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Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, July 22, 2011

#food The Real Reason Big Macs Are Cheaper Than More Nutritious Alternatives | Food | AlterNet

The Real Reason Big Macs Are Cheaper Than More Nutritious Alternatives | Food | AlterNet: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

"In this chapter of that larger tragicomedy, lawmakers whose campaigns are underwritten by agribusinesses have used billions of taxpayer dollars to subsidize those agribusinesses' specific commodities (corn, soybeans, wheat, etc.) that are the key ingredients of unhealthy food. Not surprisingly, the subsidies have manufactured a price inequality that helps junk food undersell nutritious-but-unsubsidized foodstuffs like fruits and vegetables. The end result is that recession-battered consumers are increasingly forced by economic circumstance to "choose" the lower-priced junk food that their taxes support."

Yes, I go in the store to buy an apple and it is more expensive than the bag of chips but I still buy the apple and suffer later when I am hungry again--but that is just how I am.#weneedhealthyfoodsubsidies

*that is why we buy big macs--fewer hunger pains

Koch Brothers, ALEC and Their Corporate Allies Plan to Privatize Government | Truthout

Koch Brothers, ALEC and Their Corporate Allies Plan to Privatize Government | Truthout: "Florida State Representative Chris Dorworth (R-Lake Mary) introduced HB 1021. The bill sought to curtail the political power of unions by prohibiting public employers from deducting any amount from an employee’s pay for use by an employee organization (i.e., union dues) or for any political activity (i.e., the portion of union dues used for lobbying or for supporting candidates for office).

Furthermore, HB 1021 stated that, should a union seek to use any portion of dues independently collected from members for political activity, the union must obtain annual written authorization from each member.

In effect, this bill defunds public-sector unions—like AFSCME, SEIU, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association—by making the collection of member dues an onerous, costly task. With public-sector unions denatured, they would no longer be able to stand in the way of radical free marketeers who plan to profit from the privatization of public services.

- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Thursday, July 21, 2011

We the People Should Pay Closer Attnetion: Say "NO" to Tax Cuts! - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

Say "NO" to Tax Cuts! - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

"Paul O'Neill, Treasury Secretary, opposed the 2003 Tax Relief Act on the grounds that they would:
-fail as a growth stimulus
-increase inequality

-worsen the budget outlook considerably

The combined effect of the three tax cuts proved to have a substantial net negative impact on revenues according to the Economic Policy Institute. At least 450 economists took out an ad in the New York Times in February 2003 asserting that the Bush tax plan was not the answer to our sluggish economy."

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Bringing Healthy, Affordable Food to Underserved Communities | The White House

Bringing Healthy, Affordable Food to Underserved Communities | The White House: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Thank You First Lady, Michelle Obama! I wish that somehow, qualified individuals from the food desert communities could be pulled to start these farmer's markets and fresh food oasis. Long-established black churches can offer recommendations from their trustee boards for youngish people to have stores where they live and raise families above the stores, if necessary or become off-site owners. That way, new wealth could be created in the communities they serve and those dollars can circulate in the community.

Those loans can be SBA/government-backed for a short period until profitability could be established. Local food suppliers, churches and the community would profit. It could even lead to new food suppliers establishing themselves and thus widen the economic chain. Those employers would employ people from the communities they serve. From the establishment of this economic circle, other retailers would enter the communities and those communities would flourish and become more autonomous. Just a thought.



Monday, July 18, 2011

Internet Communications Firm Owners Plead Guilty to Employment Tax Fraud and Failure to Pay Tax

Internet Communications Firm Owners Plead Guilty to Employment Tax Fraud and Failure to Pay Tax: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"


Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 15, 2011
Internet Communications Firm Owners Plead Guilty to Employment Tax Fraud and Failure to Pay Tax

WASHINGTON – Frank G. Bivings and Isabelle Blanco of Washington, D.C., husband and wife and co-owners of The Bivings Group Inc., pleaded guilty today to charges stemming from the failure to pay more than $2 million in employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The guilty plea took place in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Bivings pleaded guilty to one count of failure to pay over employment taxes. Blanco pleaded guilty to one count of failure to pay a tax. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2011.

The Bivings Group was a full-service Internet communications business. In pleading guilty, Bivings and Blanco both admitted that between Jan. 1, 2002, and June 30, 2008, The Bivings Group failed to pay over to the IRS a total of $2,420,927 in employment taxes, which includes withholding and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes. Of this amount, $1,813,488 represented the money that was withheld from employees for taxes but that was not paid over to the IRS. The department said that, instead of paying these payroll taxes to the IRS, the defendants used the funds to pay themselves substantial salaries and withdrew additional corporate funds for other expenses.

Bivings faces a maximum of five years in prison, and Blanco faces a maximum of one year in prison. The parties agreed, however, that the calculation under the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines for each defendant is 30 to 37 months in prison. Both defendants also agreed to pay $2,420,927 in restitution.

In announcing today’s guilty plea, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General John A. DiCicco, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., of the District of Columbia and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeannine A. Hammett commended the investigatory work of IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent Michael Helgesen. They also praised the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan B. Menzer and Tax Division Trial Attorney Tino Lisella, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Tax Division
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