A refresher course in the economics of taxation anyone should be able to understand. First, crack open a cold one. ( don't drink too much beer ) Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this: The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. The fifth would pay $1.The sixth would pay $3. The seventh would pay $7.The eighth would pay $12. The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59. So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers, he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80. ( don't drink too much beer ) The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the: First four men were unaffecte...

I recognize that the posts often come fast and furious around here, but if you think we're prolific you should check out Third Party Watch . Mostly it's good coverage of all the minor parties around the country, but occasionally Stephen slips in something really hilarious and biting at the same time. In this case it's a video from "Save the Hops," a grassroots Alabama group that has been lobbying the General Assembly to change restrictions on alcohol content in beer so that imported beers can legally be sold in the state. Who knew? The video is about six and one-half minutes long, and cuts in pieces of the actual House debate along with not-so-subliminal messages from STH about the issue. For no other reason it is worth watching for what happens around 5:33.... If you don't watch it now, it will be in his (and my) archives before you know it....