（1）城市变化巨大，啥都不认识了
（2）到处是城市建设，新修地铁什么的，都是热火朝天
（3）绿化不错，很多地方都有专门设计的绿化带
（4）车辆很多，而且很多新车新本新司机，有点恐怖；但就道路开车复杂程度而言，那还是比不上纽约
（5）对了，好像所有认识的人都有车
（6）购物中心到处都是，而且相当美国化，海报上都是白人帅哥美女，我很不爽；东西还超贵，算成美金，都是只贵不便宜，还是回美国等sales好了
（7）好多以前的朋友都混得不错，凡是2004/05买房的都发大了。经济状况和工作关系不大，都看自己投资有没有弄好
（8）吃东西好吃呀，价格大概￥75-100一个人的地方算中档，￥100-150算中高档，￥200就算高档了，哦，这都不包括酒水钱，喝酒还是比较贵的
（9）吃东西还是很累人的，天天吃，有点搞不定了，都是高蛋白，高胆固醇
（10）国内电视剧还是特别傻，看上去非常假，不过也可能是我傻，看不懂
（11）“叶问”很好看，以后我要去学学咏春拳，防身健体啊
（12）“非诚务扰”一大大大大的滥片，看了要吐血，冯晓刚已经江郎才尽了
（13）看电影每个片子价格还不一样，非常古怪啊，50-60不等，算成美元不贵，但人民币不便宜
（14）空气没有和纽约有太大区别，就是这几天没见过蓝天，好像我人品问题，我妈说前几天都是大晴天，我们一来就多云，晕～～～
（15）到哪里都是服务员和保安，多得让人心荒
（16）乱停车的现象很厉害啊，经常就是两个车头对头，尾对尾在马路边停着，还有就是动不动上人行道停车
（17) 奶奶的，我在行人绿灯的时候过马路，还被转弯的汽车滴，很%#￥*！啊，中指，我的中指呢？
（18）打的士超级方便啊，到哪里都是的士，又一次我等了很久，才等到，气得要死，结果一看才等了3分钟而已，啊~~
（19) 国内人好像不喜欢走路，到处坐车，我和老婆喜欢到处狂走，别人一听说我们走了40分钟去一个地方，都张大嘴不敢相信
（20）高楼大厦超多，都很漂亮；新的住宅区也很多，不过都挺贵的，据说2009下半年房市会见底
oh，我要去北京了，到时候看看北京怎么样
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
下礼拜要回国玩了，好开心~
整整10年没回去过了，天哪，我现在真得很兴奋呀
4，5年前美国同事问我为什么这么久都没回国，我老是开玩笑说我以前在中国犯事了，杀了什么贪官的儿子，是流放出来的，不能回去，他们都狂笑，说我吹牛都不打草稿
2007年以来，我都不敢这么开玩笑了，因为有好几个老美都觉得我在说实话，都觉得我肯定和达赖一样被政府驱逐出境的，靠，我解释也没用，反正他们就觉得我肯定以前做了什么不能见光的事情。。
总算我现在可以回国来证明自己的清白，我不是杀人犯！！
奶奶的，但有个老美总来打探为什么10年满了我才敢回国，老问我是不是我以前干的事情有10年的 statutory limitation。现在每次看到我就对我眨眼睛，好像他知道我什么秘密似的。
这日子没法过了
4，5年前美国同事问我为什么这么久都没回国，我老是开玩笑说我以前在中国犯事了，杀了什么贪官的儿子，是流放出来的，不能回去，他们都狂笑，说我吹牛都不打草稿
2007年以来，我都不敢这么开玩笑了，因为有好几个老美都觉得我在说实话，都觉得我肯定和达赖一样被政府驱逐出境的，靠，我解释也没用，反正他们就觉得我肯定以前做了什么不能见光的事情。。
总算我现在可以回国来证明自己的清白，我不是杀人犯！！
奶奶的，但有个老美总来打探为什么10年满了我才敢回国，老问我是不是我以前干的事情有10年的 statutory limitation。现在每次看到我就对我眨眼睛，好像他知道我什么秘密似的。
这日子没法过了
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Myth #7: Progressive tax is evil because it's unfair
Progressive tax means that richer you are, higher marginal tax rate you pay. So, the average tax rate for a rich person is designed to be higher than a poor person.
The "unfairness" argument usually goes like this: "everyone is born equal in this nation and everyone should pay the same tax rate regardless his own money-making ability."
I am sorry, my friend, this is total horse-shit.
First, let's see where the tax money goes once it's collected from you and me. The single largest expenditure is National Defense (including Veterans Affairs). It's over $700bn and over 25% of the total budget.
