Dems Demanding a Difference

With the Republicans, especially Mike Huckabee, talking so much about the Fair Tax, it's about time Democrats learned what it is and why it is a terrible idea.

 First, we have to discuss what it is. The Fair Tax is a 23% sales tax-inclusive rate that would replace all federal income and investment taxes. It would also theoretically give rebates back to everybody at or below the poverty line so they would end up paying no net sales tax. There would be numerous benefits, such as lower costs on consumer goods and less bureaucracy to handle tax collection.

Recently, The New York Times broke a story about the meeting between Mitch McConnell, director of national intelligence, General Michael Hayden, director of the CIA, and President Pervez Musharraf and other Pakistani officials. The two American intelligence officials flew out secretly to discuss ways to cooperate in the War on Terror. Apparently, both parties were satisfied in the results of the meeting.

In an aggressive move to respond to economic concerns, the Fed lowered the interest rate by 0.75% and the discount rate by 0.75% on Tuesday. This move provides more currency liquidity and will make it easier for people to pay off credit card loans and other loans that are causing a great deal of hardship right now. It also will make more loans available to people that need them. Ben Bernanke deserves props for this aggressive move. Wall Street reacted favorably to it, as well as markets around the world.

One of the points getting beaten into our heads during this primary season is experience. Hillary says she has 35 years of experience serving the American people. Barack Obama talks about the life experience that he has. John Edwards talks about his experience taking on insurance companies and fighting for the little guy. Their points all sound decent, but all three have been criticized at some point for a lack of experience. Clearly, something gives. What is undeniable is that experience is an important factor, so let's analyze the experience of these three candidates.

In the past 5 years, the State of Michigan has been the worst state in
the country in terms of higher education funding.  This summer, instead
of making good on its promise to give $180 million to public
universities around the state, the Michigan Legislature deferred its
payment until its next budget vote on October 1, 2007.  That day is
quickly approaching and the University of Michigan has a $30 million