New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman writes today:

“I’ve been frightened for my country only a few times in my life: In 1962, when, even as a boy of 9, I followed the tension of the Cuban missile crisis; in 1963, with the assassination of JFK; on Sept. 11, 2001; and on Monday, when the House Republicans brought down the bipartisan rescue package.”

I can’t believe Friedman is leaving out the 2001 World Series when the Yankees lost to the Diamondbacks.

Ninety-five (95) Democrats voted against the bailout and 133 Republicans voted against it. Oh yeah, the Democrats run the joint.

Considering the TIME initiative (should it make the ballot) seeks to impose a $1.2 billion annual sales tax increase (gradually increasing for inflation) for 30 years, it would be nice to know what the growth of sales taxes and rates looked like over the past couple of decades. Thanks to the folks at ATRA, now we know.

If TIME passes, the rate will go up 1 additional percentage point, meaning the average tax rate for cities in Arizona will be 9.7%. Ouch. All told, 28 cities will have tax rates higher than 10%. Double ouch. See the complete list below

A Fork in the Road: Obama, McCain, and Health Care
by Michael D. Tanner

Michael Tanner is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and coauthor of Healthy Competition:What’s Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It.

Published on July 29, 2008

Healthcare reform will be one of the top issues of the 2008 presidential election. In the face of widespread public demand for changes in the U.S. health care system, both Barack Obama and John McCain have offered detailed proposals for reform.
Senator Obama’s approach relies heavily on government mandates, regulations, and subsidies. He would mandate that employers provide health care coverage for their workers and that parents purchase health insurance for their children. He would significantly increase regulation of the insurance industry, establishing a standard minimum benefits package, and requiring insurers to accept all applicants regardless of their health. He would offer a variety of new and expanded subsidies to middle- and low-income Americans.

In contrast, John McCain emphasizes consumer choice and greater competition in the health care industry. He would move away from our current employment-based insurance system by replacing the current tax exclusion for employer-provided insurance with a refundable tax credit for individuals. At the same time he would sharply deregulate the insurance industry to increase competition.

Senator McCain’s proposal is far from perfect, but from a free-market perspective, it appears superior to Senator Obama’s plan. Obama’s plan, with its heavy reliance on government, leads to the same problems that bedevil universal health care systems all over the world: limited patient choices and rationed care. McCain’s proposal is much more consumer centered and taps into the best aspects of the free market.

Judge Burke ruled that the TIME initiative ballot language that included the actual rate increase of the proposed tax should be rewritten to omit the tax hike of 17.8%. So, I guess the less information, the better?

Watch for a special action appeal that will go straight to the Supreme Court.

I’ll be in court tomorrow to attend the hearing where the proponents of the TIME initiative try to make their case that the ballot summary should be tilted in their favor. Should be fun.

Here’s a link to the amicus brief we sent in on behalf of the State Legislative Council.