Archive for December 22nd, 2011

$1,000 annually, $40 per week … huh?

December 22, 2011

Someone just said in a press conference that the proposed 2-month  2% payroll tax holiday would save an average family earning $50,000 per year about $1,000.

Hmmm.  Annualizing a 2 month program. Clever arithmetic.

Perhaps, sensing that’s misleading, he went on to clarify: that works out to about $40 per week.

Hmmm.

Let’s do the math: $40 times 52 weeks = #2,080 … that can’t be right.

$1,000 divided by 52 weeks is less than $20.

Huh?

I hate to get petty, but if the “someone” had been Rick Perry, the gaffe woulda made headlines.

If it had been Joe Biden, everybody would have just shook their heads and said “again?”.

But, it was Barack Obama, so it’ll get ignored by the press … but not by the Homa Files.

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The payroll tax holiday … and Homa’s Rule of 3

December 22, 2011

I often remind my students of “Homa’s Rule of 3”.

Simply stated, if you can get somebody to do something – practically any thing – 3 times … then, you got ‘em.  Their behavior becomes – more or less – habitual.

Get hen to eat at your restaurant 3 times.

Get them to use your credit card 3 times.

Bam.  You got ‘em. You’ve got a (loyal) customer with a habitual behavior.

How does that apply to the payroll tax holiday that causing such a fuss in Washington these days?

Easy.

2011 was the first time.

2012 will be the 2nd time … mark my words.

Then what will the 2012 electees do – “raise taxes on 150 Americans”?

I’ll take the under on that bet.

So, the payroll tax holiday will be continued for a 3rd year  … Homa’s Rule of 3 kicks in and it’ll be extended to a 4th … and so on.

So what?

Zero evidence that a payroll tax holiday stimulates the economy.

But, for sure it makes Social Security’s “unfunded obligations” go up and up … year after year.

That’s a problem.

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Romney-Rice in 2012 ?

December 22, 2011

My bet is that it’ll be Romney-Rubio, but, there’s an interesting piece in the Washington Times that positions Condi Rice for the VP slot.

The essence of the logic:

  1. Hillary will replace Biden as Obama’s running mate to give Obama an uplift and position her for 2016.The Times says insiders claim “the swap” is what induced her to join the Obama team as Secretary of State.
  2. Having Rice on the GOP ticket would change the dynamics of the race since she’s smart, a good debater and, oh yes, an African-American woman.
  3. Rice is reportedly antsy in her current professorial position and wants to get back in the action.

Interesting … but my money is still on Romnet-Rubio … GOP needs some charisma, and Rubio has it.

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Taking the mystery out of “mystery meat” …

December 22, 2011

TakeAway: McDonald’s is giving consumers transparency into their agricultural suppliers to boost the image and quality of their food.

* * * * *

Excerpt from AdAge: “McDonald’s to Launch Campaign Focused on Growers”

On Jan. 2, McDonald’s will launch a campaign featuring four of its U.S. beef and produce suppliers.

“We thought putting a face on the quality of the food story would be a unique way to approach this,” said U.S. CMO.

“We acknowledge that there are questions about where our food comes from. I believe we’ve got an opportunity to accentuate that part of our story.”

The campaign will include TV, print and digital, as well as additional paid and earned media.

“Consumers want transparency — disclosures of everything from menus to labor and local-sourcing practices,” Technomic said.

“A small but growing number are serious about nutrition, labeling, sustainability and community involvement, and they are using such knowledge to make purchasing decisions.”

Edited by ARK

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