Ryan may be amiable, but his budget plan is full of myths

Peter Orzag covers Five myths about Paul Ryan’s budget in the Washington Post.

Evidence suggests Medicare would be worse under Ryan's plan

In a New York Times column titled Evidence vs. Ideology in the Medicare Debate, Laura D’Andrea Tyson, University of California Professor and Chairwoman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Clinton, says there is no evidence that Paul Ryan's plan

would control Medicare spending more effectively than the current Medicare program strengthened by Affordable Care Act reforms. Indeed, the evidence points decisively in the opposite direction.

Update: Also see Jonathan Cohn's Definitive Guide to the Medicare Debate.

The likability problem

Neither presidential candidate exudes warmth, in my opinion. LZ Granderson, a CNN contributor who probably isn't a Republican, had an interesting way of describing Romney's likability deficit:

" ...he comes across like the guy who doesn't wave when you let him into traffic, because in his mind, he was able to merge on his own."

Why Romney’s tax agenda doesn't add up, even if it isn’t a middle-class tax hike

http://taxvox.taxpolicycenter.org/2012/08/02/why-romneys-tax-agenda-doesnt-add-up-even-if-it-isnt-a-middle-class-tax-hike/

Of course, Romney doesn’t have to raise taxes on the middle-class. He could fix this problem with less ambitious rate cuts on ordinary income, or by raising taxes on capital income. He could pay for his initiative outside of the individual income tax system by increasing corporate taxes—though he says he’d cut them. He could cut spending even more deeply than he’s already promised, though that would hurt low- and middle-income households too. Or he could just add to the deficit.

Thus, the right question to ask Romney is not whether he wants to raise taxes on the middle-class. The right question to ask is which of his campaign promises he will abandon.

For your amusement, try out the Obama campaign's tax calculator.

Update #1 - David Firestone writes about A Tax Plan That Defies the Rules of Math in the New York Times.

Romney's role in Marriott's "abusive" tax shelters

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/08/opinion/canellos-kleinbard-romney-taxes/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

279 economists: Obamacare will significantly strengthen our nation’s economy over the long haul

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/THOMPSON_Economists_Letter_1-26-11.pdf

We write to convey our strong conclusion that leaving in place the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 will significantly strengthen our nation’s economy over the long haul and promote more rapid economic recovery in the immediate years ahead.

An epic hacking caused by Apple and Amazon security flaws

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/08/apple-amazon-mat-honan-hacking/all/

This story highlights a terrible lesson: those who shouldn't have to - and certainly don't want to - understand computer security must nevertheless understand computer security.

What should you do?  The prominent technology blogger Farhad Manjoo writes about four things you need to do right now to avoid getting hacked.  Frankly I'm not totally clear on all of his recommendations.  But I'll add one more that I did just now, after reading Mat Honan's article: I logged into Amazon.com and deleted every credit card they had on file for me.