GOTTA KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE …
|| By FITSNEWS || We haven’t always been kind to the billionaire industrialists subsidizing their existence (a.k.a. Charles G. Koch and David H. Koch), but we’re generally appreciative of the work done by political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity (AFP).
Like us, they have taken a firm and principled stand against economically harmful and totally unnecessary proposed gas tax increases – and they are to be commended for their position.
Unfortunately this week – when leaders in the “Republican-controlled” S.C. House of Representatives were busy rallying votes in support of the tax hike – AFP got a bit sidetracked. Specifically, the organization was off wasting time and resources fighting in favor of a special interest handout disguised as a “free market” reform.
We’ve repeatedly exposed how this legislation – which deals with the state’s liquor laws – is nothing but corporate cronyism benefitting some very bad actors. Unfortunately AFP swallowed the corporate spin, and decided to praise the law as something that “would make South Carolina a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Really? How does rewriting the state’s liquor laws to benefit large out-of-state corporate interests (at the expense of small and mid-sized local retailers) benefit anyone?
AFP also claimed the new law would create jobs and lower consumer prices … both of which are patently false statements.
If AFP was truly free market, it would support our position: Which is the elimination of all requirements for liquor distribution.
But that would be too simple. Nor would such a pure free market view sit well with many of the mid-sized retailers opposing this bill – those presumed by S.C. State House insiders to be padding our pockets on this issue (yes, we read the comments section occasionally).
Funny how that works isn’t it? We always adopt the position that’s got no constituency …
Well, other than the taxpayers and consumers of the state …
Anyway, in addition to its ill-advised mass media efforts in support of the special interest liquor bill – AFP reportedly worked on several members of a S.C. House subcommittee which heard the legislation this week. Again … at the very moment the gas tax debate was reaching a point of critical mass on the floor of the chamber.
Those efforts didn’t work – the subcommittee wisely refused to advance this special interest handout, adjourning debate on the bill.
While AFP was distracted, though, advocates for a gas tax hike were able to push their agenda against a divided opposition.
The result? An overwhelming (and likely veto-proof) 87-20 vote in favor of the gas tax increase by the so-called “Republican” House.
Of course it’s not that simplistic … we know that … but AFP’s resources and attention were clearly diverted away from the gas tax fight at a critical juncture.
“AFP SC … you had one job,” a lobbyist observing the gas tax’s success noted ruefully.
Perhaps next time AFP will consider better researching “free market” bills … and do a better job keeping its eye on the prize.
38 comments
Will, you have been regurgitating Koch Libertarian claptrap for years.
What I know about the FACT that Libertarianism is all about the ‘liberty’ and ‘freedom’ of Big Business (and, it’s small business followers) to screw over its workers and customers and the US taxpayers any way it can, I learned from reading THIS BLOG.
How is it you haven’t put the 2 + 2 of what you publish together after all this time?
These guys fool guys like him by making them believe one of two things:
A: The system will be almost completely flawless, in other words hard workers will always succeed, lazy moochers will always fail, and the few instances where hard workers don’t make it, private charity will take care of them.
B: The system will be pretty flawed, but THEY will be one of the guys on top, so they don’t sweat what happens to those who get trampled.
Occasionally they get learning experiences but they never actually take notes during them. They support these guys for limited government and find out that either they are self-interested jackasses or they end up folding on the issues to be normal run of the mill Republicans that these guys say they hate, but they still vote for them, and sometimes they even defend them. If they ever figure out the game it will probably be when they are vulnerable in their old age, and these guys are trying to rob them of the only programs that are keeping them in a house that has electricity, a table that has food, and a doctor that will see them, because even Ayn Rand relied on social security.
So the Koch brothers are simply interested in pushing their own self interests, and that of their billionaire friends, to the determent of everyone else. Of course, it is coached in ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’ jargon/platitudes, but that is in essence what they do.
It’s about time you saw the light.
Don’t you ever get tired of spewing your silly bullshit? Didn’t the 2014 mid-terms teach you a damn thing about politics?
Sun don’t shine on the same dog’s ass everyday, but, mister you ain’t seen a ray of light since you got here….
The midterms taught me that fear motivates Republicans but not Democrats. That is why with record low turnout, the GOP won handily.
Being on the “wrong side” of your political spew does not mean that this article on the stupid republicrat tax grab is not right.
