If Not Common Ground, Charitable Ground September 7, 2022September 4, 2022 I saw this video last week just after posting that remarkable Heineken ad. Both attempt to show paths to de-polarization. If you have time, I think you’ll enjoy it, even if it leaves you, as it left me, with questions. (E.g., just HOW do I adjust my left-brain/right-brain balance? Pills? Self-awareness? Therapy? Tilting my head?) But if you have just one minute, start here and listen to his guest’s description of “charitable ground.” That part I got 100%. Warren Spieker: “I loved the Heineken ad. While I consider myself a moderate, I find many of the comments in your newsletter polarizing. I’m a former Republican who has moved toward the center. Or perhaps I haven’t moved but my former party has shifted right. Regardless, I believe we need to view ourselves as Americans and stop viewing either person as an ‘us’ or a ‘them.’ The ad showed how people with differing opinions can still sit down and discuss difficult topics. It’s so much more effective than trying to simply beat them and tell them they are wrong.” → Amen. FUNDING THE IRS By our very own Professor Paul deLaspinasse: If You’re an Honest Taxpayer New IRS Budget a Good Thing . . . Since someone must pay for government, tax cheating means honest people have to pay more. This writer can understand can why tax cheats want to leave the IRS underfunded, understaffed, and reliant on ancient computers. But, what is not understandable, is the Republicans’ unanimous vote against this legislation. Republicans have denounced the increased support for the IRS (which will produce [vastly] more tax revenue than it costs) as a vicious attack on small businesses and the little guy. But contrary to those partisan talking points, additional auditing will focus on where it can produce the most revenue, on very wealthy taxpayers. As IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, appointed by Donald Trump, has pointed out: “these [new] resources are absolutely not about increasing audit scrutiny on small businesses or middle-income Americans.” . . . BONUS: THE NEXT WORDLE? Peter Wagner: “I thought you’d like to know about a new word game my 33 year old son, Adam, created. He has had 12 published NY Times crossword puzzles, including a few Sundays, and that passion led him to create this word game: anigrams.us. Give it a try….it’s been gaining a lot of traction just in its first week.”