Of course, since the offices are closed, you’ll have to pay through www.PolkTaxes.com by 11:59 pm February 28, 2009.

But, wait, there’s more! You can walk-in to one of the Polk County Tax Collector’s Offices tomorrow and get the 1% discount. You have to get there before 5 pm. Yes, there’s a deadline after the deadline.

For more information, call (863) 534-4721… on Monday. They’re closed today.

Mr. MacMeekin, if I’m reading correctly, says he supports a stimulus bill heavy on public works, tax cuts, and, especially, expanded unemployment benefits. Well, uh, that’s the stimulus bill you got, plus additional education and health care aid to the states, which serves the same type of purpose as expanded unemployment benefits.

Mr. MacMeekin thinks highly of the “excellent staff” of committed socialists who care for him at the James A. Haley [Socialized] VA Hospital. So do I. The socialized VA also provides marvelous care for my father-in-law and my father, a combat-wounded Vietnam vet. I am honored to help pay for that care with tax money forcibly extracted from my earnings. I just think that all of our citizens deserve access to socialized health care, not only veterans. Is socialism too good for everybody else?

And finally, of course, Mr. MacMeekin writes that I would reduce him to profanity if he were a profane man. I think we can all agree, in a general sense, that I suck as a guy. So, in that sense, I’m pleased to work as a uniter, not a divider.

However, in a few places where he doesn’t angrily agree with me, Mr. MacMeekin either misquotes, ignores, or misunderstands my argument. And I want to highlight those moments in what follows, as well as point out what I see as the true area of disagreement between us. This will be kind of long again. But that shouldn’t matter much, because, as Mr. MacMeekin writes, he was “maybe the only person on this planet” to read my “entire missile.” (I think he means “missive,” but I like “missile.” And, I’ll have you know, my mother read it all, too. She’s on my side.)

Without further adieu, here we go:

In reading this, it’s important to remember what my “Graph of Doom” post was responding to: an earlier MacMeekin piece titled “Bailouts and stimulus packages” in which he rails about how bad government spending is, and how, apparently, only Democrats are responsible for it. I set out, in part, to write a post challenging two key assertions from Mr. MacMeekin’s post.

Here’s the first:

Our current financial and economic collapse is a direct result of the social failures enacted over the last 75 years!

He even italicized that one and went on to call every bit of social spending of the last 75 years – all of it – a failure. With that in mind, it seems peculiar that he’s all for a stimulus bill that includes expanded unemployment benefits – what most people would consider social spending. It also seems peculiar that he would happily subject himself to socialized medical care. And yet he does.

Second key quote:

Massive federal programs of the Roosevelt Era were more an effort to improve conditions than they were a statistical success. Further, the current belief that WWII, and the huge dollars that went into producing a war machine, brought us out of the Depression is wrong!

In response to that, I wrote the following:

Consider this string of unemployment numbers from the U.S Commerce Department: 1929-3.1 percent; 1931-16.1 percent; 1933-25.2 percent; 1937-13.8 percent; 1938-16.5 percent; 1940-13.9 percent. You tell me, did it work? It’s always difficult to prove causation, as opposed to correlation. But clearly, New Deal policies coincided with a time that saw the unemployment rate drop from 25 percent to 13.9 percent by the eve of World War II, while the rough approach advocated by Rush-the-Plumber crowd these days concided with a time that saw it go from 3 percent to 25 percent. Those seem like statistics to me, but perhaps Mr. MacMeekin can explain how they are not.

I thought that was both pretty specific and pretty important. How did Mr. MacMeekin respond to this direct challenge to a key statement of his post? Well, he did not explain how those employment figures were not statistics. In fact, he hardly mentioned them at all. Gave the matter two just two lines, writing:

Your early comment that it was a good achievement when 1933 unemployment rates of 25.2%, were reduced to 1940’s 13.9%, is like saying the Titanic only lost 1,503 lives.

Really? Reducing the unemployment rate by 13 percentage points is like the Titanic? That’s the best he’s got? Weak. I’ll make my own silly analogy in response. Say you’re playing a football game, and you fall behind 42-0 at halftime. You decide to start throwing the ball, and you cut the lead to 42-28 by the middle of the fourth quarter. Did throwing work? Or should you go back to running the ball because you’re still down two touchdowns.

And Mr. MacMeekin completely ignored what I consider the most important point of my piece, laid out in this passage:

Mr. MacMeekin [thinks] economic conditions were better before all those socialists started trying to provide basic economic and social security, before the hyperstimulus of World War II worked its grisly, murderous magic. Really? There were eight recessions in the 27 years between 1902 and the crash of 1929. Four of them lasted longer than the longest of the 10 recessions in the 63 years since World War II ended. Eight longer recessions in 27 years is better than 10 shorter in this 63-year post war period? Really? You want to go back to the pre-Depression national economic and social structure? I do not. Most importantly, I don’t want my kids returning there.

Hear that? It’s silence. Mr. MacMeekin does a lot of grousing about Nancy Pelosi and her non-existent mouse project/Rush lieand the fact that Barack Obama is indeed a politician. But when I call out the very core of his point – that all social democracy spending over the last 75 years has failed and made our country a worse place than it was when veterans had to join the Bonus Army rather than the socialized VA – he says nothing. Nada. Zilch. Doesn’t even question my figures. Move along, nothing to see here. Libruls. Bailouts. You reduce me to profanity. Etc. Etc. So let me ask it again: Eight longer recessions in 27 years is better than 10 shorter in this 63-year post war period? Really?

He also misrepresents and then misunderstands my point concerning fiscal policy versus monetary policy, writing: “You also see interest rates as a better stimuli than tax reductions. You’re wrong. Where are interest rates now? Case closed.”

Here’s what I actually wrote:

Most, if not all, recessions in recent history resolved themselves after the Fed lowered interest rates and made money cheaper, thus spurring investment and spending. Virtually every economist I’ve read agrees that interest rate changes (known as monetary policy) have far more power to affect the economy than normal tax cuts and spending plans (known as fiscal policy). However, because of the zero percent interest rate, the Fed cannot do what it has done in every other recent recession. That leaves only fiscal policy with the capability of bridging the $2 trillion, 14 percent gap between real and potential GDP. In that gap lies misery.

Let me translate this exchange. I said, “In normal times, we would do X. But these aren’t normal times, thus we need to do Y.” In response, by way of refuting me, Mr. MacMeekin said: “But these aren’t normal times, interest rates are at zero.” Uhhh, right. I just said that. It’s like he didn’t read what I wrote.

As I said, in “normal” times, most economists I’ve read think reducing interest rates provides more bang for the buck than spending or tax cuts, partially because spending and tax cuts are political decisions and thus take longer to execute in a Democracy. And it’s indisputable that the Fed has fought all of our recent recessions – until this one – with rate cuts, which aren’t subject to the democratic process.

Now, where I think Mr. MacMeekin and I have a legitimate disagreement is over the question of the stimulative value of spending versus the stimulative value of tax cuts – in this particular economic crisis. He thinks business owners – particularly small business owners – suffer under too great a tax, fee, and regulatory burden. I’d actually add another villain, which I consider the most burdensome of all: private sector health care premiums. Our current health care system imposes a massive and unpredictable business tax that Mr. MacMeekin wants to continue to impose because he’s afraid of the socialized medicine he already enjoys. Strange. But I digress. In summary, Mr. MacMeekin thinks the business owner’s key problem right now is tax and regulatory burden. He writes: “The list is long, and burdensome. If lifted, a little, even temporarily, to the point where he/she can see the way to a profitable return to improving sales, HE HIRES!” In short, “temporary” tax and regulatory cuts make the best stimulus.

By contrast, I think the business owner’s biggest problem right now is that he has no customers. That’s because they’re all either losing jobs, or afraid they will lose their jobs in the months to come. Reducing taxes and regulation “a little” or even a lot won’t offset a massive drop in demand. So why would a business owner hire?

