Taxes? Haven't we had this discussion before? Rhetorical question. I avail myself of my tax-free benefits and do not generally pay taxes on things. :)

OK, here's even another valid definition of 'money'- "the (only) stuff you can use to pay your taxes".

You cannot pay your taxes with "energy", "vitality and power", OR turnips, even though all those things ARE "valuable".

Sweet Jesus woman, what the hell are you talking about? The fact that energy is valuable does not make it into or even equivalent to, money.

Keep flapping your gums like that, old man, you're perilously near to proving you know nothing (and never had a clue) about economics and dangerously close to losing your status as a right-winger.

Money is "coin of the realm" (legal tender).

Obviously, that depends on the "realm," does it not? Duh. You living in the land of tubers and roots, I'm not the least bit surprised you can't grasp the concept of the vitality and power of energy. We here in Texas can explain it to you, but we can't make you understand it.

Turnips are valuable,but they are not money.

I see you need "valuable" explained to you. :)

Sweet Jesus woman, what the hell are you talking about? The fact that energy is valuable does not make it into or even equivalent to, money. Money is "coin of the realm" (legal tender). Turnips are valuable,but they are not money.

Trump's 2017 tax cuts for the rich and corporate America were wildly unpopular and should be rolled back, no?

Yes. Closing tax loopholes on wealthy individuals and corporations would actually reduce deficits and allow for the investment in renewable energy which as we (almost) all know can produce energy (money) out of "thin air."

Not rocket science, but definitely science. :)

If those potential "Wins" actually happen, and are financed by the creation of more new money out of thin air (the way the "stimulus" pmts were financed), think current price inflation times some large multiple<. But hey, who cares as long as it buys Dem votes, right?

For a self-described "economics expert," I shouldn't think I should have to explain this simple concept in the context of a portion of the Democrats' proposals, but here we are (again).

The Production of Money Out of Thin Air

As we live and breathe, hundreds of thousands of turbines located in wind farms across the United States are currently converting the kinetic energy of air/wind into electrical energy generating massive amounts of gigawatts of power. This concept is referred to as "renewable energy" and lowers the cost of energy and reduces America's reliance on fossil fuels.

Science not your strong suit, eh? :)

So Americans will not be getting tuition-free community college, subsidized child care, free preschool, student loan forgiveness, action on climate change, and a whole host of other ideas that would have dramatically improved the lives of hundreds of millions of American citizens. Thanks, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, for nothing.

I feel your pain, CW, and I was so moved by your column that I spoke to a friend in DC who has promised me that he'll pull some levers and make sure Joe Manchin reads it. If only Manchin could come to his senses and change his mind (again) and reverse his adamant stance on some of these issues that affect the average Joe.

Seriously! What's to stop him from changing his mind again? He does it all the time!

Maybe he'll surprise us all. :)

Our collective attention span is such that anything passed in July risks becoming (like Biden's stimulus checks) a distant memory come November. Something closer to the election will better help with the fence sitters, too.

For the record, I avoided reading anything about (what turned out to be eternal) Democratic negotiations over B.B.B. from the start. At the time I expected they'd get something out of Manchinema long before now but decided to wait until I saw the bottom line. The finished product.

I'm still waiting.

Well I care.

This money printing binge is happening all over the world thanks to governments dealing with Covid. If the dollar ever ceases to be the world's petro-currency we'll be dealing with unprecedented inflation here at home.

Right now, half of countries have higher inflation than America and the other half have it lower, so it could easily be worse.

Trump's 2017 tax cuts for the rich and corporate America were wildly unpopular and should be rolled back, no?

Taming drug prices has a different tang now that Newsom announced an insulin initiative. That's a real game-changer (and it's exceptional politics).