The fact that a champion of lower taxes and smaller Gruberment has “fallen down and can’t get up” is news worthy in and of itself, but the subject is:
“It’s the economy, stupid.” … Increasing fuel taxes at the very time you and all of the rest of the misguided dupes here are whining about unemployment and the prices of bread and water … Or do you want higher taxes in the middle of a triple dip recession?
Too bad Rand Paul hasn’t seen the light, considering his recent brown nosing of the Kochs.
All of the larger national organizations eventually get infiltrated by “progressives” and their willing dupes. Consider AARP: orinigally intended to be an advocate for quality medical treatment for seniors, it has devolved into a key player in the promotion of ObamaCare and a tax exempt, government subsidized, de facto insurance company.
That AFP has become a shill for the booze Mob is not surprising at all.
Now that FITs has spoken of these inequities, one can assume that the Koch Bros. will hear of it … and probably take steps to fix it.
The Koch Brothers are not the enemy. Americans For Prosperity are not the enemy, and it will not be the Trojan Horse, either.
Boy have you drunk the kool aid, or should I say Koch Aid. You are so duped by these people that even when they screw you in front of your own eyes, you blame it on the mythical “progressives” that have taken over. You are an idiot.
The Koch brothers want to run this country. They want this country to benefit them and their cronies and they don’t give a crap about anyone else. The Koch Brothers will “fix” it. Yea, talk about brain washing.
The Koch Brothers have plenty to do just staying ahead of the “progressive” Fascists.
On the long list of political benefactors, they are at the bottom tier, documented to be #47 on all of the published lists of PAC contributors. The public employees unions make up 7 of the top 10 on those same lists. Wall Street Banks are the other 3 of the top 10 contributors to PACs.
So, considering that, who “runs” the country now? Oh Bummer.
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Disclosure: my family is five generations in the oil business, so … better the devil known, than …
I cross my fingers sometimes hoping these guys will open their eyes for a brief moment and consider the idea that the Kochs could be just as much their enemy as the progressives, even just a hint of maybe the Kochs are looking out for themselves at the cost of others, but every time it is disappointment.
The Koch Brothers ARE what is wrong with this country. They step over anyone who disagrees with them as they get richer and pollute the planet. The insidious part is that they have convinced the Faux News nation that logic, sanity, science, and compassion are all evil and need to be stopped.
Nothing like kicking someone in the balls and convincing them they enjoy it and want more of it.
If the Koch Bros. are “wrong”, then who would you say is “right”? … The greedy taxsuckers?
And who are these ‘greedy taxsuckers’? When a billionaire gets a tax break while only paying 17%, they’re considered a progressive, freedom loving entrepreneur. If its a single mom working minimum wage and paying 30%, she’s a taxsucker by asking for needed assistance.
Yeah, I’d say the Koch’s are right. SMH
17%! … Even Julius Ceasar never taxed the rich of Rome higher than 12%!
And consider those Gruberment employees raking in $149K, tax free! … Plus the tax free pensions! … Plus the tax free BummerCare exempt health insurance!.
The “new” rich Are g’ment employees, and whenever there is a tax increase of any kind, they get a raise to cover it.
You’ve got a bad, bad case of Plantation Massa Syndrome.
Anytime anyone richer than you tells you something, you say “yes, massa, and believe it.
Yes massa, but “The “new” rich ARE g’ment employees” … and They believe They are your massa too.
And it is not rocket surgery to know that Everything G’ment Employees receive is Totally Tax Free, and They give Themselves raises to cover Any Taxes They pay “off the job”.
Taxsuckers:
Defense Contractors
Mining companies who take the minerals out of public land
Timber companies who take timber from public land
Trucking companies and any industry who use the taxpayer funded roads to transport their products.
Coal Companies, oil companies, and other companies who pollute the environment that the taxpayers are required to clean up.
Billionairs who push through a brand new tax break that only benefits individuals with a net worth of more than 5 million and couples with a net worth of more than 10 million.
Wall Street tycoons who get bailed out by the taxpayer.
There are a lot more, but lets just say that not everyone agrees on who the greedy taxsuckers are. Taxsuckers are actually anyone who takes more value from the taxpayers than they pay in taxes.
Well said. While there are surely lower income individuals that milk the system, it gets tiresome hearing the poor as being painted as boogyman, while crooks like the Kochs get a pass because their daddy had money and they use said money to buy influence and mind-poke the easily manipulated.
