Archive for July 28th, 2008

Hmmm: Obama Visits Doctor (on a Sunday Night !)

July 28, 2008

The Story

CHICAGO — Barack Obama, back in his home town after a tour of Afghanistan, the Middle East and Europe, saw a doctor at the University of Chicago Medical Center on Sunday night to deal with a sore hip, inflamed from playing basketball.

My POV  (POV = point-of-view)

1) Obama promises that when he’s elected, we’ll get exactly the same health care that Senators get.

Does that mean that my doctor will see me on a Sunday night (for “soreness” no less)  instead of telling me that the next open appointment slot is 6 weeks from Tuesday at 1:46 — come early, but plan to wait?

Must be, because Obama certainly wouldn’t think of accepting preferential care, right?

2) Why do all of the candidates confuse “medical insurance” with “health care” ?  The former is just money; the latter is fundamental service delivery.  Two different things !

Amen.

* * * * *

Want more from the Homa Files?
 Click link =>  The Homa Files Blog

Posted in Government & Politics, Health Care / Medical Insurance, Opinions, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Hmmm – Some Interesting Tax Stats

July 28, 2008

Summary: To load you with some interesting factoids for cocktail party conversations and to provide background for the next couple of analytical posts — here are some highlights from the 2006 IRS data pile (the latest year available) , and the link to the complete IRS data set (which is a treasure trove of info).

Some Highlights

138.4 million returns filed … reporting almost $8 trillion in AGI
           … up 8.4% from 2005 …  $57,670 average AGI

23%  reported dividend income … averaging $5,897

10.5%  reported capital gains … averaging $4,275

 63%  took the standard deduction … averaging $7,043

 37%  itemized deductions … averaging $24,122

 30%  reported charitable deductions … totaling $173 billion

2.9%  were assessed Alternative Minimum Tax
              … averaging $4,769

 19%  claimed child tax credits … averaging $1,233

 17%  claimed earned income tax credits … averaging $1,939

 67%  paid income taxes … averaging $11,064

   33%  paid zero taxes (or received a refundable tax credit) 
                … up from 20% in 1990 and 25% in 2000 



     
 * A deeper dig on this point is coming in subsequent posts *

* * * * *

Summary Table:

click table to make it bigger
click table to make it bigger

Source: IRS
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/06in01fg.xls

* * * * *

Next up: Taxpayers –  A Dwindling Majority

* * * * *

Want more from the Homa Files?
 Click link =>  The Homa Files Blog

Posted in Government & Politics, Taxes, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »