Instapundit Glenn Reynolds writes at USA Today about why it's a good idea to have everyone pay at least some income tax. After noting that yes, everyone gets hit with payroll taxes, there's this:
The point isn't whether people are "freeloaders" who don't pay any taxes. It's whether people have "skin in the game." If you take me to an expensive restaurant for dinner but let me put money in the parking meter out front, that doesn't provide me any incentive not to order the lobster. Splitting the check, on the other hand, will cause me to think twice. It's like health insurance, where experience shows that even a small co-pay makes a difference in what people spend....
I'd like to see a system where everyone pays some minimum amount of tax ? enough to notice, say 2%-5% of gross income. And that amount should go up noticeably when the federal government spends more, and go down noticeably when it spends less.
In a given year, that might only affect some individuals by a few hundred dollars, but as anyone who has followed local-government property tax fights knows, people can get pretty exercised over a few hundred dollars when they know it's coming out of their pocket and not someone else's.
We're going to have to get federal spending and borrowing under control. Making over spending painful to the electorate is a good way to start. And a lot of Americans seem to get that. Politicians, take note.
Read the whole thing.?
I think the general logic here is strong, especially the part about taxes increases when spending increases. Former Reagan budget director David Stockman stresses this point in his writings as well: That we need to choose how much government we want and then pay for it in the moment we want it (or as close to it as possible). Here's a section from our 2011 interview with him:
You?re kidding yourself if you think cutting taxes today is really cutting taxes. We?re simply deferring massive tax increases into the future, unfairly and immorally putting huge debt burdens on future generations, and that is just wrong....
I think you would really have to sit down and make some very large and honest cuts....
Then, what is the welfare state that we?re going to keep? And if that?s 20 percent or 24 percent of GDP, then what is the optimum tax system that will raise 20 percent or 24 percent? And therefore, if we need to lower income taxes?which I believed at the time, and still do for incentive purposes, or because of bracket creep?then what alternative revenue mechanism, such as the value-added tax or some other consumption-oriented tax, do we need to put in place to fund the government we?ve concluded we need?
3-D medical scanner: New handheld imaging device to aid doctors on the 'diagnostic front lines'Public release date: 2-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Angela Stark astark@osa.org 202-416-1443 Optical Society of America
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2012In the operating room, surgeons can see inside the human body in real time using advanced imaging techniques, but primary care physicians, the people who are on the front lines of diagnosing illnesses, haven't commonly had access to the same technology until now. Engineers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have created a new imaging tool for primary care physicians: a handheld scanner that would enable them to image all the sites they commonly examine, and more, such as bacterial colonies in the middle ear in 3-D, or monitor the thickness and health of patients' retinas. The device relies on optical coherence tomography (OCT), a visualization technology that is similar to ultrasound imaging, but uses light instead of sound to produce the images. The team will present their findings at the Optical Society's (OSA) Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2012, taking place Oct. 14 - 18 in Rochester, N.Y.
To monitor chronic conditions such as ear infections, primary care physicians currently rely on instruments that are essentially magnifying glasses, says UIUC physician and biomedical engineer Stephen Boppart, who will present the team's findings at FiO. The new handheld imaging device would give doctors a way to quantitatively monitor these conditions, and possibly make more efficient and accurate referrals to specialists.
The scanners include three basic components: a near-infrared light source and OCT system, a video camera to relay real-time images of surface features and scan locations, and a microelectromechanical (MEMS)-based scanner to direct the light. Near-infrared wavelengths of light penetrate deeper into human tissues than other wavelengths more readily absorbed by the body. By measuring the time it takes the light to bounce back from tissue microstructure, computer algorithms build a picture of the structure of tissue under examination.
Diabetic patients in particular may benefit from the device. About 40 to 45 percent of diabetics develop leaky blood vessels in their retinas a condition called retinopathy, which can lead to thickening of the retina, blurry vision, and eventually blindness. The handheld OCT device would allow doctors to monitor the health of the retina, potentially catching retinopathy in its early stages. In some cases, changes in the eye could help doctors diagnose diabetes, Boppart says.
Boppart and his team are hopeful that falling production costs combined with smaller, more compact designs will enable more physicians to take advantage of the scanners, and become a common point-of-care tool. Eventually, they would like to see the imagers at work in developing countries as well. He and an international team of collaborators recently received a $5 million National Institutes of Health Bioengineering Research Partnership grant to further refine the device.
###
Presentation FTu2C.3. "Primary Care Imaging using Optical Coherence Tomography for Advanced Point-of-Care Diagnostics" takes place Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 11:15 a.m. EDT at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.
EDITOR'S NOTE: High-resolution images are available to members of the media upon request. Contact Angela Stark, astark@osa.org.
PRESS REGISTRATION: A press room for credentialed press and analysts will be located in the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Sunday through Thursday, Oct. 14-18. Those interested in obtaining a press badge for FiO should contact OSA's Angela Stark at 202.416.1443 or astark@osa.org.
About the Meeting
Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2012 is the Optical Society's (OSA) 96th Annual Meeting and is being held together with Laser Science XXVIII, the annual meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Laser Science (DLS). The two meetings unite the OSA and APS communities for five days of quality, cutting-edge presentations, fascinating invited speakers and a variety of special events spanning a broad range of topics in optics and photonicsthe science of lightacross the disciplines of physics, biology and chemistry. FiO 2012 will also offer a number of Short Courses designed to increase participants' knowledge of a specific subject in the optical sciences while offering the experience of insightful teachers. An exhibit floor featuring leading optics companies will further enhance the meeting. More information at www.FrontiersinOptics.org.
About OSA
Uniting more than 180,000 professionals from 175 countries, the Optical Society (OSA) brings together the global optics community through its programs and initiatives. Since 1916 OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing educational resources to the scientists, engineers and business leaders who work in the field by promoting the science of light and the advanced technologies made possible by optics and photonics. OSA publications, events, technical groups and programs foster optics knowledge and scientific collaboration among all those with an interest in optics and photonics. For more information, visit www.osa.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
3-D medical scanner: New handheld imaging device to aid doctors on the 'diagnostic front lines'Public release date: 2-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Angela Stark astark@osa.org 202-416-1443 Optical Society of America
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2012In the operating room, surgeons can see inside the human body in real time using advanced imaging techniques, but primary care physicians, the people who are on the front lines of diagnosing illnesses, haven't commonly had access to the same technology until now. Engineers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have created a new imaging tool for primary care physicians: a handheld scanner that would enable them to image all the sites they commonly examine, and more, such as bacterial colonies in the middle ear in 3-D, or monitor the thickness and health of patients' retinas. The device relies on optical coherence tomography (OCT), a visualization technology that is similar to ultrasound imaging, but uses light instead of sound to produce the images. The team will present their findings at the Optical Society's (OSA) Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2012, taking place Oct. 14 - 18 in Rochester, N.Y.
To monitor chronic conditions such as ear infections, primary care physicians currently rely on instruments that are essentially magnifying glasses, says UIUC physician and biomedical engineer Stephen Boppart, who will present the team's findings at FiO. The new handheld imaging device would give doctors a way to quantitatively monitor these conditions, and possibly make more efficient and accurate referrals to specialists.
The scanners include three basic components: a near-infrared light source and OCT system, a video camera to relay real-time images of surface features and scan locations, and a microelectromechanical (MEMS)-based scanner to direct the light. Near-infrared wavelengths of light penetrate deeper into human tissues than other wavelengths more readily absorbed by the body. By measuring the time it takes the light to bounce back from tissue microstructure, computer algorithms build a picture of the structure of tissue under examination.
Diabetic patients in particular may benefit from the device. About 40 to 45 percent of diabetics develop leaky blood vessels in their retinas a condition called retinopathy, which can lead to thickening of the retina, blurry vision, and eventually blindness. The handheld OCT device would allow doctors to monitor the health of the retina, potentially catching retinopathy in its early stages. In some cases, changes in the eye could help doctors diagnose diabetes, Boppart says.
