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In private meetings and phone calls, Mr. Obama’s aides have made clear that the new organization will rely heavily on a small number of deep-pocketed donors, not unlike the “super PACs” whose influence on political campaigns Mr. Obama once deplored. 
....
“It just smells,” said Bob Edgar, the president of Common Cause, which advocates tighter regulation of campaign money. “The president is setting a very bad model setting up this organization.”

Mr. Obama’s new organization has drawn rebukes in recent days from watchdog groups, which view it as another step away from the tighter campaign regulation Mr. Obama once championed. Over the past two years, he has reversed course on several campaign finance issues, by blessing a super PAC created by former aides and accepting large corporate contributions for his second inauguration.  (NYT, 2/22/2013)

And so we add the following to our list of Things That The Legitimate Media Can No Longer Criticize Republicans For Because Obama And The Democrats Do Them Too:

• Take big donations from a handful of wealthy supporters
• Take corporate contributions for a presidential inauguration.

It's a growing list!


Offsets
A higher gas tax would help fix crumbling highways while also generating money that could help offset the impact on low- and middle-income families. Increasing the tax, as part of a bipartisan budget deal, with a clear explanation to the public of its role in lowering oil imports and improving our air and highways, could be among the most important energy decisions we make. (Valerie J. Karplus, research scientist in the Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change at M.I.T., NYT, 2/21/2013)

Yet another Liberal waving the flag for more taxes. Not new news, we admit, but we loved the approach. It just needs to be 'clearly explained' to people! We aren't certain, but we're guessing that most people understand: "Your taxes are going up which means you will have less money." Knowing about how the government wastes their money, people stop listening after that. 


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Here's a trend you'll be reading more about: part-time "job sharing," not only within firms but across different businesses. It's already happening across the country at fast-food restaurants, as employers try to avoid being punished by the Affordable Care Act. In some cases we've heard about, a local McDonalds has hired employees to operate the cash register or flip burgers for 20 hours a week and then the workers head to the nearby Burger King or Wendy's to log another 20 hours. Other employees take the opposite shifts. (WSJ, 2/22/2013)

The spirit of capitalism is once more alive and well in America. Government imposes ridiculous taxes, rules and regulations and yet again, capitalism adapts!