Then, you tell me who benefit more from National Defense, me or Warren Buffet? For me, there are not much to be defended with. Let's say if Cuba invades US, I don't get much to lose. Well, that can't be true for Warren Buffet. He has the most stake in US and he will be the biggest loser if anything happens.
Since rich people benefit more from programs like National Defense, it makes perfect sense that they pay more.
People are dying to protect the country. Well, those poor people, to be precise. So, in order to maintain a steady stream of fresh bodies for the army, rich people have to support poor families. Therefore, Health and Human Services (the 2nd largest item on the budget) makes perfect sense.
Even small items on the budget, like those national highways, rich people drive more and benefit more. Poor folks sometimes don't even have cars! Why should they pay for something that they don't even use?
Education, another example, why should poor people pay for it given the fact that they have the higest drop out rate and lowest admission rate to college?
NASA, haha, do you think people in Harlem give a rat ass about what happens on Mars?
Oh, the Justice Department, the cops! You don't even want me to go there.
This list can go on and on.
The fact is "rich people, who may not even realize it themselves, benefit more in this country by government spending." Of course they have to pay more. This is only FAIR to do so.
Ok, now you may say why progressive tax? Rich people are paying more tax even if their marginal tax rate is the same as poor people.
Here is why: the margin utility of each extra dollar is decreasing and it's utility maximization for the society by taxing higher marginal tax rate.
Let's assume you only earn $1000 a month. This $1000 means a lot to you. It pays your rent, food, and other necessities.
But for others, Bill Gates for example, any extra $1000 means nothing to him. He can even give away the money to support aerospace programs. Well, some millionaires are exactly doing that.
So, if I, as the government, have to tax some money to support the programs I just mentioned earlier, I rather take the money from Bill Gates than from you. Consequently the marginal tax for rich people is indeed progressive. The more money a person makes, the additional dollar will be taxed more as it means less to that person. This tax rule minimizes the impact on the society as whole due to taxation.
Unfortunately, some people has a different utility curve when it comes to money. They will cry out loud whenever you take his money away even though they have little to no need for that money. We call them money-hungry self-centered cheap-asses. Or in short, Republicans.
The "unfairness" argument usually goes like this: "everyone is born equal in this nation and everyone should pay the same tax rate regardless his own money-making ability."
I am sorry, my friend, this is total horse-shit.
First, let's see where the tax money goes once it's collected from you and me. The single largest expenditure is National Defense (including Veterans Affairs). It's over $700bn and over 25% of the total budget.
Then, you tell me who benefit more from National Defense, me or Warren Buffet? For me, there are not much to be defended with. Let's say if Cuba invades US, I don't get much to lose. Well, that can't be true for Warren Buffet. He has the most stake in US and he will be the biggest loser if anything happens.
Since rich people benefit more from programs like National Defense, it makes perfect sense that they pay more.
People are dying to protect the country. Well, those poor people, to be precise. So, in order to maintain a steady stream of fresh bodies for the army, rich people have to support poor families. Therefore, Health and Human Services (the 2nd largest item on the budget) makes perfect sense.
Even small items on the budget, like those national highways, rich people drive more and benefit more. Poor folks sometimes don't even have cars! Why should they pay for something that they don't even use?
Education, another example, why should poor people pay for it given the fact that they have the higest drop out rate and lowest admission rate to college?
NASA, haha, do you think people in Harlem give a rat ass about what happens on Mars?
Oh, the Justice Department, the cops! You don't even want me to go there.
This list can go on and on.
The fact is "rich people, who may not even realize it themselves, benefit more in this country by government spending." Of course they have to pay more. This is only FAIR to do so.
Ok, now you may say why progressive tax? Rich people are paying more tax even if their marginal tax rate is the same as poor people.
Here is why: the margin utility of each extra dollar is decreasing and it's utility maximization for the society by taxing higher marginal tax rate.
Let's assume you only earn $1000 a month. This $1000 means a lot to you. It pays your rent, food, and other necessities.
But for others, Bill Gates for example, any extra $1000 means nothing to him. He can even give away the money to support aerospace programs. Well, some millionaires are exactly doing that.
So, if I, as the government, have to tax some money to support the programs I just mentioned earlier, I rather take the money from Bill Gates than from you. Consequently the marginal tax for rich people is indeed progressive. The more money a person makes, the additional dollar will be taxed more as it means less to that person. This tax rule minimizes the impact on the society as whole due to taxation.
Unfortunately, some people has a different utility curve when it comes to money. They will cry out loud whenever you take his money away even though they have little to no need for that money. We call them money-hungry self-centered cheap-asses. Or in short, Republicans.
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