On sales taxes in the United States: As is so often true, it depends on the individual state and, often, localities. For example: Washington state has no income tax but a fairly high sales tax, which… (View Post)

Credit where due: Recently, the local Episcopalian church held a fund raiser for humanitarian relief for Ukraine. https://www.stjohnskirkland.org/ (I missed the services, but stopped by their office … (View Post)

On primaries in the US: There are different types of primaries in the US. In general, I favor "semi-closed" primaries which are open to registered party members -- and independents, but not… (View Post)

SSI2 is right that there were Republican party machines, as well as Democratic machines, though rather fewer Republican machines, as the 20th century went on. D. W. Brogan has insightful things to sa… (View Post)

FPT: I doubt that I have persuaded many of you, but I will repeat my belief that Trump is not certain to win the Republican nomination, and that his status, if anything, has been eroding within the p… (View Post)