Well, I had read somewhere that there are no income taxes in Alaska. I didn't want to use that phrasing until I could do a little research and find out if that was the case.

Alaska doesn't collect any taxes on income earned or unearned. The state is financed almost completely from oil revenues.

http://www.bankrate.com/yho/itax/edit/state/profiles/state_t ax_Aka.asp

Click on the various tabs to see how different taxes are levied in the state.

It's good to see that Obama now has a 10-point lead on McCain, but I'm still nervous as hell.  4 times in our history, the candidate who led the majority vote was not elected president.  I really hope the electoral college does not jack this up, because if this election is very close and people start debating chit counts, etc etc, this will be a nightmare that lasts several months if not years.  I just hope the election is a clean process and not a situation that people challenge.

As far as the topic of taxes, while I'm happy to see that Obama is saying he won't raise my taxes, but as an American (understanding the shit hole we have ourselves in now) I think we should actually pay more taxes AS LONG AS the rich pay their part.  People making over $250k are bitching up a storm these days and frankly I'd like to tell them all to shut the "F" up.  It would be nice to see a fixed taxation rate implemented for all American's but obviously there must be some kind of downfall with this idea (or else we would have done it, right?).

Last topic.  I was watching Bill Maher last week and one of his panel guests made a great point.  He mentioned how both Obama and McCain are creating a division in this country (because of negative campaigns).  I hope that whoever wins, we join together as a nation to get back on track and not spend the next 4 years talking about how the wrong/right person won the vote.  We need to start rebuilding our country. 

P.S.  They should create a new law that says that after Nov 4th it is legal to punch anyone (other than people who are not qualified to vote) who bitches about politics or our president...but who did not actually vote in 2008.  I hate these kind of people. So regardless of whether you're voting for McCain (ugh!) or Obama, at least pat yourself on the back that you're taking action and participating in this important process.   

"Alaska doesn't collect any taxes on income earned or unearned. The state is financed almost completely from oil revenues. "

So the state is financed either by taxing only the wealthy or by state interests in the commercial exploitation of natural resources? And Sarah Palin calls Obama a socialist?

( I wouldn't call either of them a socialist, but it's kind of weird that the governor of a state that is that "government funded" would chide somebody else for too much socialism).

I love where she brags about how she took on the oil companies and hit them with a windfall profit tax. And then gave $1200 dollars to every Alaskan. Sounds like wealth redistribution to me.

The Essex House is an amazing hotel I've never stayed there but I've been there and had clients stay there.  If you have the means it really is one of the nicest places to stay in the City.  If you have the means.