Welcome to Buster's Blog

Irregular commentary on whatever's on my mind -- politics, sports, current events, and life in general. After twenty years of writing business and community newsletters, fifteen years of fantasy baseball newsletters, and two years of email "columns", this is, I suppose, the inevitable result: the awful conceit that someone might actually care to read what I have to say. Posts may be added often, rarely, or never again. As always, my mood and motivation are unpredictable.

Buster Gammons















Monday, April 27, 2015

Flying Finns Pay Proportionately


(Almost certainly not about the Flying Finn, Paavo Nurmi.)
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Can you imagine if it worked like this in America?

Here, a speeding ticket costs the same, no matter who you are.

In Finland, however, if you are ticketed for driving at high speed, and if you are a person of means, your fine is designed to get your attention with proportional pain in your pocketbook.  If your speed is excessive and your income is large, your fine will be based on your income.  Ooh!

Reima Kuisla is a wealthy Finnish "businessman", gambler, and real estate mogul.  He makes $7 million a year.  He was recently ticketed for going 64 MPH in a 50 MPH zone.  His fine was . . . $58,000!  Mr. Kuisla is pissed, but most Finns don't have much sympathy for him.  That's the way things are done in Finland, plus two years ago, Kuisla was fined $83,769 for speeding 26 MPH over the limit.  He's just a chronic, rich, scoff-law with a fast car.  But he doesn't hold the record in Finland.  That belongs to an asshole on a motorcycle.  His income was $12.5 million, and his fine was $103,600.

The well-off paying more than the less well-off?  How progressive.  Yee-ha!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/world/europe/speeding-in-finland-can-cost-a-fortune-if-you-already-have-one.html?_r=0

 To whom much is given, much is required. -- Luke 12:48 (paraphrased Bible verse) 

 From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs. -- Karl Marx (Commie)

 Social Security is a Ponzi scheme.* -- Rick Perry (Republican) 
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*(No, it's not.  It's fine for now.  It doesn't need to reduce benefits or raise the retirement age.  It simply needs to keep up with the times.  Right now, the maximum annual income subject to Social Security tax is $118,500.  If the cap is raised to $250,000, Social Security is funded for many, many decades to come.  If the cap is removed, it's good pretty much forever.  An example of a moral principal despised by Republicans.  Bite me, Paul Ryan!) 



    


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