ALEC Economist - Laffer - on "No New Taxes"

I am still waiting for someone to debunk ALEC's "Rich States Poor States"(RSPS) .  I saw a news article report today that led me to believe that there is a very high possibility that Mitch Daniels is using the numbers from ALEC's RSPS to defend the "Right to Work for Less" legislation in Indiana.  A news release from a couple of months ago (which I posted here) by Progressive States Network called RSPS  "irresponsible" but didn't provide enough meat to back up their findings - so I'm no longer impressed with PSN's press release (I was hoping they would do a follow-up).  It shouldn't be that hard to debunk RSPS - for the right person it should only take about 4 hours of reading and research - so I guess there are economists out there that just don't a damn that ALEC is publishing crappy economic numbers and then using those numbers - every day - in some type of press release somewhere.

You see I am a strong believer that ALEC is one of those organization's that use statistics to confuse people.  I strongly believe that ALL ALEC reports and ALEC numbers are LIES - based on bad statistics to bolster weak or inconclusive results.  They will twist any number they can to make it work as the support for an ALEC argument - even if it is a lie.  The sad part is too many dumb legislators choose to believe ALEC's bogus numbers and no one steps forward to question or challenge them on a regular and on-going basis. And unfortunately, most people - just doesn't take the time to review numbers and statistics that well - they just accept what is published - their eyes glaze over and they go on to the next page.

Develop the crappy "model legislation" (Right to Work) and then develop bogus numbers and statistics to support it's implementation (and publish them) - great brain child of ALEC - all built on half truths and lies - lies, damned lies, and ALEC statistics.

Well - last night on PBS NewsHour - they had an video article on raising the tax on the richest among us.

And lo and behold - who did they interview - none other than Arthur Laffer, co-editor of Rich States, Poor States.  So I stopped channel surfing for a second and stopped.

The important thing about this piece is that this piece draws a rather direct line to the American Legislative Exchange Council - because PBS had Laffer on, rather than Grover Norquist.  Laffer IS the American Legislative Exchange Council's main published economist - so I have to ask the following question:

Are Grover Norquist and ALEC behind the no new taxes on the rich AND CORPORATIONS theme?

ALEC , Not taxing Corporations - that would make sense.
But one that no one has bothered to do that research.  I know ALEC has tax legislation that favors the rich and corporations, supports lower taxes on the rich and corporations, but a tighter link and argument needs to be crafted and published.

Well, I found the news brief interesting (though dull and complicated) and I thought I would share it here.  It's not long, but at least someone tried to debunk Laffer economics - I have been waiting a long time to see that.  I wish I could see someone do a definitive de-bunk of Laffer's "Rich States Poor States" - I'm getting sick and tired of seeing it quoted in news articles shown in the Google searches - every single day.

Watch Taxes: How High Is Too High? on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

#Alec

UPDATE - Friday the 13th - and yes, I'm smiling

Nashville Bizjournal

Arthur Laffer named in Texas Ponzi suit

.Nashville Business Journal by Eric Snyder, Assistant Managing Editor

Date: Friday, January 13, 2012, 10:15am CST

Columbia Journalism Review

— Courthouse News Service reports that famed supply-side economist Arthur Laffer, of the Laffer Curve, is being sued for his involvement in a $3 million Ponzi scheme.

Courthouse News

Investors Say Supply Sider Arthur Laffer Backed a Ponzi

HOUSTON (CN) - Fifty-two investors claim fund managers associated with supply-side economist Arthur Laffer took $3.1 million to prop up a Ponzi scheme, then said nothing as their money was "wasted with no reasonable expectation of recovery."

ALEC   #99%  #Occupy