Your Grammar Nazi

This is the illiteracy that makes me despair for humanity.

 

David Kurtz at TPM:

It’s narcotic effect is predicated on that ignorance because let’s face it: most people, including most elected officials, have no idea how the tax code works.

I don't think he means to say "It is narcotic effect ..." but that's what he's written there.

"It's" is a contraction and always means "It is."

The possessive - something belonging to it - is always written "Its."

CORRECT:  "Its narcotic effect is predicated ..."