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Recent DNR tests closed almost one third of beaches inspected. Crickets.
If one third of the restrooms at Kinnick or Trice were closed for a home game there would be a public meltdown.
Brian Cooney, Des Moines
Whether Kamala Harris or Biden run for the presidency, it doesn’t matter. Both own the numbers below:
Federal spending:
Deficit: $35 trillion, it increases at the rate of $78,000 per second.
Biden and Obama own nearly half of the deficit in just three terms. To be fair, Trump generated about $7 trillion in deficit spending.
$7 Trillion: The last Harris Biden budget. This is 40% more than what is collected from taxpayers.
$5 Trillion: Actual tax dollars generated. Tax revenues actually increased with the Trump tax cuts because more people were working and fewer people were on food stamps and unemployment
$1.8-2 Trillion annual deficit for the foreseeable future. Harris-Biden's deficit spending triggered 9% inflation, the highest in 40 years. Economists warned them not to do it and they did it anyway.
It is still at about 3% and interest rates are still too high. 78% of people can no longer afford to purchase a single family home.
$1 Trillion: Current interest on the debt which is higher than the military budget. We are now borrowing money to pay interest on the national debt.
It’s like using a credit card to make your house payment or any of your recurring bills. It's not sustainable and there is nothing to show for it.
GDP growth is being fueled by government spending, not consumer spending. It’s a false economy.
Taxes:
Harris proposes to let the Trump tax cuts expire. Rates will increase for nearly everyone, including those earning less than $400,000.
Corporate income taxes: Increase from 21% to 28% — a 33% increase. Individual rates will increase as well for nearly everyone:
Lowest rate is 10% would stay the same.
Second bracket: 12% rate will increase to 15%.
Third bracket will increase from 22% to 25%.
Fourth bracket will increase from 24% to $28%.
Highest rate will increase from 37% to 39.6%.
Standard deduction to be cut in half.
If earning $85K for a family of four, taxes will increase by $1,661 annually.
If earning $165K for a family of four, taxes will increase by $2,450 annually.
This will happen in 2025 if Harris wins and the Trump tax cuts are allowed to expire.
Harris wants to tax unrealized gains at 22%. In other words, she feels entitled to your retirement account. You would pay taxes on gains realized only on paper not actually cashed in.
Harris wants to double your actual capital gains taxes from 21% to 44% so she gets both your realized and unrealized gains.
In some states, California and New York for example, many people pay over half their income in state and federal taxes. Welcome to socialism.
Inflation:
Fuel cost increased 46%
Food costs increased 21%
14% of our citizens live in poverty, up from 11%
12% of children live in poverty, up from 5%
Interest rates increased in 17 states from 2020 to 2023.
A vote for Harris will mean a continuation of all these problems.
She’s already proposed $1.7 trillion in new spending.
Jeff Stavnes, Storm Lake
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