What’s funny is that, again, Mr. MacMeekin actually seems to agree with me on this. As he wrote earlier in this same piece:

It is truly a matter of supply and demand. Today, there is a glut of houses, cars, etc., which you have already recognized. You like to “read” graphs. Try to “read” a recent statistic: Savings. Since the initial “stimulus” payouts, and bank “bail-out,” U.S. savings rates have moved from 0% to over 3%. Why? How would you “read” this? Why didn’t consumers buy another house. Or car. Or, remodel the kitchen? What did you do with your $600?

I actually spent mine on something house-related. But I’m a bad example, and this is a good point. It’s incredibly important that the savings rate is growing. I view stimulus spending as a way to sustain our vital services and curb unemployment while we collectively do the necessary saving and longterm rebalancing of our economic structures. However, Mr. MacMeekin’s point seems to fly in the face of the idea that a business owner – faced wth cratering demand – will suddenly start hiring if government cuts his tax burden. What he needs is for people with money in hand to come into his store. That won’t happen if they lose jobs or think they might very soon. I am always open to responsibly limiting government-imposed costs on wealth-creating businesses – but for its own sake. I don’t think there’s much stimulative value to cutting taxes for businesses suffering from demand collapse. Mr. MacMeekin seems to both agree and disagree.

Ultimately though, I think Mr. MacMeekin and I agree on more than he would like to admit. We both seem skeptical of a credit/debt management-based economy. We both believe in living within your means. We both think the socialized VA provides excellent, cost-efficient health care. And we both worry about the long-term solvency concerns raised by the borrowing we’re doing from China and other places. We both seem to think government spending has a role to play in steadying the economy, though I probably think it has a larger role, and that we, as citizens, need to pay for the services from which we benefit. If he could drop the contempt, we might have some very productive discussions.

Unfortunately, he seems more interested in giving me the ideological business than working toward some sort of accord.

As he wrote at the end:

But, sir, it was one of your closing comments that identifies everything about you. I’m not a profane man, but if anyone, or anything could prompt an outburst of sheer disgust, it is the following. And I quote: “The Great Depression brought on Nazism, Fascism, Communism, nuclear weapons, and the (holocaust). What will be the (end result) of this looming Depression?”

Again, here’s what I actually wrote:

A good argument can be made that the global economic trauma of the Great Depression brought us Nazisim, Fascism, and internationally viable Communism. It can be argued that nuclear weapons and 6 million murdered Jews are just as much monuments to the Depression as the ruins of my grandfather’s childhood home. What will be the monuments of this looming depression, in a world of far more people, far more heavily armed?

Not quite the same, is it?

If you’re going to quote someone as a means of drawing rigid conclusions about their character, you probably should quote them accurately. That said, I completely stand by what I did write. History produces few facts, just suggestive guidance. And that’s what I was trying to communicate in what I wrote.

“The campaign to wipe out most school property taxes in Florida moved to a courtroom Wednesday, with an openly skeptical state judge raising the possibility that the ambitious tax plan could be torpedoed before it ever reaches voters.” — Judge has issue with wording of Amendment 5 tax ballot

“The Central Florida Regional Planning Council on Wednesday approved the proposed 318-acre rail terminal site in southern Winter Haven. The approval, with 61 conditions on traffic, the environment and other factors, has been forwarded to the city of Winter Haven.” — Planning Council Approves CSX Project

“Remember the scene in “Airplane II, The Sequel” where two airport security guards get their kicks watching a special camera “undress” female passengers? We laughed about it then, but real-world technology that peeks under your clothes is now headed to Tampa International Airport, and it’s nothing to smile about.” — A Step Too Far For Airport Scanners

“As Florida’s coffers shrink in the face of a dour economy, confusion over a tax statute threatens to choke the flow of home sales at a time when the state is struggling under the burden of millions of unsold properties.” — Tax ‘Mess’ Muddles Short Sales Of Homes

“Orlando’s home-resale market recorded its second-best sales month of the year in July, and local Realtors said a marked improvement in the number of pending contracts bodes well for the rest of 2008.” — Home sales: Good news peeks out from the gloom

