As is the case with Apple's patent contributions, however, we'll wait to see whether the patent is granted and whether these ideas will ever crystallize into a genuine product.
While tax issues in the campaign may not be at the fore yet, Steffen believes they will crystallize if no action is taken by a lame duck Congress to extend the Bush tax cuts in some form.
Reluctant to further expand the government's balance sheet both for political reasons and for fear of forfeiting the confidence of markets, he is planning instead to expose taxpayers once again to large contingent liabilities in the hope that these policies spur sufficient growth to ensure these liabilities never crystallize.