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By Dr. Harold A. Black

blackh@knoxfocus.com

When ProPublica exposed the tax records of some billionaires showing little or no federal income tax paid, predictably many on the left and in the media howled in indignation. No one claimed that the billionaires were engaging in illegal activity but many said that the billionaires should pay their fair share. One socialist in Congress even showed up at a $30,000 per person event with a dress that looked like a Chick-fil-a bag that had written on its back Tax the Rich. What I found striking was that of the billionaires scrutinized most were Democrats or leaned toward the Democrats, one was independent and only one was a Republican. Two of the exposed Democrats were among the ones who give most to the left: Michael Bloomberg (who gave over $60 million to fund Democrat House races) and George Soros who has given more than $550 million for leftist causes.

Yet deep-pocket donors have been vilified by the left. The proposed tax bill of the Democrats in Congress targets the rich and at the corporations. It raises the marginal income tax from 37% to 39.6%. The capital gains tax would increase to 39.6% combined with a 3.8% surtax on investment income making the top federal rate of 43.4% by far the highest among developed countries. It institutes a capital gains tax at death on estates. Perhaps the most knee-jerk reaction to the ProPublica piece is legislation that taxes the unrealized capital gains of billionaires only. Thus, if the value of a billionaires stock holdings rose adding a billion dollars to wealth, that increase would be taxed as ordinary income. This would generate many forms of circumvention, mostly negative. Biden supports the new tax and not surprisingly, the Republicans (for some reason that escapes me) oppose it.

Why are there wealthy Democrats since they are constantly demonized by their politicians and the media? During the last presidential campaign, Wall Streets deep-pocket donors gave more to Democrat campaigns than to Republicans even though their most fierce critics are all on the Democrat side of the aisle in Congress.

There is obviously something going on that I dont understand. Why would the wealthy support a party whose avowed goal is to make the rich poorer? Are the rich that dumb? What is clear is that the Republican party seems to confirm George Wills calling it the Dumb party and needs to reassess its priorities. It should no longer defend the rich and big corporations against the left. It should abandon those who do not support it and announce that it is voting for the billionaires tax, the increase in the corporate income tax, and the increase in tax on the rich. It should concentrate on reducing the burdens on the individuals and the small businesses that constitute its base.

The basic tenets for Republicans are that individual rights and freedom are essential rather than the whims of the government. Private property and free enterprise are the bases of effort and achievement. Individual initiative and ingenuity propel effort and creativity. Government is inefficient and wasteful and should be limited in scope. The Constitution provides the framework of our society and is not a living document.

As to businesses, the Republican party should no longer defend corporate America against rises in the corporate tax rate. Many large corporations are among the wokest in America. Paypal, Disney, Nike, Coca-Cola, Bank of America and others support positions and organizations that are largely opposed by Republicans. When Joe Biden announced his COVID mandates, the Business Roundtable made up of the countrys largest corporations praised the move and support it wholeheartedly as do most Democrats. On the other hand, small businesses, like the majority of Republicans, oppose the mandates and are suing the administration.

Thus it is clear to me that the Republicans should concentrate their support on those individuals, groups and businesses that support Republican values. They should no longer support the wealthy, Wall Street and large corporations. If they do, they will indeed be the Dumb Party.

See more here:
Is the Republican Party Dumb? - The knoxville focus

In the typhoon of congressional brinkmanship weve witnessed this week, one detail caught my eye that could easily have been lost in the gales.

A group of 35 Republican senators signed a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden about an aspect of the House reconciliation bill that they find disturbing.

As you know, current marriage penalties occur when a households overall tax bill increases due to a couple marrying and filing taxes jointly. ... Unfortunately, despite its original rollout as part of the American Families Plan, the current draft of the reconciliation bill takes an existing marriage penalty in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and makes it significantly worse. This is not the only marriage penalty created or worsened by the partisan bill.

For the record, I think this objection is completely sound. If theres one thing the social science literature is virtually unanimous about, its that two parents are better than one. And while marriage isnt essential to ensuring that a child grows up in a stable home some cohabiting parents stay together for decades, and some single parents provide very stable homes the association is extremely strong. Anyone concerned about child poverty needs to be concerned about marriage. Kids who grow up in two-parent families have a poverty rate of 7.5%, compared with 36.5% of those raised in single-parent homes.

Its not just poverty. Kids raised in stable homes without a revolving door of new adult partners for their parents and new stepsiblings (actual or de facto) for themselves are healthier physically and psychologically. They are less likely to struggle in school, get in trouble with the law, engage in risky behaviors or get depressed and commit suicide. The United States has the dubious distinction of having more children living with only one adult (23%) than any other nation on earth. A Pew survey of 130 countries found that the global average is 7%.

This link between marriage and good outcomes for children is so robust that scholars across the political divide agree on it, though they may differ on what to do about it, or about whether it is even possible to do anything about the growing percentage of children growing up in single-parent homes.

