LAT touts higher taxes

The LAT argues this morning in an editorial for a California sales tax on services, especially those of lawyers and accountants. California needs more revenue to close an expected $20 billion hole in next year's budget, the LAT says. A tax on services would help, they say.

But California's government needs to learn to live within its resources. Starve the beast.

LAT cites global warming

Like most liberals, the LAT blames anything it doesn't understand on global warming ... or George Bush. Saturday morning, the LAT blamed the poor crop of salmon on global warming, among other things. It's tiresome.

Lexington on Wright

This week Lexington rightly condemns Jeremiah Wright's coming out party in Detroit and Washington. Lexington says "Wright belongs to a generation of activists" that includes Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton "who thrived in part by playing to the resentments of their black supporters." All true.

But then Lexington says Obama "belongs to a much more pragmatic generation, people who want to get beyond racial polarization and enter the political mainstream." How does Lexington know that? From what evidence?

Dems on Fox News

The LAT today reports that Fox News is attracting more and more Democrat politicians -- Hill and Barack are recent examples. It's where the viewers are, the LAT correctly says.

Governator to raise taxes

The LAT reports this morning that California's governator is looking for ways to raise taxes to cover a deficit that could amount to $20 billion. If true, it's enough to send a person into a rage. California has for years spent more than it took in, though the amount it takes in rises each year. The legislature raises spending faster. Spending targets are based on the highest revenues ever collected. If revenue growth falls short a deficit results. The legislature then wants to raise taxes to cover the deficit. But California is already one of the highest taxed states. Raising taxes drives successful people and businesses out of state. They are replaced by immigrants who don't pay much in taxes. It's a vicious circle that could become a whirlpool, drowning California in debt.

Noonan not bothered by Wright

In today's columns, published in the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan says she thinks Preacher Wright is wrong but she isn't bothered by him. She says it's OK for blacks to cling to their anger over slavery because she and her fellow Irish cling to their anger over the treatment the English inflicted on them. Really, both are symptomatic of paranoia. Both need to get over it. The Irish most likely have, despite what Noonan says.

Wright is a threat to black people if other black preachers are like him and black church-goers believe what such black preachers preach. Wright-thinking and preaching keeps blacks down. To rise up, they need to abandon such thinking and preaching.

Dems and the LAT sadly disappointed

The fact that the economy did not contract during the first quarter is so disappointing to Democrat politicians and the LAT that they're trying to change the definition of a recession. The standard definition -- two consecutive quarters of negative growth -- isn't adequate for today's conditions. It contradicts what they've been saying. It must change. Is that what Obama means by "change?"