Boppart and his team are hopeful that falling production costs combined with smaller, more compact designs will enable more physicians to take advantage of the scanners, and become a common point-of-care tool. Eventually, they would like to see the imagers at work in developing countries as well. He and an international team of collaborators recently received a $5 million National Institutes of Health Bioengineering Research Partnership grant to further refine the device.
###
Presentation FTu2C.3. "Primary Care Imaging using Optical Coherence Tomography for Advanced Point-of-Care Diagnostics" takes place Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 11:15 a.m. EDT at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.
EDITOR'S NOTE: High-resolution images are available to members of the media upon request. Contact Angela Stark, astark@osa.org.
PRESS REGISTRATION: A press room for credentialed press and analysts will be located in the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Sunday through Thursday, Oct. 14-18. Those interested in obtaining a press badge for FiO should contact OSA's Angela Stark at 202.416.1443 or astark@osa.org.
About the Meeting
Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2012 is the Optical Society's (OSA) 96th Annual Meeting and is being held together with Laser Science XXVIII, the annual meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Laser Science (DLS). The two meetings unite the OSA and APS communities for five days of quality, cutting-edge presentations, fascinating invited speakers and a variety of special events spanning a broad range of topics in optics and photonicsthe science of lightacross the disciplines of physics, biology and chemistry. FiO 2012 will also offer a number of Short Courses designed to increase participants' knowledge of a specific subject in the optical sciences while offering the experience of insightful teachers. An exhibit floor featuring leading optics companies will further enhance the meeting. More information at www.FrontiersinOptics.org.
About OSA
Uniting more than 180,000 professionals from 175 countries, the Optical Society (OSA) brings together the global optics community through its programs and initiatives. Since 1916 OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing educational resources to the scientists, engineers and business leaders who work in the field by promoting the science of light and the advanced technologies made possible by optics and photonics. OSA publications, events, technical groups and programs foster optics knowledge and scientific collaboration among all those with an interest in optics and photonics. For more information, visit www.osa.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
There's normal everyday school and students. Then there's Mist Valley. A high school with a lot of secrets. The last Senior class graduated after just barely seeing disturbances and supernatural occurances. What will this years class find?
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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup. This is the auto-generated OOC topic for the roleplay "Haunting's of the Supernatural"
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There is Magic all around, you just have to look to see it...
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This seems good! I am going to join.
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Awesome!!! I'm excited! Thanks so much :)
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Stumbled here from Tyrillia :P this looks interesting though, i'll have a character up soon
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Cool!!!! I'm really excited now :D Yes! Thanks guys!
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Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose poses for pictures during the NBA basketball team's media day, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, in Deerfield, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Cherney)
Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose poses for pictures during the NBA basketball team's media day, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, in Deerfield, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Cherney)
Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose, left, speaks during the NBA basketball team's news conference, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, in Deerfield, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Cherney)
Photographers take pictures of Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose, right, during the NBA basketball team's media day at the Bulls' practice facility, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, in Deerfield, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Cherney)
Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau speaks to reporters during their NBA basketball media day at the team's practice facility in Deerfield, Ill., Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Cherney)
Chicago Bulls' Marquis Teague participates in a video shoot during their NBA basketball media day at the team's practice facility in Deerfield, Ill., Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Cherney)
DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) ? Derrick Rose isn't sure he'll be the same player once he returns from his knee surgery.
He thinks he might be better.
The superstar point guard's recovery remains the biggest issue hanging over the Chicago Bulls, particularly after they announced a four-year contract extension for coach Tom Thibodeau on Monday. Rose is expected to miss a big chunk of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee late in a playoff-opening win over the Philadelphia 76ers, an injury that sent the top-seeded Bulls staggering toward a first-round exit.
"I'm going to be a better player, but who knows in what area?" Rose said at the team's media day session. "My legs have never been this strong before. My upper body has never been this strong before. My core has never been this strong before. I'm just going to see how far this takes me."
The strides he's made since his surgery are encouraging, but his return date remains up in the air. How soon after that until he's back to his old MVP form remains to be seen, too.
He and the Bulls aren't revealing any specific timetables, other than they hope to have him back at some point this season. Rose is curious to see what he can do once that time comes.
"I can't wait to get back on the court to see what I'm going to do," he said. "I don't know how I'm going to play. I don't know what's going to be new about my game. I know it's just going to be exciting for everyone to see."
General manager Gar Forman said he's never seen a player approach rehab the way Rose has. Even so, he's still a long way from returning, and the Bulls are going to take a cautious approach.
"Let's not forget, he's got a long way to go," Forman said. "He remains focused, committed to what he's doing. There haven't been any setbacks. That's why we say he's on schedule, but as far as the future is concerned, we're taking this process step by step. Up to this step, he's right where we want him to be."
Rose realizes he'll have to convince the Bulls, doctors and trainers once he feels he's ready to return. His next big hurdle on the court will come in about two weeks. That's when he'll start making abrupt changes in direction.
"Cutting is the hardest thing in the world right now to do," he said. "I'm scared of it."
Getting by without Rose will difficult for the Bulls.
They were widely viewed as the biggest threat to Miami in the Eastern Conference after capturing the top seed for the second straight year, but that changed once Rose went down. With Joakim Noah spraining his left ankle later in the 76ers series and Luol Deng playing with a torn ligament in his left wrist, the Bulls bowed out early after losing to the Heat in the conference finals the previous year.
Now, the team has a different look, with its franchise player sidelined and most of the so-called "bench mob" gone. The Bulls brought in veteran Kirk Hinrich for a second stint to run the point with Rose gone and likely move into a backup role once he returns, but for now, outside expectations aren't particularly high.
"Our goals are going to stay the same, and that's to win a championship," Rose said. "You never know how we're going to play. With basketball, you can have all the greatest players, but you have to play as a team to win. The team that won it last year, Miami, they built that team where they didn't have all the best players. They had players that knew their role. They play hard, did what they had to do to win, and that's what we need to do."
He said getting Thibodeau locked in for the long term helps. The Bulls had already exercised their option for next season, and the extension runs through 2016-17.
The Bulls would not reveal the financial terms. Yahoo Sports, citing unidentified league sources, reported the deal includes $17.5 million in base salary with bonuses, potentially pushing the package to $20 million
"Obviously, I'm glad that we got the contract part done," said Thibodeau, who is 112-36 in two seasons. "I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead. My expectations are always the same. That's for our players to put everything they have into each and every game, to strive for improvement and play our best basketball the second half of the season."
Notes: Deng said his wrist has improved dramatically and there were several reasons why he opted against surgery, which still remains a possibility. "First thing, I wanted to play in the Olympics (for Great Britain)," he said. "I really wanted to do that. It's something I wanted to experience. I wanted to play with the guys I grew up with, the country that took me in. A lot of things go into it. Before the year was over, my wrist kept getting stronger and better. ... I started focusing on my rehab. It started to get better. That also was part of my decision. I didn't want to get surgery and miss a lot of games. I'm at a time in my career where I want to play every game." ... Forman said he thinks Noah's ankle is fine. ... The Bulls signed free agents Ryan Allen, Vance Cooksey, Andre Emmett, Kyrylo Fesenko and Marko Jaric to round out their training camp roster.
Instapundit Glenn Reynolds writes at USA Today about why it's a good idea to have everyone pay at least some income tax. After noting that yes, everyone gets hit with payroll taxes, there's this:You?re kidding yourself if you think cutting taxes today is really cutting taxes. We?re simply deferring massive tax increases into the future, unfairly and immorally putting huge debt burdens on future generations, and that is just wrong....
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Public release date: 2-Oct-2012
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