Comments by rtpayton / LJWorld.com

rtpayton

Last login: Friday, June 7, 2013

Comment history

Would you rather have a lower income tax and higher sales tax, or lower sales tax and higher income tax?

Tax exempt status is issued for many wealthy groups and individuals. Throw in offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands and we have a tax free option.

May 17, 2013 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Affordable Care Act bringing jobs to Lawrence

They majority of people can't tell you the differences between the bronze,silver,gold and platinum plan. Will Lawrence Memorial have to accept all other state exchange plans even if Kansas isn't on any state plans?

May 16, 2013 at 4:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Preseason projection says KU's 2013 football schedule loaded with bowl teams once again

Another factor for the Big 12 football teams are the number of quarterback changes this year. David Ash, Texas QB has experience in the Big 12. Blake Bell has limited experience in red zone formations. Most teams are developing new quarterbacks so the learning curve could be interesting for some programs.

May 8, 2013 at 1:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Former state representative Solbach critically injured after ATV and car collide

Hope a speedy recovery is had for Mr. Solbach.

April 18, 2013 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Gov. Brownback says he'll attend President Obama's event in Lawrence if he's invited

Will security pat down the Governor if he shows up?

April 16, 2013 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Senate approves bill allowing alcohol consumption in Statehouse

This was the Carrie Nation state?

April 5, 2013 at 3:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

City Commission candidates disagree on how to serve homeless in downtown Lawrence

Most Americans' compensation has risen only $59 since 1966, according to a new analysis. The top 10% of earners fared far better.
By Aimee Picchi
A lot has changed since 1966, when "Star Trek" first aired on TV and Toyota (TM +0.28%) introduced the Corolla.
But one thing that hasn't budged much is Americans' inflation-adjusted income, according to a tax analysis by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston.
For Americans in the bottom 90%, the "vast majority averaged a mere $59 more in 2011 than in 1966," writes Johnston, who adds that the figure is "jaw-dropping."
That means most Americans gained only enough income to buy movie tickets, popcorn and soda for a family of four -- for just one visit to the multiplex per year.

Not all Americans saw their wages stagnate, however. Since 1966, the top 10% of earners saw their incomes jump by $116,071, reaching $254,864 in 2011, Johnston writes. His analysis is based on research by economists Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty. (As I wrote in MSN moneyNOW last month, Berkeley economist Saez recently found that only the top 1% saw average real income growth between 2009 and 2011.)

"That disparity in income growth rates comes as the total federal tax burdens on those at the top have been slashed, compared with 1966, especially for the long-term capital gains that account for about a third of total income at the very top," Johnston points out.

Johnston's analysis provides a sobering long-term look at why so many Americans feel they're working harder than ever to keep their heads above water. With rising costs for everything from food to a college education, a $59 income gain over four decades isn't going to help.

To be sure, some other recent research indicates the rich have gotten socked by higher taxes, with federal tax bills approaching 30-year highs.

But in more bad news for America's struggling middle and lower classes, the very rich don't necessarily have priorities that align with have-nots, according a study from Vanderbilt University researchers.

Today's Daddy Warbucks "are much less willing than others to provide broad educational opportunities, including 'spend(ing) whatever is necessary to ensure that all children have really good public schools they can go to' or 'mak(ing) sure that everyone who wants to go to college can do so,'" according to the researchers, who surveyed 83 Chicago-area residents with an average wealth of $14 million.

The elite also oppose government redistribution of wealth, favor lower estate tax rates and lean toward supporting cuts in social programs such as Social Security to reduce the deficit, the study found.

But the uber-wealthy are also more likely to be politically active, with two-thirds of them contributing to campaigns and giving an average of $4,633 to candidates or organizations in the previous year.

Just thought I would share this story.

March 26, 2013 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Tickets to Jayhawks' first games most expensive in NCAA tournament

25 schools with both men and women basketball teams in NCAA. The list of schools: Liberty, Middle Tenn., Oklahoma, UCLA, Syracuse, Creighton, Notre Dame, Miami (Fl), Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota St, Wichita St, Oklahoma St, Duke, Michigan, Iowa State, Conzaga, Montana, California, Connecticut, Michigan St., North Carolina, Albany, Louisville and Villanova. The women's tickets less expensive than the men's NCAA tickets?

March 19, 2013 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )