... and amazingly, the completely clueless main stream media still can't figure out where Obozo got the inspiration for his latest great idea
Posted on 11/09/2011 10:50:38 AM PST by Zakeet
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.
... and amazingly, the completely clueless main stream media still can't figure out where Obozo got the inspiration for his latest great idea
ROFLOL
No, the tax is money being confiscated to fund UNNEEDED and UNCONSTITUTIONAL government services.
What about the separation of church and state? :-) What’s next?...a tax on Yamaka’s, prayer rugs and incense? lol
This is why satire is a dying art form. It can’t compete with reality.
Creating jobs isn’t easy
The CTPB will employ thousands of people.
The plan isn’t complete yet,He still hasn’t appointed a Christmas Tree Czar.
Al Sharpton already has a job, so it won’t be him.
Maybe Jesse Jackson has another son who isn’t working.
I remember when I was a kid we stopped buying real Christmas trees after my grandfather went out and bought us an artificial tree.
He did this because he had been frightened by Government safety announcements on television warning of the dangers of Christmas tree fires that had killed many children.
WTF????
I wonder if prayer rugs will be taxed as well ???
I had to scroll back to the top and look for John semmons name.
Next year will bring a candy cane tax, Christmas card tax (for holiday cards bearing the name Christmas), gift tax, and a 10% tax on the Salvation Army Kettles.
Afterall, it's the reason on the season. :(
Taxation without representation. Hail, King obama!
So Congress approved of this new tax when? Last week? Yesterday? Ho. Ho. Ho. The Dems need to go...and take President Grinch with you.
“Joe Demint explains ...”
I was expecting to at least see his name in the article ...
O don’t understand the dynamics here. Did he do something by executive order? Is he just SAYING there is a new tax?
I think he has knowingly and willfully violated the Constitution.
Do people not care because it’s only 15 damn cents or whatever? Or because they don’t even have a job and can’t put food on their table?
In four minutes or so, are we going under martial law?
Our Nation is a bunch of Bob Cratchit’s to Obama’s Ebeneezer Scrooge.
How can this be called a Christmas tree tax? Looks like Obama would call it a Holiday tree tax...
I dont think Christmas trees need any promoting.. either you want one, or not, and go get it..
The headline says Jim DeMint, the article byline (with no in-article reference to DeMint) says Tyler Durden. Which is it?
Was this approved by Congress? Did the kenyan simply wave his glorious hand and add the tax without consulting anyone in the legislative branch? The judicial branch? Any branch?
Now the tree hugger people will need a tax to save the real trees from extinction, and to top it off... if everyone in America buys a live Christmas tree: fire safety will have to be promoted, the artificial tree manufacturers will have to be subsidized, the tax collectors will have more jobs, the land-fills will be inundated with artificial trees, more land will have to be given over to the dumps...why all in all he (the mighty O) will have created many new government jobs and entitlements! Isn’t he amazing... with just one little ole $.15 tax that no one will even notice?
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