Nanny of the Month August 2012: Stimulus Money Used to Support Soda Taxes

Our nation's nannies have turned up the heat this summer. August's slate of control freaks includes the silver state statists who might fine you 2,000 bucks for the crime of teaching someone how to apply makeup, and the Phoenix code enforcer who busted a woman for handing out free water in 112-degree heat (!) because she didn't have a license. Yet neither could managed to muster the the meddling of this month's top pick. Using federal taxpayers' dough (we're talking stimulus and Obamacare cash) to implement local-level soda taxes and other nanny state laws certainly violates good taste, but the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General thinks it might also violate federal anti-lobbying provisions. Presenting Reason TV's Nanny of the Month for August 2012: Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius! About 75 seconds. "Nanny of the Month" is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Opening animation by Meredith Bragg. Special thanks to Jeff Stier.

Tweet

Share

Why Aren't The Rich Paying 50% in Taxes?

Tweet
Tax Day (April 18) is fast approaching, which means anxiety and night sweats for about 99 percent of taxpayers. And bitching and moaning by those at the top of the income pyramid about how they aren't forced to pay more in taxes. Secretary of State and cattle-futures queen Hillary Clinton, super-investor Warren Buffett, and best-selling author Stephen King have all recently carped about how rich folks like them should be paying more in taxes. King recently told a Florida rally, "As a rich person, I'm paying 28 percent in taxes. What I want to ask you is, Why am I not paying 50?" Such rhetorical questions miss the point when it comes to the country's balance sheet. The U.S. doesn't have a revenue problem or a tax-rate problem. We've got a spending problem. Since 1950, revenue from all sources has averaged around 18 percent of Gross Domestic Product, despite top tax rates that have fluctuated from over 90 percent to the high 20-percent range. So despite all efforts to jack up revenue (or reduce it), that's what the government can expect to work with. Yet spending has averaged about 20 percent of GDP - and is currently at a whopping 25 percent of GDP, a figure not seen since World War II. President Obama's budget plan forecasts spending at 23 percent of GDP over the next decade while Rep. Paul Ryan's GOP plan calls for 20.5 percent. There's your deficit right there, folks. But King, Clinton, and Buffett can always pay more in taxes to retire federal debt held by the public. Just go to http://treasurydirect.gov and make a voluntary donation to reduce the national debt held by the public. So far in calender 2011, Treasury has pulled in an $125,000! Which means there's only about $8.99 trillion to go. Written and produced by Meredith Bragg and Nick Gillespie. About 2 minutes.

Share

Nanny of the Month - March 2011

Tweet
Drug Warrior-in-Chief Barack Obama!
Last month, Reason.tv recognized Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) as our nation's most irritating scold after he busted out a sneak attack on the the world's oldest profession. This time top dishonors go to the Drug Warrior-in-Chief Barack Obama, whose DEA banned fake pot, thwarted a scientist's decade-long campaign to study marijuana, and raided dispensaries in Montana and California—all in one month! (Seems like only yesterday when Obama promised he wouldn't waste Justice Department resources raiding medical marijuana dispensaries.) Presenting the Nanny of the Month for March 2011: President Barack Obama (with DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart grabbing a dishonorable mention)! Approximately 1:40. "Nanny of the Month" is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Associate Producers: Hawk Jensen and Zach Weissmueller. Opening animation by Meredith Bragg. To watch previous Nanny of the Month episodes, go here.

Share

Nanny of the Month Jan 2011

Tweet
Last month Reason.tv recognized 2010's Nanny of the Year, and now it's onto a brand new year of nagging nannies. This month's slate features heartland regulators targeting drinking games and New Jersey educators drug testing 11-year-olds. But top dishonors go to the New York pol who's pushing a bill that would make it illegal to cross the street while iPodding, cell-phoning or being otherwise engaged with an electronic gadget. Presenting Reason.tv's Nanny of the Month: New York State Senator Carl Kruger! "Nanny of the Month" is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Associate Producer: Alex Manning.

Share

Last month Reason.tv recognized 2010's Nanny of the Year, and now it's onto a brand new year of nagging nannies. This month's slate features heartland regulators targeting drinking games and New Jersey educators drug testing 11-year-olds. But top dishonors go to the New York pol who's pushing a bill that would make it illegal to cross the street while iPodding, cell-phoning or being otherwise engaged with an electronic gadget. Presenting Reason.tv's Nanny of the Month: New York State Senator Carl Kruger! "Nanny of the Month" is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Associate Producer: Alex Manning.

5 Rules for Coping with Tragedy

Tweet
Tragedies like the mass shooting in Tuscon at a public event organized by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) are horrifying enough on their own, but they also have a way of bringing out the worst in reporters and politicians. In fact, knee-jerk reactions often leave us with misconceptions and bad policies that stick around long after the healing has begun. And so Reason.tv presents: 5 Rules for Coping with Tragedy

Share

Porkers of the Month for December 2010

Tweet
Reason.tv presents Citizen's Against Government Waste's Porkers of the Month for December 2010: Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.)! After a lopsided election with a strong emphasis on fiscal responsibility, Senate Republicans agreed on a two year moratorium on earmarks. These two refused to go along with the plan, which isn't terribly surprising when you look at their earmark history. Congratulations Lisa and James, you are Citizen's Against Government Waste's Porkers of the Month for November, 2010! "Porker of the Month" is written and produced by Austin Bragg. Approximately 1 minute. For more info on Citizens Against Government Waste and the Porker of The Month, visit cagw.org. Visit Reason.tv for downloadable versions of all our videos and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube channel to receive automatic notification when new material goes live.

Share

Reason.tv's 2010 Nanny of the Year

Tweet

Share

They touch our lives in so many ways, and Reason.tv acknowledges those who tell us that if it looks good, tastes good, or feels good, it should be illegal. Live (to tape) from the fourth floor of the Sepulveda Center in Los Angeles, California--it's the 2010 Nanny of the Year Awards! Over the past year, Reason.tv has recognized plenty of busybodies who relish minding other people's business, but who deserves to succeed 2009's winner (Meddlin' Mike Bloomberg), and take home the 2010 Nanny? Will it be the heartland mayor who sacked the Lingerie Football League? The Peach State pol who sued a man for growing a vegetable garden in his own yard? A member of the food police? Remember, it's a dishonor just to be nominated. So get your awards season started off right, and tune it to the only show that delivers busybodies, babes, and bacon!