“Skeptical state regulators grilled representatives of Florida’s largest private property insurer on Tuesday as State Farm officials tried to make a case for their 47.1 percent rate increase for their 950,000 residential customers.” — Fla. Regulators Question State Farm Rate Hike

Bonus:

“The Florida Parole Commission will remain all-white with the reappointment of an existing member Tuesday after a move to seek a more diverse slate of finalists failed.” — Reappointment Keeps Florida Parole Panel All-White

“Thirty-one miles of the 61-mile Central Florida Commuter Rail project has been approved for final design, project backers announced Monday.” — Orlando Commuter Rail Takes Another Step

“With a boost from some tax-break incentives, Orlando-based Planar Energy Devices Inc. says it plans to establish a microelectronics plant in Central Florida within the next three months.
” — Tax incentives to fuel energy startup’s presence in Orlando

“The sharp rise in gas prices has created a dilemma for the industry’s human-resource departments: How to keep commuting costs from eating up their workers’ wages.” — Businesses go extra mile to help workers save on gas

“Gov. Charlie Crist surprised few last week in announcing his support for Amendment 5, the proposed constitutional measure that would eliminate most school property taxes in Florida. What is surprising is the governor is so blinded by ideology that he will not acknowledge the ever-growing evidence that it would cause long-term economic and educational harm to our state.” — Tax- Swap Treachery

Bonus:

“In Central Florida, there are almost a quarter of a million swing voters, most of whom are Puerto Ricans or other Hispanics. Until now, they have remained a largely untapped resource. But both political campaigns are gearing up to target them during the next three months.” — Orlando-area Hispanics’ votes will be vital to campaigners

So many reasons why you should oppose Amendment 5 and Homebuyers, Beware: Tax Aid Is Loan

“Nagging complaints about some generic drugs are casting doubt on one of medicine’s most widely held assumptions: that generics are just as good as brand-name versions, only cheaper.” — Rx for trouble? Generics don’t always work as well as brand names, critics say. The FDA disagrees. We take a look.

“In 2015, just a few years from now, Florida will be in deep trouble. Who wants the dubious notoriety of “last in the nation?”" — Florida’s Coming Medical Disaster

Bonus:

The Sentinel is still mad at Paula Dockery

“If you get blood at Lakeland Regional Medical Center after 7 a.m. Monday, it won’t be coming from BloodNet USA. LRMC’s blood and blood products, like platelets or plasma, will come instead from Florida Blood Services, which officially starts providing LRMC’s blood supplies that day. The two signed a contract three months ago and have spent the time since then finalizing arrangements.” — LRMC Taps Into New Supply of Blood

“Publix Super Markets has long stressed its customer service and cleanliness, but with rising food and gas costs it’s now courting a lower-priced image. The Lakeland-based grocery chain has started a program of deep discounts on certain staple items, starting with milk and soon expanding to other products, company spokeswoman Shannon Patten said.” — Publix Grocery Bill May Be Less

“Orlando officials say they have little choice but to raise property taxes because city government is run as efficiently as possible. But records show that the Orlando Police Department — with a $111 million budget that amounts to nearly a third of the city’s general spending — has seen its overtime pay nearly triple in the past four years as the city deals with a wave of violent crime.” — Overtime could tax Orlando Police budget to tune of $4 million

Bonus:

“With John McCain likely only days from announcing his running mate, the chances of his choosing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist took three hits this week: a poll, a controversy over campaign contributions and an important newspaper non-endorsement. Recent speculation about Crist has put him in the lower tier of potential running mates and focused more on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.” — Governor May Have Faded As VP Choice

“The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit board agreed Monday to raise fares across the board and gave tentative backing to a property tax increase to pay for more buses and a long-range transit study. The tax increase must survive two public hearings and be passed by a super-majority of the board before becoming reality.” — Bus Fares Going Up, Maybe Tax Too

“Florida’s sagging economy will push state government back into the red this month and force Gov. Charlie Crist to either further cut spending or tap deeper into the state’s reserves.” — ‘Big’ budget deficit ahead for Florida

Bonus:

“The federal government on Monday barred a registered-traveler service launched three years ago at Orlando International Airport from enrolling new members after an unencrypted company laptop containing personal information for about 33,000 prospective customers was stolen from a locked office.” – ‘Clear’ registration halted after laptop theft

I have to ask, What kind of loon puts that kind of data on a laptop??

