The Big Picture
Favoritism exists in government preferences, policies, and subsidies that affect us all
http://va11-independent.blogspot.com/2012/11/privilege-entitlement-and-democracy.html
End favoritism that extends special treatment to specific groups and individuals
- Nonwage income is taxed more lightly than wage income
- Homeowner debt gets a tax break whereas other debt and renters do not
- 30-year mortgages are implicitly subsidized by the Federal Housing Administration
- Student debt issued by the U.S. Government carries a lower interest rate than privately issued debt
- Corporate debt is an advantaged investment over cash holdings and equity debt
- Charitable giving gets a tax break and raises overall tax rates
- Employer-provided health plans are not taxed
- State taxes are subsidized by the federal government
- Employer-sponsored retirement plans are available to about half of Americans yet offer advantages over Individual Retirement Accounts
- Corn-based ethanol content is mandated in our gasoline at an ever increasing rate though we're driving less
- Oil refineries can export gasoline but oil companies can't export crude oil
- U.S.-flagged ships are mandated for domestic transport, raising costs and consumer prices
- Some states prohibit direct manufacture-to-consumer car sales
- Military bases and USPS offices are kept open by Congress though they have have no mission and raise little revenue
- Some farm products such as wheat, peanuts, and milk have guaranteed prices that raise the price of food
- The major parties write themselves into state statutes as "recognized political parties"
