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New Comic: A Truly Fascinating Phenomenon
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Amusingly random...
05 November 2009 @ 12:00 am
04 November 2009 @ 12:00 am
02 November 2009 @ 11:04 am
Again, a message for those who haven't sent in your ballots yet. Referendum 71 establishes legally-recognized domestic partnerships in Washington, specifically for same-sex couples and senior citizens. The history of how this referendum came to be on the ballot would make it very easy to accidentally mark the wrong bubble.
If you support legally-recognized domestic partnerships, select "APPROVED."
If you oppose legally-recognized domestic partnerships, select "REJECTED."
If you support legally-recognized domestic partnerships, select "APPROVED."
If you oppose legally-recognized domestic partnerships, select "REJECTED."
02 November 2009 @ 12:00 am
02 November 2009 @ 10:08 am
If you are a Washington voter who hasn't sent in your ballot yet, this is the time. The deadline for a postmark is tomorrow. There are some critical issues on these ballots. We need everyone to weigh in on them.
In my opinion, the most critical issue on the ballot is Initiative 1033, which would lock state and local budgets in at their current levels with corrections for inflation and population growth. Any taxes collected above this level would be used for property tax rebates. Any budgetary needs that cannot be met by this restrictive regime would have to be approved by popular vote.
The layout of the ballot makes it easy to miss the section on I-1033. It is in the lower left-hand corner of the front of the ballot, just below the instructions.
The passage of I-1033 would be disastrous for our state. Right now, our budget has been cut to the bone because of the recession. I-1033 aspires to make this situation permanent. A similar law that was passed in Colorado had dire consequences for that state.
Worse than that, I-1033 establishes a system that takes the taxes paid by low-income citizens and gives the proceeds to the more affluent. Under I-1033, any excess taxes collected are used for property tax rebates. The state has fairly good control over how much property tax is collected, making property tax over-collection unlikely. The state has no control over how much sales tax is collected, as this is determined by consumer spending. Any over-collection will be in this area, but the rebates will only be paid to property owners. Poorer citizens pay proportionally more of their income in sales tax then richer citizens. Richer citizens will reap proportionally more of the tax rebates, with citizens who rent receiving nothing. Unlike cuts to the property tax rate, unpredictable property tax rebates are not likely to be passed on in lower rental prices.
In my opinion, the most critical issue on the ballot is Initiative 1033, which would lock state and local budgets in at their current levels with corrections for inflation and population growth. Any taxes collected above this level would be used for property tax rebates. Any budgetary needs that cannot be met by this restrictive regime would have to be approved by popular vote.
The layout of the ballot makes it easy to miss the section on I-1033. It is in the lower left-hand corner of the front of the ballot, just below the instructions.
The passage of I-1033 would be disastrous for our state. Right now, our budget has been cut to the bone because of the recession. I-1033 aspires to make this situation permanent. A similar law that was passed in Colorado had dire consequences for that state.
Worse than that, I-1033 establishes a system that takes the taxes paid by low-income citizens and gives the proceeds to the more affluent. Under I-1033, any excess taxes collected are used for property tax rebates. The state has fairly good control over how much property tax is collected, making property tax over-collection unlikely. The state has no control over how much sales tax is collected, as this is determined by consumer spending. Any over-collection will be in this area, but the rebates will only be paid to property owners. Poorer citizens pay proportionally more of their income in sales tax then richer citizens. Richer citizens will reap proportionally more of the tax rebates, with citizens who rent receiving nothing. Unlike cuts to the property tax rate, unpredictable property tax rebates are not likely to be passed on in lower rental prices.
02 November 2009 @ 05:12 am
I had a lot of fun putting together today’s comic. Anyone who likes strange charts like this should check out Edward Tufte’s The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. It’s long been one of my favorite books. Thank you to my friend Tina for color advice, and to my brother Ricky for some Lord of the Rings detail corrections.
Also thank you to Olga and Noam for the lovely animated version of comic #442.
28 October 2009 @ 01:00 am
26 October 2009 @ 01:00 am
30 October 2009 @ 01:00 am
