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If you were listing characteristics of a well-designed tax system, what would you include? In today's Courier-Journal, Rep. Jim Wayne gives his list, and I think it's a good starting point:

Fairness. The tax code should promote justice, with every Kentuckian paying their fair share, including the wealthiest.

Adequacy. The revenue stream should be stable enough to support schools, social services, prisons, law enforcement, environmental protection and other programs and services people depend on.

Elasticity. Revenue should grow as the economy changes. If a certain section of our economy is expanding, as our service-based sector is, tax revenues should reflect that.

Simplicity. The system shouldn't be too complicated to understand. Taxes should be as low as possible — with everyone paying their fair share — and the tax base should be broad.

I've been yelling for months about the lack of leadership in Frankfort. Why? Because all the people in Frankfort know that our tax system fails ALL of these tests, and has for years -- and yet they have done nothing.

Here's what the cowardice in Frankfort has gotten us:

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Ever heard this line about some bill or another? "It's just common sense -- why can't these idiots in (Washington / Frankfort / Metro Council / the PTA board) see that?"

I bet you've not only heard it, you've probably said it. Me too. But here's the problem: ideas that seem so easy, so common-sense when said to a friend, sometimes become very difficult to write into a good law.

From Jake over at Page One, here's the latest example -- an example that the Family Foundation says is "just common sense":

Strippers should have at least something on.

Make the jump to learn why legislating pasties is a bad idea.

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Saw this on PageOne, and couldn't believe it. "House Bill 253 -- A 21st Century Bill of Rights." Clicked the link to see if it was a joke, and guess what: it's a real, filed, this-could-actually-become-law bill.

Here's what these idiot legislators are proposing:

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Greg Stumbo has apparently come to his senses. Or at least, to someone's senses. Whatever the case, I'm just glad the introduction worked.

The House Speaker has stopped movement on his Government Accountability Watchdog Division (GAWD for short) after numerous groups, individuals, and institutions said, in effect, "Have you lost your effing mind?!"

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Interesting inbox today -- I subscribe to a number of email alerts (like, a LOT), so I have to pick and choose which things I pay attention to. Well, today I got a bunch of things worth my attention, and they're worth your attention too. Make the jump -- I've got you a short but worthy to-do list for your weekend:

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Not a surprise, but certainly a disappointment. Gary Tapp proposes in Senate Bill 68 that any "applicant who is cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of a marriage that is legally valid in Kentucky" be prohibited from adopting, providing foster care, or even caring for a child that's a relative. Obviously aimed at gays. Hope it dies quickly.

(Hat tip to Jake at Page One Kentucky for putting this out first.)