Posted on 11/09/2011 10:13:57 AM PST by RightGeek
Mr. Grinch, Mr. Scrooge, meet Mr. Obama.
No, it’s not a joke. President Obama really is imposing a special new tax on Christmas trees.
And while the policy seems a ludicrous political misstep – and possibly an unconstitutional one at that – in truth, the Obama Christmas Tree Tax is much worse than that.
The $2 million the Obama Administration expects the tax to raise will not reduce the deficit or cover needed government services. Instead, it will serve as a marketing slush fund for the Christmas tree industry.'
The money will set up a brand new government agency called (no, seriously) the Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The CTPB will use the $2 million to hire a staff – most likely the industry lobbyists who cooked up this scheme – and then run advertisements to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry of the United States.”
Don’t the Christmas tree growers and retailers already do that? Yes. Isn’t marketing something that all companies should do with their profits, to grow their business and attract new customers? Yes.
And while we’re asking questions, does anyone in America – anyone? – believe that Christmas trees have a bad image that needs taxpayer-subsidized improvement?
So why should the government-funded Christmas Tree Promotion Board tax us to fund a marketing campaign? So the Christmas tree industry can pocket the $2 million they now won’t have to spend marketing their trees.
That’s it. That’s the whole purpose of the Obama Christmas Tree Tax: to take money from hard-working families celebrating Christmas and give it to clever lobbyists and businessmen running a crony-capitalist subsidy scam.
And while this policy will, by design, help one group of people, it will hurt others: businesses that sell artificial Christmas trees, people who work at your local stores that sell them, and, don’t forget, the consumers who are out 15 cents a tree.
Business groups using government connections to enrich themselves by hurting everyone else. Makes you just want to break into “O Holy Night,” doesn’t it?
Hopefully, the Crony Capitalists in the Obama Administration have gone too far this time, and public backlash will force Congress to shut down the Christmas Tree Promotion Board and repeal the single stupidest tax of all time. I will soon offer an amendment on the Senate floor to do just that.
All I want for Christmas is a free market.
I thought the Constitution stated that only the House of Representatives, with Senate concurrence, could levy taxes.
But then, BHO being a constitutional lawyer, should know that; Whoops, perhaps he studied a different country’s constitution.
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I guess this proves he’s not a Muzzie. Seriously though he only believes in Marx so any tax will do.
I’d heard about the tax but not what it was for. Bizarre! It’s a slush fund alright, but I doubt much of it will be applied to marketing anything else but Obama’s re-election.
What idiot can’t see that the cost of collecting the tax will cost more than the tax would raise even IF it otherwise made sense.
How about a tax on prayer rugs and Korans?
Doesn’t matter. As long as they can set up yet another Gov agency. That’s what’s important to them.
So what are you doing to stop this, Jim?
It needs to be called what it is.
A tax on Christianity.
Near the end of the article: “Hopefully, the Crony Capitalists in the Obama Administration have gone too far this time, and public backlash will force Congress to shut down the Christmas Tree Promotion Board and repeal the single stupidest tax of all time. I will soon offer an amendment on the Senate floor to do just that.”
He’d better be quick, because the lots will start filling up in about a week. (thanks)
Here is my take on this dang stuff.
For the next two years, quit buying those beautiful trees; and do not substitute them with those gawd-awful, tacky, phony ones.
All you folks have enough beautiful decorations saved somewhere in your homes to decorate your homes without that very expensive tree, money you can spend on something else.
Will your children miss it? No. Not unless you keep hammering at it. If they ask, just tell them this year they came with bedbugs or something.
Trust me. You will be a lot happier. In the end, you won’t have to spend all that boring, useless time putting away all those tree decorations again for next year. YECK!!!
Hmmmmmm.....I smell granola......the environmentalists.
They are claiming it’s not a tax, and that no funds will be given to the federal government.
To which I say - then who DOES run the Dept. of Agriculture if not the Feds?
This is insanity! And, I dare say that this may just qualify as RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION - a tax associated with a specific product, purchased only by a specific type of person (namely Christians).
Eh...I’m not worried. “Bruce the Spruce” has been a part of our family for 10 years now. Doesn’t look as good as a real tree when he’s NOT decorated, but when the decorating is done, he’s always looked great.
So, Barry the Boob...”THPPPPLLLLTTT!!!” on your stupid tree tax!
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