Leave Us Alone

This weekend I just finished reading a manuscript copy of Grover Norquist's new book -- "Leave Us Alone" -- which is to be published in late March 2008 I am told. Mr. Norquist is president of Americans For Tax Reform, www.atr.org, based in Washington DC.

The book's title speaks for itself -- we want the government to leave our guns, our money, our families, and our basic freedoms alone (my wording) -- but you have to wonder how many public schools are going to stock this book in their student libraries don't you?

For me the best part of the book was the explanation of the need for a flat tax as the means to end the current class warfare that politicians create to pit different economic classes/taxpayers against each other. If we were all paying the same income tax rate THEN we would have some transparency in terms of government spending.

Buy a copy of this book then give your copy to a friend to help spread the word if you can,

Todd

Barnes and Noble

Due to Christmas (and/or perhaps Kwanzaa) this week today's work day was rather quiet so I took our daughter to the local Barnes and Noble (B&N) book store for story reading time. Personally I don't mind being suckered into a store via such an event since exposing children to reading in many forms is essential. Yes B&N got US$4.00 out of me for a new book for our daughter but that is worth the money to not only have her see the joy of reading but to also have a chance to interact with children in a social setting.

One small boy for instance took the toy train from our daughter that she was playing with before he even entered the "B&N Junior" play area. His grandmother never said anything to him so I had to offer a comment to her and comfort our daughter. Now perhaps my wife will appreciate why I want the kids in martial arts classes!!

But let's get back to the books -- one section of books that I love reviewing at B&N is the "Summer Bridge" series which is designed for use with young students to "bridge" them across the long summer break so they don't lose part of what they learned the year before. For US$13.00 I don't believe this essential tool is out of reach for any family living in poverty in the USA since it is an amount that equals the "one large pizza" amount I so often hear in policy debates especially when it comes to property tax increases.

Invest in children by cutting taxes,

Todd

The Shop Around the Corner

In the film, "You've Got Mail", Tom Hanks plays a "big chain book store owner" who drives Meg Ryan, owner of the "The Shop Around the Corner" , a neighborhood book store, out of business -- BUT they fall in love and live happily ever after of course. Sorry it I ruined the ending of this film for you but if that is your only problem then count your blessings since book shop owner, Mr. Thomas Loome, has a much more serious problem.

Due to a 45% property tax increase in one year a real life book store in Stillwater, Minnesota -- Loome Antiquarian Booksellers (www.loomebooks.com) has decided to close its doors due to its new annual property tax bill of $30,000. The store told me today that the planned closing date is January 2008 so let me call on my readers to stop by and/or order online to help drive some sales so we can save this book store -- a great statement can be made here by market forces (consumers) to overcome the government who is driving this store out of business via confiscatory property tax rates.

What I find amazing is that if there were plans to build a super Wal-Mart (a seller of books) , or perhaps a Barnes and Noble, in downtown Stillwater there would probably be protesters filling the city council chambers to oppose such "big box, urban sprawl development" BUT these same citizens seem to be silent when a small business is driven out of business via government tax policy. I plan to visit the store this week to not only purchase a book or two but also to investigate this situation.

From my perspective this is perhaps the worst form of book burning by government officials.

Keep reading,

Todd