Author Archives: southernperlo

About southernperlo

Walter Rhett is a New York Times verified commenter, with the privilege to post without moderation or Times editorial review. He writes "Digging Deeper," a masthead blog for Democrats for Progress and his blog, "Southern Perlo" appears on the political page of the San Francisco Examiner. He is one of 1150 people followed on twitter by the Oxford Dictionary. He writes from Charleston, SC.

Separating Obligations


I am stunned when people think the rack rate for corporate taxes is the going rate.  First, Apple has neatly severed its intellectual property and administration, and labor from sales and profit. That separation allows Apple to create an supply chain … Continue reading

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Legal Cover


Does the frontal attack on the hedge fund, SAC send a message to other hedge funds and financial firms engaging in the same practices? Of course, other firms will say they are not so engaged. But the Question remains is SAC … Continue reading

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The Default Position: Blame The President


Because the President is black (and Democratic/centrist/thoughtful/warm/reasonable) “we” don’t want the IRS to do its job of catching tax cheats or political groups gaming the nonprofit (c)3 / (c)4 system. If “we” can’t get the NAACP, we can throw dirt by … Continue reading

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The Request To Subvert Democracy


To deadly political sins: Add Advocacy, By outside groups. Who feel no hesitation in directing the Speaker of the House and its Leader to set an agenda purely for the purpose of political ends, with the intent of damaging the country … Continue reading

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President Obama Delivers The Address For The Morehouse College Commencement


The President delivers the graduation address at Morehouse College, the only college in the US for black men; the alma mater of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Spike Lee; the institution where SC-born educator, Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays … Continue reading

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Not Further Dividing A Divided Country Is Noble And Wise.


I rise (literally!) to suggest the President’s goal of not further dividing a divided country is noble and wise. Troubles and lies will pass, obstruction will pass, hate and vitriol will find new targets and take new forms, but often … Continue reading

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“I Stepped In The Water One Day”


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Pet Coke And The Profits Of Decay


Detroit has become a town unfit for ghosts. It has become a beachhead for the Koch Brothers’ purchased supply oil waste. An open pile of black sludge from Canadian tar sands that grows like a festering sore stands to remind us … Continue reading

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The Republican Scandal Letter: Bigger Than Watergate! Don’t Legislate, “It Would Be Imprudent”


Corporate lawyer and Supreme Court Justice Lewis G. Powell’s 1971 memo to the Chamber of Commerce that became the manifesto of the Republican Party and conservatives: Strength lies in organization, in careful long-range planning and implementation, in consistency of action … Continue reading

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Talking Points


To clarify, several debt/deficit measures exist: total public/private debt, federal debt, budget deficits are often cited. I referred to the budget deficit, (I did not it clear earlier!). The graph of the budget deficit since 2008 shows it is lower … Continue reading

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