Government efforts to encourage marriage, such as those undertaken by the George W. Bush administration, were well-intentioned flops. They included funding for programs that offered counseling for new mothers on the virtues of marriage as well as couples therapy and public service announcements featuring celebrities. The divorce/unwed parenting numbers didnt respond. (Divorce has been trending down since its peak in 1980, but the percentage of children growing up in single-parent homes has not decreased due to the rise of unwed childbearing.)

The governments failure to affect matrimony should surprise exactly no one. For one thing, the programs didnt last long, but thats probably for the best. A behavior as complex as choosing whether or not to marry is unlikely to be affected by government encouragement. Its the same with other behaviors. Remember the Presidents Challenge to eat healthy and exercise more? That was another Bush initiative. These hortatory programs have a long pedigree. President Dwight Eisenhower founded the Presidents Council on Youth Fitness in 1956. Rates of obesity have stubbornly increased in every decade since.

This is not to say that we should throw up our hands. Cultural change happens all the time. Just consider how much weve been able to curb drunk driving over the past 25 years due to changing mores and the activism of civil society groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

But there is one huge thing the government can do: stop making things worse. Every tax or safety net-related marriage penalty should be sandblasted out of the code. The Republican senators are completely right about this. If it means the programs cost more, so be it. Its worth it.

This is precisely the kind of perspective we need a healthy conservative party to advance. We need a party that is focused on the importance of the mediating institutions in society families, churches, schools and community organizations rather than simply on individuals and government. This is too frequently a blind spot for Democrats.

But todays Republican Party has forfeited the benefit of the doubt. You need a certain moral standing to be taken seriously on matters like the marriage penalty. You rely on voters to believe that you are at least partly motivated by good policy.

But when Sen. Mitch McConnell cynically filibusters a bill to raise the debt ceiling to cover bills his party helped to rack up; when Republicans open their ranks to the likes of Reps. Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene; when the party thwarts basic public health measures like vaccines and masks; and when the party closes ranks around former President Donald Trump by blocking an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 riot, well, people will doubt your bona fides.

Republicans are also endangering our democracy with their embrace of Trumps election fraud fantasy. Thats the most urgent threat. But its also a loss for this country that the Republican Party is discrediting conservatism, because we cant do without it.

Mona Charen is policy editor of The Bulwark and host of the Beg to Differ podcast.

Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.

Read more:
What we lost when the Republican Party lost itself | Charen - Chicago Sun-Times

President Joe Biden said on Saturday that Republican efforts to block the US' ability to pay its bills on time would be "unconscionable."

Congress has about two weeks to raise or suspend the debt ceiling to avert what could be a catastrophic hit to the economy, ranging from delays in Social Security checks to seniors, turmoil in financial markets, cuts to safety net programs, and even a spike in interest rates.

Republicans, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have signaled they could try to block the effort to lift the debt ceiling and torpedo Biden's economic goals. McConnell has remained adamantthat raising the debt limit is something only Democrats must do. The US has never before defaulted on its debts.

"I hope that Republicans won't be so irresponsible as to refuse to raise the debt limit and to filibuster," Biden told reporters on Saturday. "That would be totally unconscionable. That's never been done before."

Raising the debt ceiling allows the US government to pay back what it owes, and the limit had to be lifted this year regardless of Biden's spending plans. Democrats are pressing Republicans to help raise it, arguing another $7.8 trillion in debt was racked up under President Donald Trump. Republicans also raised or suspended the debt limit three times under the Trump administration.

Democrats' best bet for lifting the debt ceiling on their own is reconciliation, an arduous, time-consuming procedure governed by strict budgetary rules. It also allows certain bills to be passed with just a 50-vote majority.

Biden said on Saturday that "everybody is frustrated" following a week of setbacks and squabbles over the debt limit and his economic agenda, but he added that he's confident both an infrastructure bill and a $3.5 trillion social spending bill will ultimately be passed by Congress.

Democrats need to keep the government funded while also keeping their promises to pass a $550 billion investment in US roads, bridges, and railroads as well as funding for childcare, healthcare, and fighting climate change. Two moderate Democratic senators are uneasy with the magnitude of the proposed changes and want the $3.5 trillion social spending bill to be trimmed.

Biden said he is "going to work like hell to make sure we get both these passed," adding that both plans have the support of a majority of Americans.

"There's nothing in any of these pieces of legislation that's radical, that is unreasonable," he said, adding he would travel the country to win more support for both bills. "I believe I can get this done."

See more here:
Biden calls Republican effort to block an increase to the debt limit 'irresponsible' - Business Insider

TOKYO, Oct. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QunaSys Inc. is a sponsor of Quantum Week 2021 (Oct 17 - 21) the leading quantum computing event that bridges the gap between the science of quantum computing and the development of the surrounding industry.

QunaSys researchers are deeply engaged in the event with an exhibit booth, a hands-on tutorial, and a panel:

"Japan's technology ecosystem is actively advancing quantum computing. QunaSys is a key player in driving business, government, and academia collaboration to enable the quantum chemistry ecosystem and boost the adoption of this technology." Tennin Yan, QunaSys Inc. CEO, and Hausi Mller, General Chair IEEE Quantum Week 2021 and Co-Chair IEEE Quantum Initiative.

"Companies are getting ready by learning the skills to develop and test quantum algorithms. Collaboration within an ecosystem and a multi-platform approach is key to expand use case proliferation that in turn advances the technology." Tennin Yan, QunaSys Inc. CEO.

"As organizers, we are very pleased with the outstanding contributions from the international quantum community for IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE). We look forward to welcoming 800+ participants from 45+ countries and 220+ companies." Hausi Mller.

Register now for the conference and learn how to maximize the power of quantum computing, understand the industry use cases potential and how to implement algorithms to solve chemistry related complex problems, please register here: https://qce.quantum.ieee.org/registration/registration-overview

Additional resources

About QunaSys Inc.

QunaSys is the world's leading developer of innovative algorithms in chemistry focused on accelerating the development of quantum technology applicability. QunaSys enables maximization of the power of quantum computing through its advanced joint research that addresses cutting-edge technologies providing Qamuy, the most powerful quantum chemical calculation cloud software; fostering development of collaboration through QPARC industry consortium; and working with research institutions from academia and government. QunaSys software runs on multiple technology platforms with applicability in all chemical related industries to boost quantum computing adoption.

About IEEE event

IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. IEEE is actively contributing to the global R&D efforts to understand the power and promise of quantum computing. IEEE Quantum Week is bridging the gap between the science of quantum computing and the development of an industry surrounding it.

Media contact:

HIroki Oka[emailprotected]/ [emailprotected]+81-9060589550

SOURCE QunaSys Inc.

https://en.qunasys.com/

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QunaSys to participate in IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE21) - PRNewswire

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that quantum computers will exist in some useful fashion in the not too distant future.

And if that is the case, fundamental changes will be needed in education, supply chains, and national policies for us to use the machines to solve complex problems, panelists said a forum hosted by R Street Institute this week.

"We need ... to prepare people to think about computation in a fundamentally different way," said Chris Fall, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, during the discussion.

On conventional computers, information is encoded in strings of 0s and 1s, while in quantum computers, information is encoded in quantum bits that have a value of 0, 1, or a superposition of both states. This allows quantum computers to store much more information than a classic machine and process it in less time, in theory. There are limitations, such as the fact that they are unstable and prone to error despite efforts to address that, and may hit a wall if unprotected from background radiation. Encryption-breaking quantum computers are forever 15 years away.

Sorry, yes, we're assuming they will eventually work.

Google, D-Wave, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Honeywell, and so on, are building qubits in different ways. Their goal is to build fault-tolerant machines that can run super-fast calculations by tempering qubit behavior and correcting errors introduced from the environment.

"The routine manipulation of the properties of single atoms in people's devices, devices, cars that is going to change everything. We don't have a full understanding of how that's going to happen." Fall said.

Starting now, education needs to be better for people to take advantage of the quantum processing breakthroughs as the hardware journey matures, the panelists said. Problem solving and algorithms will look very different in areas like finance and science, for example.

"The language of quantum algorithms are linear algebra and probabilities. This is not something that we do a good job of teaching our kids from a very early stage. That is kind of where we need to get started now," Fall said.

Quantum computing is a different problem-solving system and calculates differently from conventional computers, was the gist of the discussion.

Governments will need to drive change if quantum computing is a matter of national interest and public need, said Scott Friedman, a senior policy advisor of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Global legislation to protect semiconductor supply chains, like the CHIPS for America Act and Europe's Chips Act, needs to factor in quantum computing infrastructure, panelists said.

Most cryogenic refrigerators for quantum computers are made in Europe, and the United States needs to work with allies to secure those supply chains, said Allison Schwartz, global government relations and public affairs leader at quantum computer maker D-Wave Systems.

The government also needs to facilitate collaboration and bridge a gap between educators, developers, and scientists involved in algorithms and developing hardware, the panelists said.

The US introduced legislation called QUEST (Quantum User Expansion for Science and Technology) for increased access of quantum hardware and resources for research and further education. A National Quantum Initiative Act (NQI) was signed into law in 2018 to supercharge quantum computing development and research, but activity around these have stalled.

"The advisory committee for the NQI hasn't met in a while ... on the executive branch side. An easy next step to bring more focus in this area would be to convene that again and get broader input from the community," said Kate Weber, policy lead for quantum, robotics, and fundamental research at Google, which hopes to a build a fault-tolerant computer by 2030.

The moderator, R Street Institute senior fellow Miles Taylor, raised the idea of quantum computers creating sentient beings, much like the machines in the Terminator movies.

"I don't know if we're going to have a sentient computer," CSIS's Fall said, adding, "we're learning to manipulate single atoms at ... industrial scale. That's not a laboratory project. It'll change the world."

Read more:
'Quantum computer algorithms are linear algebra, probabilities. This is not something that we do a good job of teaching our kids' - The Register