Category Archives: Politics

Taxes: Fairness Is Not the Problem, Complexity Is

Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

When TurboTax spit out the estimated amount of our federal and California income tax refund would be this year, I nearly soiled myself. I was flabbergasted.

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Posted in California, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Catching a Falling Knife: The Hazards of California Real Estate

Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

When I returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in July 2006, real estate prices were absurd. At the time, I had also saddled myself with a massive amount of school loans. That said, no-doc loans were all the rage, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, California, Finance and Economics, Investing, Mathematics, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Bush vs. Obama: Unemployment (January 2012 Jobs Data)

Posted on Friday, February 3, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Update: Click here for the most recent jobs statistics. On the first Friday of every month, I update the unemployment numbers so that I can compare the unemployment rate under President George W. Bush with the unemployment rate under President Obama at that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Media, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 130 Comments

Congress Finally Does Something Right

Posted on Thursday, February 2, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Last November, I alerted readers to the hypocrisy that “members of Congress are not subject to insider trading laws, despite having access to far more material, non-public information than the average American, or, for that matter, the typical hedge fund manager.” … Continue reading →

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Posted in Finance and Economics, Investing, Leadership, Politics | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Will Israel Attack Iran This Spring?

Posted on Thursday, February 2, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta indicated today that Israel is considering a strike on Iran’s nuclear program as early as this spring. A Washington Post reporter asserted Panetta believed “there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, Middle East, Nuclear proliferation, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

The Disadvantages of Growing up Wealthy

Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Now that I have your attention, I think it is fair to state up front that there really are few disadvantages to growing up wealthy. You never have to worry about finding a job or joining the military to pay … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Leadership, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Oakland Occupy Protestors Show Their True Colors

Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

The First Amendment is one of the hallmarks of the U.S. Constitution. Americans ought to have the legal right to express themselves and their grievances against the government. This right is fundamental, and the government ought to protect it. Burning … Continue reading →

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Posted in California, Crime, Media, Politics | Tagged , , , | 36 Comments

Marginal Tax Rates And Recessions

Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

A Reflections of a Rational Republican reader suggested that I attempt to debunk or challenge the notion from two posts (see “Rich Peoples Taxes Have Little to Do with Job Creation” and “The Myth of the Lower Marginal Tax Rates“) … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments

More Signs of an Upcoming Confrontation with Iran

Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that “Navy officials acknowledged that they were moving with unusual haste to complete the conversion” of “an aging warship” the Navy “had planned to decommission into a makeshift staging base for the commandos” so it … Continue reading →

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Posted in Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Are You Better Off Now Than You Were Three Years Ago?

Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

President Obama has been in office for about three years and six days, which begs the question: Do you feel better off now than you were three years ago? A cursory review of the statistics suggests that the country is … Continue reading →

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Posted in Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments