#black tax

[odinsblog]

In New York, drivers with a clean driving record but a low credit score are quoted $1,367 more for car insurance, on average, than otherwise identical drivers with excellent credit, according to a new analysis of tens of thousands of car insurance quotes.

For drivers in ZIP codes with predominantly Black residents, the gap yawns even wider: The cost of poor credit in those areas is $3,411 a year, on average.

These disparities were uncovered in a study of nearly 100,000 insurance quotes from 10 major New York car insurance companies. It was conducted by the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit advocacy organization.

The findings show just how much car insurance premiums can be inflated by factors that aren’t directly related to how safely a driver behaves on the road. They also reveal how a driver’s credit score can combine with their ZIP code to raise the cost of car insurance, which is mandatory for drivers in nearly every state.

“We’re talking about experienced drivers with no history of accidents or tickets facing premiums that are hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars more, simply because of what shows up in their credit reports,” says Douglas Heller, the CFA insurance expert who led the new study. “This is unmistakably harmful to the people of New York.”

The same dynamic plays out across the country. Only California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts bar insurers from using drivers’ credit scores to set premiums. Everywhere else, a low credit score will likely raise your car insurance price, and your ZIP code could multiply the damage. (Insurers use a special “credit-based insurance score” for pricing, but it’s calculated in a very similar way to your normal credit score.)

By law, insurers aren’t allowed to use race and income to set car insurance premiums or decide whom to insure. But critics say factors like credit scores and ZIP codes can have a particularly significant effect on certain racial groups.

For example, Black, Latino, and Indigenous Americans are much more likely to have poor credit than white Americans, a reflection of decades of discriminatory policies including redlining that have limited opportunities for communities of color to build wealth.

This sets up a double whammy for drivers of color. “When you marry credit and territorial pricing, you get a disastrous result,” Heller says. “There’s an amplification of the credit penalty in majority nonwhite ZIP codes.”

(continue reading)

[faultfalha]

It had become an intangible yet omnipresent force; one steeped in prejudice and inescapable economic hardship. A 'Black Tax' had been levied, a burden of poverty, that resulted in a dysfunctional cycle of wage inequality and generations of systematic exclusion. It had been a slow evolution, but the effects had been undeniable. Those that carried its weight, their faces stoic, could only look upon the reality of a socioeconomic system that worked against their progress. They had been presented with a fixed set of parameters and no way to escape them. What had originally been a force of racism had become an invisible force, lending an understanding of why the cycle of poverty refused to relent. The tax remained, an unscalable wall, with hands clenched in fists of defiance.

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #29

July 26-August 2 2024

President Biden announced his plan to reform the Supreme Court and make sure no President is above the law. The conservative majority on the court ruled that Trump has "absolute immunity" from any prosecution for "official acts" while he was President. In response President Biden is calling for a constitutional amendment to make it clear that Presidents aren't above the law and don't have immunity from prosecution for crimes committed while in office. In response to a wide ranging corruption scandal involving Justice Clarence Thomas, President Biden called on Congress to pass a legally binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court. The code would force Justices to disclose gifts, refrain from public political actions, and force them to recuse themselves from cases in which they or their spouses have conflicts of interest. President Biden also endorsed the idea of term limits for the Justices.

The Biden Administration sent out an email to everyone who has a federal student loan informing them of upcoming debt relief. The debt relief plan will bring the total number of a borrowers who've gotten relief from the Biden-Harris Administration to 30 million. The plan is due to be finalized this fall, and the Department of Education wanted to alert people early to allow them to be ready to quickly take advantage of it when it was in place and get relief as soon as possible.

President Biden announced that the federal government would step in and protect the pension of 600,000 Teamsters. Under the American Rescue Plan, passed by President Biden and the Democrats with no Republican votes, the government was empowered to bail out Union retirement funds which in recent years have faced devastating cut of up to 75% in some cases, leaving retired union workers in desperate situations. The Teamster union is just the latest in a number of such pension protections the President has done in office.

President Biden and Vice-President Harris oversaw the dramatic release of American hostages from Russia. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan held since 2018, Russian-American reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Alsu Kurmasheva convicted of criticizing the Russian Military, were all released from captivity and returned to the US at around midnight August 2nd. They were greeted on the tarmac by the President and Vice-President and their waiting families. The deal also secured the release of German medical worker Rico Krieger sentenced to death in Belarus, Russian-British opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza, and 11 Russians convicted of opposing the war against Ukraine or being involved in Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption organization. Early drafts of the hostage deal were meant to include Navalny before his death in Russian custody early this year.

A new Biden Administration rule banning discrimination against LGBT students takes effect, but faces major Republican resistance. The new rule declares that Title IX protects Queer students from discrimination in public schools and any college that takes federal funds. The new rule also expands protections for victims of sexual misconduct and pregnant or parenting students. However Republican resistance means the rule can't take effect nation wide. Lawsuits from Republican controlled states, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming, means the new protections won't come into effect those states till the case is ruled on likely in a Supreme Court ruling. The Biden administration crafted these Title IX rules to reflect the Supreme Court's 2020 Bostock case.

The Biden administration awarded $2 billion to black and minority farmers who were the victims of historic discrimination. Historically black farmers have been denied important loans from the USDA, or given smaller amounts than white farmers. This massive investment will grant 23,000 minority farmers between $10,000 and $500,000 each and a further 20,000 people who wanted to start farms by were improperly denied the loans they needed between $3,500-$6,000 to get started. Most payments went to farmers in Mississippi and Alabama.

The Biden Administration took an important step to stop the criminalization of poverty by changing child safety guidelines so that poverty alone isn't grounds for taking a child into foster care. Studies show that children able to stay with parents or other family have much better outcomes then those separated. Many states have already removed poverty from their guidelines when it comes to removing children from the home, and the HHS guidelines push the remaining states to do the same.

Vice-President Harris announced the Biden Administration's agreement to a plan by North Carolina to forgive the state's medical debt. The plan by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper would forgive the medical debt of 2 million people in the state. North Carolina has the 3rd highest rate of medical debt in the nation. Vice-President Harris applauded the plan, pointing out that the Biden Administration has forgiven $650 million dollars worth of medical debt so far with plans to forgive up to $7 billion by 2026. The Vice-President unveiled plans to exclude medical debt from credit scores and issued a call for states and local governments to forgive debt, like North Carolina is, last month.

The Department of Transportation put forward a new rule to bank junk fees for family air travel. The new rule forces airlines to seat parents next to their children, with no extra cost. Currently parents are forced to pay extra to assure they are seated next to their children, no matter what age, if they don't they run the risk of being separated on a long flight. Airlines would be required to seat children age 13 and under with their parent or accompanying adult at no extra charge.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced it is giving $3.5 billion to combat homelessness. This represents the single largest one year investment in fighting homelessness in HUD's history. The money will be distributed by grants to local organizations and programs. HUD has a special focus on survivors of domestic violence, youth homeless, and people experiencing the unique challenges of homelessness in rural areas.

The Treasury Department announced that Pennsylvania and New Mexico would be joining the IRS' direct file program for 2025. The program was tested as a pilot in a number of states in 2024, saving 140,000 tax payers $5.6 million in filing charges and getting tax returns of $90 million. The program, paid for by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, will be available to all 50 states, but Republicans strong object. Pennsylvania and New Mexico join Oregon and New Jersey in being new states to join.

Bonus: President Biden with the families of the released hostages calling their loved ones on the plane out of Russia

[dragonpyre]

Honestly, gotta respect that out of all the bats, literally Jason and Cass are the only ones who don’t have a civilian-sona. They don’t do shit as their legal identities (assuming Jason even has one). They’re job is to look pretty and that’s it.