The estate tax is a great example, good job pointing it out. I have seen conservatives get in heated arguments about it. The tax doesn’t even kick in until after the first $5,000,000 worth of estate has been given, and spouses are excluded. These chuckleheads fight angrily over something that will never, ever, ever affect them, but they act very much like this tax personally affects them and is keeping them from being successful. Every time Republicans cut taxes it goes to the rich, we don’t see those cuts, we the ones that need them most. This tax is a clear and unambiguous example of a tax that only someone who is very well off would ever have to worry about, and that’s after they kick the bucket, but they can’t tell the difference between it and the taxes they actually have to pay on a daily basis.
“… Billionairs who push through a brand new tax break that only benefits [certain] individuals … Wall Street tycoons who get bailed out by the taxpayer … Taxsuckers are actually anyone who takes more value from the taxpayers than they pay in taxes. …”
As good a definition as any. I am sure you see that those inside of government who champion any increases in taxes and/or increases in spending for those certain individuals outside of government would also fall into the category.
Hey, I’m with you Jack!
… And the voters and taxpayers of South Carolina have no say in this?
Just because a majority of taxsuckers want to kill even more small businesses and taxpayers in SC, don’t any of you all care about that?
BTW: the newest Forbes list of the ten best states for employment opportunities include Georgia, Florida and North Carolina, one would hope that South Carolina would at least get an honorable mention … Not!
…. Taxifornia is even further down the longer list than SC … Lucky you.
“South Carolina would at least get an honorable mention”. Maybe not, because the only ones who believe those bullsh!t numbers are ppl like you?
You could very well be right … The numbers come from Gruberment.
Every time you see an automobile with one of those special SC Legislative license plates, you will be seeing a totally fucked up and crooked criminal asswipe driving it. Pull along side of them when you do and flip them the bird!
Better check the backseat to make sure the kids aren’t in the car.
Next time you see one, drag out the milk shake bazooka.
Based on 2006 stats, South Carolina consumes in “barrels” of gasoline, 53,821,000 a year. Gasoline consumption for South Carolina is five time as high as for Georgia.
A barrel of gasoline equates to 42 gallons. 42 x 53,821,000 = 2260482000
gallons of gas. 10 cents more in tax per gallon equals each year to an added $226048200 each year. Add in the total tax per gallon with the increase (based on 2006 gallons consumed in SC), your corrupt government will easily be taking in – at the least – well over 1 Billion dollars every 12 months in gasoline taxes. A 15 cents increase in taxes pushes the amount up – at the least – to over 1.5 billion dollars. Take in consideration that SC’s population has increased by at least 15% since 2006, the expected take in from gasoline taxes will be well over TWO BILLION dollars every 12 months.
Right, except for the common core math.
The real deal is that your $Two Billion $Dollar$ in fuel taxes comes right off of the top of the South Carolina consumer economy. And that kills more than 100,000 corner grocery, burger flipper jobs!
Whose side are those state house fools on, anyway?
How do you explain that Georgia’s gas consumption is 5 times SC’s when Georgia’s population is 10.10 million and SC’s is 4.83?
Shouldn’t there be a comparable difference in the number of vehicles using gas?
They didn’t drop the Ball on no new gas taxes. Someone just gave them an offer they couldn’t refuse. Besides they stabbed the ball so there would be no chance of putting more air in it.
Gas has been an average of $1.30 more per gallon more than it was under Bush for the last SIX years…
I have not heard FITS tell us Obama has DROPPED the ball…
What the $%$! are you talking about? Gas is $2.10 now. I don’t recall paying $.80 for it in 2005.
You really are a special kind of stupid.
Averaged over Obama’s six years, Dumb@$$…
Not a math major…I take it…Based on your ability..you didn’t even take arithmetic on the elementary school level, did you???… LMAO…Best and Brightest my @$$….Hahahaha…
The vultures in land development and real estate are circling the piggy bank.
Of further interest, state tax wise: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/where-your-state-gets-its-money/
Bottom of article is an interactive sortable table, where all kinds of interesting numbers pop up. (Warning: Not common core math friendly.)
A confident OPEC stated that demand for its oil is likely to increase in 2015. Additionally, it believes that U.S production will decrease, starting this fall