“Restaurant industry experts say they don’t expect a wave of shutdowns of other national chain restaurants, noting that Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale had been struggling for years. But Florida is in the midst of a shakeout among small chains and independent restaurants, and that could lead to more job losses, experts warn.” — Restaurant Industry In Midst Of Shakeout

“Home builders demanded answers Saturday to questions about a proposed constitutional tax amendment that voters will decide on the Nov. 4 ballot. While state leaders who favored the tax-swapping Amendment 5 promised builders their tax bills would drop, opponents assured an audience of about 100 that their taxes would increase.” — Rival claims of tax-swap backers and foes baffle Florida home builders group

Editorials:

“Someone in state government needs to step up and address the standoff over the proposed commuter-rail project in Orlando.” — DOT Should Review Other Options To Build Commuter Rail In Orlando

“The old maxim that Central Florida officials couldn’t care less about conserving resources no longer holds water — especially when you consider how so many of them literally are now working to change the landscape.” — Smarter landscaping could help relieve water crisis

Bonus:

“He was a playboy bachelor, the first Republican governor of Florida since Reconstruction and a promising candidate for the vice presidency. His name was Claude Kirk Jr.” — ‘Claudius Maximus’ Blazed Trail Followed By Crist

Careful at the beach again this summer. Fish Kill Zone Widens; Algal Bloom Suspected

What have your neighbors done for you lately? For millionaire, $100k small price to pay for less-cluttered neighborhood

Bonus:

Economists have realized Florida is in a recession. “Analysts predict that the state will lose momentum through 2008, then bottom out late this year or in early 2009.” There’s not much else to the story here.

These aren’t your grandfather’s summer rains: Microbursts: Small summer storms can hit hard

Guess what those summer storms bring? Not May flowers: Heavy Rains Lead to a Mosquito Baby Boom

heaven knows we shouldn’t help our city buses. The price of gas is so low: No penny gas tax to help Lynx, Orange leaders decide

It’s that time of year. Be careful! Thrill rides can be dangerous! stories. Thrills And Spills – Caution Key To Theme Park Safety

Bonus:

A pair of Tribune editorials: 401(k) Rule Finally Reveals Hidden Fees and Erase Political Favoritism From Legislative Redistricting

There is a call for florida’s top mortgage regulator to resign: Demand Is Intensifying For Mortgage Chief To Resign (Didn’t I just write that?)

If he does, will he qualify for unemployment, and how long will it take to get benefits? Jobless benefits now last longer – so will your wait

The housing market is in the slumps. So who should buy a house? The government: A golden opportunity’ for government-subsidized housing

Bonus:

Is the Lakeland Outpouring poured out? Revival Evangelist to Fold His Lakeland Tent

Speaking of tourists: A whole suitcase of challenges selling tourists on Florida visits

They call them Lexus Lanes. And you thought America was a classless society. Pay-as-you-go express lanes could be headed to Orlando area

Remember: If you cut property taxes, your officials will find the money somewhere else, or cut important important services: Property-tax rate headed for increase and Polk’s Schools Brace for Cuts

Bonus:

Lakeland to Hire Lawyer for Train Issues Ahead

Negligent Florida Let Criminals Infect Mortgage Industry

Bring the doctor to your employees. A money-saving idea. A smart Rx for employee health

A trio of stories about money and Florida government. Act now! Florida may have money waiting for you, Will Powerball multistate lottery pay off for Florida? It’s anyone’s bet, Two Counties to Cut Night Court; Statewide Elimination Looms

Bonus:

No Manual Recount In Close Elections

Law Aims To Declaw FCAT Mania

Polk County couple stalks, counts butterflies