Comments for Skepticlawyer

Comment on Charity begins at the IRS by desipis

desipis — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:41:13 +0000

kvd, interest article. I guess the signs for sociopathy are there.
- spending almost 4000 words talking about themselves
- glorifying their choices and lack of inhibitions
- deflecting the responsibility for their actions onto their condition
- attempting to rationalise their immoral conduct as somehow beneficial for society.

The defence of sociopathy argument also sounded eerily like many libertarian advocates…

Comment on Charity begins at the IRS by kvd

kvd — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:59:36 +0000

I read this article last Saturday, while most of my breakfast went cold at the local cafe I infrequently frequent. It's a long read, but I think it a worthwhile read, so I've been waiting for it to be 'internet-ed' to pass on the link. I'd be interested in any opinions on the personality.

Comment on Smart Growth = Constipated Cities by Lorenzo

Lorenzo — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:13:52 +0000

Me@59 Wiping out substantial property rights like that is usually regarded as poor form and is definitely politically fraught.

And if the urban geography of Northcott was general, of course taxis and public transport could do more. But the problem is precisely the creation of under-transport-provided car-access-only suburbs which the current system will continue to generate unless there are some fundamental changes.

And Houston is hardly the only alternative.

Comment on Charity begins at the IRS by Lorenzo

Lorenzo — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:07:12 +0000

JT@7 Not necessarily in advocacy. Besides which, you go after groups by income, not political allegiance if that was your aim.

Comment on Charity begins at the IRS by John Turner

John Turner — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:33:30 +0000

Assuming that the IRS seeks to protect the tax base might it not be wise to first consider where the money might be?
Is it likely that conservatives tend to be the ones who have the money?

Comment on Boston Manhunt Ends by Henry2

Henry2 — Sun, 19 May 2013 09:32:29 +0000

LE @ 13 Henry 2, personally I’d prefer to wait until we know more about the motivation of the surviving bomber. From here

retribution for the US crimes against Muslims in places like Iraq and Afghanistan; that the victims of the Boston bombing were ‘collateral damage

Comment on Charity begins at the IRS by Herding cats

Herding cats — Sun, 19 May 2013 06:07:47 +0000

Yer well .. very little is secret .. these days.

Comment on Charity begins at the IRS by kvd

kvd — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:16:23 +0000

desipis I can’t get past the WSJ paywall, but from another source I can read

In March 2006 the Wall Street Journal reported that Public Interest Watch has been heavily funded by ExxonMobil. Steve Stecklow reports that PIW’s “most recent federal tax filing, covering August 2003 to July 2004, states that $120,000 of the $124,094″ came from the oil company. ExxonMobil confirmed that they had funded the group at that time but no longer do.

I think this is sort of like the Getup! funding from unions and a few like-minded individuals – and I see nothing particularly wrong with either E-M or the movers behind Getup! pursuing their ideas in this way, provided their support is openly reported, and easily seen.

But this present affair is about (thus far) unknown government functionaries using their legislated powers to pursue fairly blatant political ends.

Now, I can see a difference between this action and the above two instances – and the far more important issue is that of public trust in the apolitical nature of government administration.

Comment on Charity begins at the IRS by Herding cats

Herding cats — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:55:15 +0000

um, in the absence of intelligent policy – try a distraction. The MSM is more than happy to oblige.

It’s a pity that Mr Obama seems to be ‘running scared’ of the MSM. Am not sure what the actual facts and detail are, but looking deeper behind the “headlines” .. it seems that the ‘tea Party’ and affiliates were trying to ‘fudge the rules’ regarding “tax free” associations – and the American IRS were, indeed, well within their ‘right’ to question and investigate the plethora of applications.

Comment on Charity begins at the IRS by desipis

desipis — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:15:29 +0000

Senior IRS officials told the watchdog that the decision to focus on conservative groups had not been influenced by any individual or organisation outside the agency.

Silly people. You're supposed to set up an external party to make absurd accusations if you want to do politically targeted tax audits.