Tax the Wealthy

There is a story in today's San Francisco Chronicle by Joe Garofoli discussing potential taxes that Governor Jerry Brown may consider. The idea of an additional 1 percent tax on individual incomes greater than $500,000 is dismissed by “Analysts and activists,” as too politically perilous, because Brown also wants to extend sales taxes and vehicle license fees. The article points out that the top one percent of earners from 1978 to 2008 see income increases of 81 percent, while the incomes of the bottom 20 percent drop by 11.5 percent. One would think that earners between 21 and 89 percent did not do nearly as well as the 1 per centers. The first question is; who are these ANALysts and activists? Secondly; where is the political risk of raising the income tax of the wealthiest along with the regressive taxes on sales and automobiles?

The 1 per centers are responsible for the state of the economy. They should pay more to see the state and ultimately the Federal Government out of this mess which they have made. Some worry that these Brahmins will take their jobs and leave. Most of the jobs they now create are in Chinese prisons. They have no regard for the society in which they live and their problems should not be the concern of the 99 per centers.

San Franciso Giants Jinx Themselves

In today's San Francisco Chronicle, Henry Schulman described the scene at last night's San Francisco Giants game versus the San Diego Padres. He said that before the game a Comcast promotion was broadcast in the stadium which loudly proclaimed, “'Will this be the night the Giants pop the Champagne corks?'” This was opposed to all baseball etiquette and certainly jinxed the team last night. I assume that whoever was in charge of the intra stadium broadcast was some sort of marketing type who tried to drum up phony enthusiasm. Over one hundred years of baseball tradition dictated against this. It sent a message to the fans and maybe even the players that the Giants were entitled to the Western Division Pennant. The Giants were facing a team with which they have had trouble all season. Instilled over confidence was a poor choice. I complained about the noise level at an Oakland Athletics game recently. This was just mindless, irritating blare. In this case, there was also really terrible content. Whoever devised that announcement and the Giants official that approved it should be hanged from the highest yardarm.

Boob Wolff Whines Again

Oakland Athletics owner Lew “Boob” Wolff is making the rounds of the local media pitching his idea for a San Jose stadium and philosophizing on the A's need for a couple of hitters, which everyone thinks they need. In his comments to the San Francisco Chronicle he makes it clear that he does not want to spend the money and would prefer to develop home grown talent. In the last ten years the team has not done very well in this department. They produce “patient” hitters that get on base, but also leave too many runners in scoring position. During his interview on Comcast's broadcast of tonight's game he says he wants the new stadium and fan base to generate the revenue to acquire these sluggers. This is at once an insult to the current fan base and admission that he will do little to improve the team over the off season. With three losing seasons under his belt and a fourth likely and with his constant whining about the Coliseum it is he that alienates and destroys the fan base. I am beginning to believe the conspiracy theorists who posit that he is doing this intentionally and waiting for his new ball park before he hatches the moves to make this team a contender. Am I being too emotional? Hell, yes! I am a fan and that is short for fanatic. The A's cultivate an emotional relationship with us and now Boob Wolff wants to take this away. And going off to San Jose may as well be leaving for the moon. Some dismiss this as a purely business action. Well I hate businessmen and guys like Wolff make me want to become a Commie.

Suicide at San Quentin?

Today there is an article in the San Francisco Chronicle on page C2 detailing a suicide at San Quentin State Prison. After describing this incident the article mentions that this is the second suicide there in less than a week. Previously an inmate, “...was found hanging in his cell Aug. 23 with his throat cut.” Huh? It sound as if this guy had some help taking his own life. It appears as though the Chronicle is regurgitating San Quentin press releases and not asking pertinent questions.