[visualnovellover]

getting the recipes is a pain but here's the LI's fav food to gift!

Robin - Sticky Toffee Pudding

Kylar - Chili con Carne

Whitney - Pizza, Chicken Vindaloo, Flapjack & Belgian Bun

Sydney - Apple Crumble

Black Wolf - Carnivore (any kind of meat)

Great Hawk - Carnivore (meat as well)

Alex - Full English Breakfast, Apple Crumble & Steak

Avery - Souffle, Linguine & Steak

Eden - Sticky Toffee Pudding & Steak

[alwaysbewoke]

[crybabyboyscout]

Can I have help making next month’s rent? I work full time but have had to take 2 weeks off while my bosses were on vacation (I am 1 of 2 employees for a small business). I need $400.

Cashapp & Venmo or Shop My Business 🫂

[jackie4dinner]

Being in a fandom as old as Harry Potter is crazy because what do you mean I’m reading a fanfic that’s only 3 months younger than me???

[itskybabes-blog]

Duke Dennis Drabble

Duke Dennis x fem!reader (no face claim but poc!reader friendly)

Part two: The Confession

Disclaimer: this is written by a dyslexic person – please forgive any grammar and spelling errors

TW: swearing, drinking and using derogatory language

Plot: After your big night at an AMP pool part (that you probs won’t remember tomorrow), you finally let your lil’ secret slip.

Word count: 672

ICYMI: part one

“What the fuck am I doing?” You slurred back in confusion. “What the fuck are you doing?”

You rise up from the bed and try to point your finger at him, but stumble forward because you was unaware of your own strength. Duke has to catch you before your pearly whites were scattered all over his floor.

“See, man,” Duke whines with you in his arms, “this is what I’m talking about”.

You move out his arms and squint your eyes at him, trying to focus on all three of him at once.

“Y/N, you can’t stand up straight. You got yourself stupid drunk and started twerking on everyone. Your nipple was fucking hanging out like you’s some fucking whore or sum,” Duke rants.

“Whore?!” – you sober up real quick – “You’re calling me a whore?” you exclaim back, shoving finger quotation marks in his face.

“Meanwhile, you’re here, throwing this stupid party full of thirsty clout-chasing bimbos who only wanna suck your dick, get your Ps and cut! Fucking lodging your tongue down some random girl’s face – you’d be lucky to not have herpes, right now!” You lay into him, using whatever left over competence you have. Dutch courage is certainly real.

“Whore?” You said again, this time with a soft chuckle - which we all know is not good. Duke knows you found nothing funny but couldn’t care because “you’re a fucking embarrassment!”

“Oh my fucking gosh, more fucking names,” you said with a dramatic sigh. You begin to pace around: “What else am I? A slut? A bitch? What else am I, Duke? Tell me!”

You end up in a couple centimetres away from Duke with a face full of fire and push him weakly (pathetically) away from her. His look of disgust softens – maybe he was being a little harsh.

So, he takes the punk move: “You know what, I don’t care. This is not even worth it, man. Fucking drunk!”

That one snapped a heartstring. Duke’s back faces you as he had his hand on the knob.

“You don’t care? You never cared about me, did you?” You come back at him.

“What?” He looked back, utterly confused you’d ever say that.

“You never fucking cared. I’m meant to be someone special to you – your best friend – and you only ever want me around when you don’t have a fuck buddy around. When you need a girl to make you look good when your hotline hoe ain’t picking up,” you start to spew some of your deep feelings.

Duke lets go of the handle and leans against the door. “Y/N, I-“

“You don’t fucking care about me. I fucking hop on a 2-hour flight weekly to see your ass and look all pretty for your stream. Then, you kick me out to entertain a next bitch, passing me off to the rest of the bros like I’m some community hoe. You never fucking cared about me. You never fucking did. You-“

“Are you jealous?” Duke saunters back to you, grinning. His diamond grill playing tricks with your hooded eyes.

“Huh? Where you get that from?” You feel your cheeks burn, turning your head to the side.

“As a friend, you care too much about my roster,” Duke tries to explain. He drops his head to try and make you look him in the eye, but you keep avoiding his accusatory gaze.

“You talking like we fucking or sum,” Duke continues to press you.

“Why would I want you, like, what? Like, that’s- Ha! Ewwww,” you try to act repulsed but you never got an A in drama. Your acting skills are subpar.

“Oh, OK. Just know: I’d drop my roster just for you.”

Your head whips around and look Duke square in his face. A goofy and toothy smile plasters across his face.

“You fucking play too fucking much. You can’t be trying to tease me and shit. Why would I fucking want you? You never cared about me before, why the fuck no-“ Duke’s pillowy lips press intensely on yours.

“Girl, shut up.”

“Yes, sir.”

A/N: here’s the second part! Now, I really hate writing smut so pls forgive me but I’m skipping over that. Pls enjoy this quick update :)

[slut4megantheestallion]

hey cutie i couldn’t find the post to look at who you write for but what about some Fanum headcanons? love u 💗💗💗

Fanum Headcannons ☆

● He may look intimidating, but in reality, he's such a lovable guy. He wouldn't even hurt a fly. He treats you with so much respect.

● He may not be the most athletic, but he has a cute face to make up for it. Like out of everyone in the group, he's the finest.

● fanum is very confident, man, so when he first met you, he made the first move on you, and you couldn't help but smile. When he was around, you talked to you. You couldn't help but smile.

● He be giving you nicknames like 'my heart, mama's ma, etc)

● He's a very chill person, sure he likes going out but he likes staying at home being with you and relaxing together.

● He'll have you on his 24/7 like this man is so in love with you he can't help but show you off in front of the whole world.

● He is a very passionate lover, like he has a very good heart, and that's what you like about him.

● You're number 1 fan. If you post yourself on social media, he would comment on it, heart it, anything you name it.

● He's overprotective but he not crazy wit it, like of course he'll let you have your freedom, and doesn't control anything you wear, he knows that if a nigga tries to flirt with you, you wouldn't be interested because you got him and only him, but if someone touches you inappropriately he ain't got no problems throwing hands.

●He loves that you are a food lover like him. He isn't really into sharing his food because he greedy, but with him, he'll share his food. This man would take you out to the most fanciest restaurant and let you try the most amazing food.

● He such a gentleman man, because niggas today is trifling but he ain't like that, this man would carry you if you tired, he'll hold doors for you, open the car door so you can get on first.

● This man would spoil you, like he doesn't care, he'll get you whatever you want. Like he provides you anything.

● He'll take you on dates all the time, he'll cook for you, he'll get you flowers.

● He's such a down to earth guy like he is so chill and is very humble.

● He'll never lie to you. He tells you everything. He's like your best friend, y'all be gossiping like y'all in high school .

● Yes, even though he shares his food with specifically you, he still does the fanum tax. The both of y'all do, both of you be stealing food from the other guys in the house, especially kai. He is having good snacks.

● This man is really good at calming you down. If you were mad, sad, or going through something, he'll be there for you for your mental health. He's very patient and gentle with you.

● Very clingy, he only wants you to be around him 24/7. He always hugged you from behind, cheek kisses.

● I feel like he's the type to get a tatt with your name on it.

● You can never stay mad at fanum wherever fanum does something that's gets you mad. You can never be mad at him because he always makes you laugh and put you in a good mood. "C'mon ma, you know you can't stay mad at me forever." Fanum teases you as he gives you a lot of cheek kisses. You were trying to make him stop, but you couldn't resist as you were smiling.

● He loves to cuddle, he feels so soft and warm, and he smells really good.

● He loves playing video games on his streams he'll have you come play the game with him,but if you didn't know how to play, he'd teach you. He thinks it's so cute when you get frustrated with the game.

