Reason Writers on the Internet: Peter Suderman Talks Romney vs. Obama With Conor Friedersdorf on Bloggingheads

Is Barack Obama really a weak manager? Can we predict anything at all about what Mitt Romney's foreign policy would look like if he won the presidency? Is the Buffett Rule a cheap policy gimmick or a common way of making a political point? Senior Editor Peter Suderman talks these questions and more with The Atlantic's Conor Friedersdorf on Bloggingheads:

Comments

[tarran]

The Buffett rule isn't a cheap gimmick. It's a way of transferring money from rich people into Warren Buffett's pockets.

Obama likes it because it will help rile up people who otherwise couldn't be arsed enough to vote for him a second time.

[o3]

why do you hate the 2/3rds of americans who agree w the buffett rule?

[tarran]

I don't hate the victims of cons, o3. I hate the con artists.

[Pound. Head. On. Desk.]

why do you hate the 2/3rds of americans who agree w the buffett rule?

Why do you hate racists? If 2/3 of Americans were, would that make you believe racism to be right?

[o3]

speaking of conflations, why do you hate 2/3rds of tribe fans who hope johnny damon unlocks the world series puzzle?

[Pound. Head. On. Desk.]

"World Series" I know, so I gather you're talking baseball. If I gave less of a crap, it would cause intestinal blockages.

[Pound. Head. On. Desk.]

Oh, and by the way, the real way to make the tax code fair would be to simplify it. Get rid of all the ifs, ands and buts that make Title 26 (the tax code) twenty volumes long and cost $974. That's just the part the IRS wrote. The part written by Congress is available for an additional $179.

[o3]

simplify to: whatja make? sent it in

[Pound. Head. On. Desk.]

You want the government to get all money? You go first. I'll see how that works out for you.

[Concerned Citizen]

Still can't understand why so may libertarians accept the income tax. It's nothing more than extortion. A contract is invalid if it isn't signed voluntarily. Signing a 1099 at work, in order to get/keep a job, is hardly voluntary. Filing a 1040 violates the 5th Amendment right to not testify against oneself. The Federal Gov't's power ends at the borders of Washington, D.C. - "ten mile square", yet we accept their extortionist ways in the several states. I guess might does make right.

[Concerned Citizen]

Still can't understand why so may libertarians accept the income tax. It's nothing more than extortion. A contract is invalid if it isn't signed voluntarily. Signing a 1099 at work, in order to get/keep a job, is hardly voluntary. Filing a 1040 violates the 5th Amendment right to not testify against oneself. The Federal Gov't's power ends at the borders of Washington, D.C. - "ten mile square", yet we accept their extortionist ways in the several states. I guess might does make right.

[mr simple]

63 minutes?We're not all in-house lawyers with nothing to do all day. Brevity is the key to good communication.

[Peter Suderman]

You get to see the Spider-Man coffee mug in the first minute or so. It's all down hill from there.

[R C Dean]

Is Barack Obama really a weak manager?

Yes.

Can we predict anything at all about what Mitt Romney's foreign policy would look like if he won the presidency?

No.

Is the Buffett Rule a cheap policy gimmick or a common way of making a political point?

Yes and yes.

So, what did you spend the remaining 62 minutes talking about?

[Hugh Akston]

No time to watch the video, can you briefly summarize the ways to tell Obama and Romney apart?

[Entropy Void]

Its as easy as black and white.

Er, no, wait ...