

Fri, 08/17/2012 - 8:39am
By The Numbers
By
Richard Shanley

My last article covered the Amazingly Large Numbers which aggregate our national liabilities — at over $80 trillion. I commented about how little was being done to deal with these giant sums. In this sequel, I would like to discuss some relatively small numbers which are being given an enormous amount of air time in this election year. The huge amount of hot air being spent compared to the tiny numerical amounts, yields my conclusion that the focus is on political mumbo jumbo and not economic results.

Amazingly small numbers

Thu, 08/16/2012 - 9:30am
By The Numbers
By
Richard Shanley

My last article covered the Amazingly Large Numbers which aggregate our national liabilities — at over $80 trillion. I commented about how little was being done to deal with these giant sums. In this sequel, I would like to discuss some relatively small numbers which are being given an enormous amount of air time in this election year. The huge amount of hot air being spent compared to the tiny numerical amounts, yields my conclusion that the focus is on political mumbo jumbo and not economic results.

A zero percent corporate tax rate? It’s not such a stretch

Thu, 02/02/2012 - 11:36am
By The Numbers
By
Richard Shanley

I got thinking the other day about tax rates. What can I say? This is an occupational hazard for a career CPA, even one who is purportedly retired. This being a presidential election year, there are numerous plans afoot among the various Republican candidates, the current administration and several folks in Congress about how to reform our current tax system.  

Solyndra, and other federal boondoggles

Thu, 12/08/2011 - 11:18am
By
Richard Shanley

 

In September, a California solar energy company named Solyndra went bankrupt, taking with it more than $535 million in federal (read: taxpayer funded) loans as well as laying off more than 1,000 employees. I got to thinking about the philosophy and history behind this kind of attempt by the Feds to guarantee the operations of a company in a favored industry. What I found was revealing. 

Transcontinental monkey business   

Wondering how to control federal spending?

Thu, 10/06/2011 - 11:44am
By The Numbers
By
Richard Shanley

Have you ever wondered why federal spending continues to increase despite the ongoing economic downturn and in the face of all the bluster about the debt ceiling that came out of Washington this past summer? The hidden driver is something called “baseline budgeting.” More on that below.

In a household or in any business, budgets are formally or informally set based on income, projected over some period of time. In many households, that time frame may be as short as a month; for large corporations, it may be five years or more.

Wondering how to control federal spending?

Thu, 10/06/2011 - 11:44am
By The Numbers
By
Richard Shanley

Have you ever wondered why federal spending continues to increase despite the ongoing economic downturn and in the face of all the bluster about the debt ceiling that came out of Washington this past summer? The hidden driver is something called “baseline budgeting.” More on that below.

In a household or in any business, budgets are formally or informally set based on income, projected over some period of time. In many households, that time frame may be as short as a month; for large corporations, it may be five years or more.