Russ Stanton
-
The Basics
-
Russ on Patch
-
More Stuff
Comments
-
On the article How Would You Rule on Gay Marriage If You Wore Supreme Court Robes?
-
On the article How Would You Rule on Gay Marriage If You Wore Supreme Court Robes?
Russ Stanton
3:46 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013
ReplyDavid, Do you really think the law is treating a gay man equally by saying he can marry someone of the opposite sex--just like a straight man can? Come on, really? Does that make any sense in the real world?
-
On the article How Would You Rule on Gay Marriage If You Wore Supreme Court Robes?
Russ Stanton
10:04 am on Thursday, March 28, 2013
ReplyAmerica is about individual liberty and equality under the law. Individual liberty is the right of individuals to live their lives as they see fit so long as they are not harming others--even if others disapprove. Individual liberty is crushed by government laws like DOMA, that force the will and religous beliefs of a majority on to a minorty. The right to marry the person of ones choice is one of the most dearly held individual rights. People should have the right to individual liberty and the pursuit of happiness on their own terms.
Gay couples pay taxes and contribute equally to society and our economy. They deserve equal treatment under the law if for no other reason, because they are Americans.
DOMA should fall.
Russ Stanton
-
On the article Gov. Dayton Proposes a Tax Overhaul: What Do You Think?
Russ Stanton
3:22 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
ReplyThe 2011 tax incidence study of effective tax rates by the Department of Revenue shows the top 5% of income earners pay 9.7% of their income in state and local taxes, while everyone else pays an average of 11.5%. The reasons are many--more deductions for the top income earners, and top earners pay a smaller portion of their incomes in sales taxes and property taxes. One has to consider both state and local taxes, because most of the state's budget goes to local governments and school districts and that offsets property tax rates. Some other states that have lower income taxes--but since those states don't give as much revenue to local schools and local govenments, these states have much higher (regressive) property taxes. The top 5% should pay the same percentage of their income in state and local taxes as those making $32,000 to $67,00--who now pay 12.2% of their income in state and local taxes. When the top 5% don't pay thier share, it is always the middle income people who get hit with the bill. Thank you, Mark Dayton, for starting the discussion on tax reform and tax fairness.
-
On the article Gov. Dayton Proposes a Tax Overhaul: What Do You Think?
Russ Stanton
9:46 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013
ReplyPeople who earn more than $105,000 pay a lower effective rate of taxation than people under $105,000 in income. I don't hate the rich--I simple believe they should pay the same percentage in taxes that I do. Someone has to pay for essential services like education and higher education--they are not free. We have cut and cut and cut in recent years--higher education is getting less state support now than in 1999--and inflation has been about 37% since 1999--and enrollments have skyrocketed since 1999. We spend less per capita on higher education than Alabama and Mississippi--isn't that a great competitive position to be in! I will pay more taxes, but that is the price we pay for a successful society. I commend Governor Dayton for facing this head on--no acccounting shifts, or borrowing from future revenue--and a plan to evenually pay back the school districts.
-
On the article Rules and Etiquette for Minnesota's Polling Places
Russ Stanton
12:59 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
ReplyOur election rules should allow parents with small children and the elderly to move to the front of the line when there are long waiting lines. We shouldn't require parents who can't afford child care when they vote to wait in very long lines to vote. Little kids get restless. It can discourage parents with kids from voting. We should also allow the elderly to move up. We should be considerate and do everything possible to make it convienient for people to vote.
Russ Stanton, Edina
Russ Stanton
3:47 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013
David, Do you really think the law is treating a gay man equally by saying he can marry someone of the opposite sex--just like a straight man can? Come on, really? Does that make any sense in the real world?