● Yo, this man when he speaks Spanish is so fucking sexxy, like when he speaks Spanish it does something to you, he'll say something sweet in Spanish even if you didn't understand.

● Overall, fanum is the best boyfriend you can ever ask for he's such a cutie patootie.

[2dmax]

doodle page i may one day regret half assing but that day is not today

[odinsblog]

WASHINGTON — Black taxpayers are at least three times as likely to be audited by the Internal Revenue Service as other taxpayers, even after accounting for the differences in the types of returns each group is most likely to file, a team of economists has concluded in one of the most detailed studies yet on race and the nation’s tax system.

The findings do not suggest bias from individual tax enforcement agents, who do not know the race of the people they are auditing. They also do not suggest any valid reason for the I.R.S. to target Black Americans at such high rates; there is no evidence that group engages in more tax evasion than others.

Instead, the findings document discrimination in the computer algorithms the agency uses to determine who is selected for an audit, according to the study by economists from Stanford University, the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago and the Treasury Department.

Some of that discrimination appears to be rooted in decisions that I.R.S. officials made over the past decade as they sought to maintain tax enforcement in the face of budget cuts, by relying on automated systems to select returns for audit.

Those decisions have produced an approach that disproportionately flags tax returns with potential errors in the claiming of certain tax credits, like the earned-income tax credit, which supplements low-income workers’ incomes in an effort to alleviate poverty. Those tax returns are more often selected for audits, regardless of how much in owed taxes the agency might recover.

The result is audit rates of Black Americans that are between three and five times the rate of other taxpayers, even when comparing that group to other taxpayers who also claim the E.I.T.C.

👉🏿 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/us/politics/black-americans-irs-tax-audits.html

Black people earn less, but are taxed more. There is also a marriage penalty that works against married Black people.

👉🏿 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428

[faultfalha]

The "black tax" is an insidious force that reinforces poverty. It is a tax that is levied on the poor and, in many cases, it is a tax that they cannot avoid. The "black tax" erodes the limited resources of the poor, and it makes it more difficult for them to get ahead. It is a tax that traps people in poverty, and it is a tax that should be abolished.

[ramsesja]

Tax the rich!

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Add Civic Cipher to your podcast favorites!

[penwrythe]

What's stopping the possibility of a ceasefire is pretty simple. Hamas is holding 239 Israeli civilians hostage including children and the elderly. What's happening in Palestine is a travesty and horrendous. But Israel can't initiate a ceasefire from the position they're in, so we need to be agitating for Hamas to release the hostages and call for a ceasefire instead.

NO GENOCIDE IS JUSTIFIABLE

HOW DOES THE KILLING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE ON THIS EXTREME LEVEL FORCE HAMAS TO RETURN HOSTAGES??

ISRAEL'S BOMBARDMENT AND INDISCRIMINATE SHOOTING IN GAZA THREATEN EVERYONE THERE INCLUDING DOCTORS JOURNALISTS CHILDREN ENTIRE FAMILIES AND THE HOSTAGES

EVERYONE IS TARGETED

YOU HAVE HOSPITALS BOMBED HOW ANY OF THIS IS JUSTIFIED

@sarroora @fairuzfan @palipunk @wearenotjustnumbers2

You know more about this than I do.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Black MEN tell Barack Obama to go home to Martha's Vineyard & kick rocks!!

"No more simping! It's Trump 2024"

Anton's follow up commentary: https://youtu.be/72b5EywbWqg?si=jtjO9cTFB4eIN7AS

Nina Turner calls out Obama's DISRESPECTFUL tone towards BLACK Men

"...finger wagging & shaming..." from Obama to BLACK Men

Obama's "plantation speech" is rejected

Eloquent Pastor reminds BLACK men it's none of Obama's business which box you check in the PRIVATE voting booth.

"Barry leave us alone!"

Polling Black men in Chicago

Ace Smart

Under Trump: No new wars, better economy & low crime.

Under Kamala Harris: