W e l c o m e !
Our Mission
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For latest Iraq News Click here> Maliki takes on Shiite militias The BBC reports that Prime Minister Nuri Maliki has vowed to crush all militias - both Sunni and Shia. Who won in Basra? Time magazine reports that the young and radical cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr beat Al-Maliki and the Iraqi army in Basra. But, do the facts support such a conclusion? (4/1/08) Al Qaeda steps up attacks on Sunni "Awakening Movement." U.S. military says: Despite large decrease in violence, al Qaeda continues to "have the capability, and still do have the capability to carry out ... horrific, barbaric attacks that target innocent civilians in their effort to incite sectarian tensions" (1/2/08) US military claims 80 percent reduction in Baghdad violence The US military is upbeat, but critics are still skeptical. |
Founded in 2002, the Public Program Testing Organization (PPTO)
is an all-volunteer, tax-exempt organization dedicated to evaluating the
effectiveness and efficiency of
governmental programs and not-for-profit entities. Our
initial focus was directed towards an evaluation of the United States Social Security system, and proposals
for reform of that system. Several items related to Social Security can be
found on this page and on the Social Security page.
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Our current focus includes an evaluation of
issues related to the United States war on terrorism and its military,
economic, and political endeavors in Iraq. The PPTO's findings are communicated via radio
show presentations,
newspaper commentaries, direct communications with governmental agencies and
congressional leaders, and via this Web site.
Joe Fried, CPA, Director
Recent Social Security Trustee Report: Some improvement in long-range financing, but large deficits continue (March 25, 2008) Read more.
Where do the presidential candidates stand on Social Security?
The Cato Institute has prepared an outline showing where the 2008 presidential candidates stand on the issue of Social Security reform. Generally, all Democratic candidates oppose personal retirement accounts (PRAs), while many of the Republican candidates support PRAs, or would at least consider them. Read more.
Fake janitors skim $2.2 billion from SS trust fund?!
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Investigations by Joe Fried and the PPTO lead to Inspector General finding of $2.2 billion in unauthorized Social Security payments! For full story click here>>. |
Other Important Issues
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Did you know?
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What do you think?
Illinois school district cheats summer worker? May 3, 2008 Mr. John Grizzle writes:
Unfortunately for Mr. Grizzle, his school district chose to not give him TRS coverage for his summer work, which included teaching in the driver education program. This coverage omission will cost him hundreds of dollars per month in benefits, adding up to about $100,000 during the course of his retirement.
Mr. Grizzle was told by TRS attorneys that a school district does not have to provide TRS coverage for summer work unless the duties are related to work performed during the "school term." However, John Grizzle reports that his summer duties met that requirement for TRS coverage, since the summer and term work shared the same job description. In addition, the work he did was crucial to district operations:
Other school districts in Illinois routinely provided TRS coverage to their summer school teachers. At the very least, the disparity in treatment seems arbitrary. TRS told Mr. Grizzle that TRS coverage policy was based upon a May, 1956 Opinion from the Illinois Attorney General. However, a public information request produced no record of such an opinion.
Tax simplification
A proposal by Jon Hall November 10, 2007
It was once thought that only a handful of folks really understood the Theory of Relativity. No one, however, entirely understands the U.S. Tax Code; it is complexity run riot, complexity on wheels. Even IRS agents give conflicting answers to the same tax questions. But before Congress junks the U.S. Tax Code and the IRS for some untested replacement like the FairTax, Congress should first try real reform: radical simplification of the Code. Congress made a stab at simplification back in 1986, but it didn't stick. Complexity soon crept back into the Code, and continues to do so. There are two main reasons for the complexity of the Individual Income Tax (other than the corruption of Congress). The first concerns figuring your total income. (This we can accept.) The second concerns figuring your taxable income and applying your tax credits; i.e., reducing your tax liability, so you won't have to pay as much. This second reason is where simplification must be focused. But fear not, read on.
Jon Hall is a mainframe programmer/analyst from Kansas City.
Jon Hall has also submitted ideas regarding Health Insurance and |
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A Conversation on Strengthening Social Security with - President George W. Bush - - Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 30, 2005 -
PPTO Director Joe Fried participated in an informative "Conversation on Strengthening Social Security," held on March 30, 2005 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The program, which was hosted by Des Moines' Newsradio1040 radio host, Jan Mickelson, included many topics related to Social Security, and involved the following participants: President Bush, Senator Charles Grassley, former Congressman J.C. Watts, and American Spectator contributor David Hogberg. Audio clips of each speaker are available at this link>>. |
----- For many more Social Security issues ---> click here>> -----
Interviews
To arrange an interview with Joe Fried, to discuss any subject on this Web site, call 216 524 2143, or e-mail joefried1@gmail.com. Joe is the director of PPTO, and is a CPA and public auditor. He has published two books: How Social Security Picks Your Pocket (Algora Publishing, 2003) and Democrats and Republicans - Rhetoric and Reality (Algora Publishing, 2008)