Posts that cover the broad issue of fairness in society in regard to jobs, insurance, business startup, etc.

The Dilemma of the Independent Voter

A brief consideration of the social and political forces that distinguish Democrats from Republicans and the attraction that these established political parties have to Independent voters. Although either party can overreach when it's in power, the overreach of the Republican party looks to be a threat to democracy itself. It will be interesting in our elections to see how Independents view this threat.

Is Vaccination Policy Fair?

The Republican dominated legislature in West Virginia is trying to undo one of the successful health policy measures in the state. Vaccinations mandated for public school enrollment have largely kept WV from the wave of measles outbreaks in all our surrounding states. Republicans, including all six representing Jefferson County, have voted to weaken this mandate.

The “Flat Tax: Stupid But Possibly Workable

John Doyle speculates on how to make a flat tax adaptable so that it doesn't take a sizable chunk of a worker's earnings from they need to pay for critical everyday expenses. Maybe set a threshold below which the flat tax is exempt? Ideally that would be something like the prevailing poverty rate. Above that you pay tax, below it you don't. John goes on to consider the likelihood of such an adaptable tax passing the Republican legislature.