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Ross Willits

Roseville, Minnesota
Commenter for
4 years 9 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 05/17/13 at 04:12 pm in response to DFL tax deal will test economic and political strategies

Business are taxed on profits. That is what is left over after business expenses. So you don't pay taxes out of the same pot that you pay your staff (or yourself!) Businesses pay taxes on what is left AFTER expenses.

The question about "should I spend the extra dollar on raises or give it to the government" is a false question. I you have legitimate expenses whether operational or capital investments, the business is NOT taxed on those dollars.

Posted on 05/16/13 at 09:54 am in response to Early school-fund repayment carries a big cost for small benefit

A single comment from a wealthy suburban school district does not excuse the whole enterprise. School districts across the state were forced to borrow the funds to pay salaries etc. That costs money.

Then there are Charter Schools--the darlings of the right. They are prohibited by law from borrowing money to finance operations. So having 40% of their funds withheld and having no option to borrow has caused a great deal of pain to the schools, the children in them, and their families...

Posted on 04/01/13 at 02:11 pm in response to Urine-controlled video games offer a new revenue stream for marketers

I, for one, do not look forward to a "fully immersive" p-controlled game.

Posted on 02/18/13 at 12:30 pm in response to Tax experts, economists say Dayton’s business sales tax is a bad idea

Quoting the Chamber of Commerce and Taxpayers League, or whatever they're calling themselves now, saying they don't like the idea of taxes is a "dog bites man" story.

The article may as well have been about the NRA opposing gun restrictions.

Posted on 10/04/12 at 12:38 pm in response to Presidential post-debate: Focusing on Obama’s mis-demeanor

Long beep if the answer is non-responsive to the question, and cut off the mic altogether if the answer doesn't get on track within a set period of time.

Also, no debating points allowed for rhetoric that has already been proven to be false or misleading. So, if one side or another brings up BS like, "gas prices have doubled under this administration," which while technically true ignores the fact that that prices are still below the peak prices of 2007 or 2008, then they have to sit...

Posted on 07/03/12 at 10:48 am in response to Michele Bachmann mangles facts on health care tax

Of course, Rep. Bachmann has no interest in correcting the record. Her whole M.O. is to tell whoppers so big that people will recognize that she's exaggerating, but assume that the exaggeration is 5-10% away from the actual numbers, not orders of magnitude.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to debunk her mischief.

Posted on 06/05/12 at 08:43 am in response to Attacks on ALEC undermine efforts to reach common ground

Peter Nelson must be an alter ego of Stephen Colbert. Well done, sir!

Posted on 05/29/12 at 02:14 pm in response to Six blighted Twin Cities locations — and what should be there instead

Again, the lack of research boggles the mind. The so-called Palace Theatre in St. Paul is only a facade. The last show that was there was performed in the former lobby. What was the theatre is a catastrophe of pigeon droppings and crumbling masonry.

It would be wonderful for something to go into that space, but the building is by no means usable. It would have to be torn down, but Heritage Preservation will prevent that.

Posted on 05/18/12 at 10:25 am in response to Romney ad #1: 'What I'd do on Day #1'

#1 Keystone: For an international project like this, the State Department is legally bound to do a study and make recommendations. Republican legislation forced the State Department to issue a ruling before the study was complete, so the project HAD to be rejected. If Romney wants to approve the pipeline on Day 1, he'd better get the State Department to finish the work his party made them stop.

#2 Taxes on "Job Creators": If anyone thinks that the Bush tax cuts aren't going to be...

Posted on 05/17/12 at 11:34 am in response to Scott Walker and 'freedom of choice'

Sure, it's freedom of choice.

Public employees are free to trust their employer not to screw them over, or to quit.

They're free to lose their union representation or keep it and pay an increasing amount in dues to cover those who choose not to pay.

Sure, they're Hobson's Choices, but they're still choices.