Grouchy Greg, SASS#71981 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 ........except to say that Election Day 2012 can't get here fast enough for me. http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/08/obama-couldnt-wait-his-new-christmas-tree-tax/?mid=52481
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Be careful of what you wish for, Greg. Sometimes, for what ever reason, things come out different than we planned.
Three Foot Johnson Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 "... to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees." Well, yeah... I mean, Christmas trees have such a bad image anymore, and the Boy Scouts have such a doggone hard time selling the things... I'm sure the Federal governineptment can throw a few million taxpayer dollars at the situation and fix it right up. If not, the Obama's can always use it to fund another night or two out in New York.
Old Scatterbrain Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 :wacko: :wacko: Christmas Tree Promotion Board a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees ... spells doom for the image and marketing of Christmas trees. “is not a tax nor does it yield revenue for the Federal government” Taking cues from the Obamacare people: it's not a tax, it'sa fee. No, wait, it's a tax. No, it's a taxy fee that is neither a tax nor a fee... I'd like to see some data on the number of Christmas trees sold each of the last 5 or 10 years. Maybe they want to promote the Christmas tree as a year-round product? EDIT Oh, guess I was right! “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expand existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry”
Utah Bob #35998 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 I have plenty of words. But politics are prohibido here so I'll stay mum.
Old Scatterbrain Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 . Here's another article about it, but check out this paragraph: I’ll admit that I was a little horrified by the notion of a special Christmas tree regulation. So I popped on over to the federal regulations to see what else we’re in the business of promoting these days. We also have marketing programs on the books for cotton (7 CFR 1205), mangoes (7 CFR 1206), potatoes (7 CFR 1207), raspberries (7 CFR 1208), mushrooms (7 CFR 1209), watermelons (7 CFR 1210), honey (7 CFR 1212), popcorn (7 CFR 1215), peanuts (7 CFR 1216), blueberries (7 CFR 1218), hass avocadoes (7 CFR 1219), soybeans (7 CFR 1220), sorghum (7 CFR 1221), pork (7 CFR 1230), honey (7 CFR 1245), eggs (7 CFR 1250), beef (7 CFR 1260), wool & mohair (7 CFR 1270) and lamb (7 CFR 1280). Whew.
Dusty Balz, SASS#46599 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Promised BH I wouldn't, however the great Slim Pickens initial reaction pretty much says it all
Subdeacon Joe Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 . Here's another article about it, but check out this paragraph: I’ll admit that I was a little horrified by the notion of a special Christmas tree regulation. So I popped on over to the federal regulations to see what else we’re in the business of promoting these days. We also have marketing programs on the books for cotton (7 CFR 1205), mangoes (7 CFR 1206), potatoes (7 CFR 1207), raspberries (7 CFR 1208), mushrooms (7 CFR 1209), watermelons (7 CFR 1210), honey (7 CFR 1212), popcorn (7 CFR 1215), peanuts (7 CFR 1216), blueberries (7 CFR 1218), hass avocadoes (7 CFR 1219), soybeans (7 CFR 1220), sorghum (7 CFR 1221), pork (7 CFR 1230), honey (7 CFR 1245), eggs (7 CFR 1250), beef (7 CFR 1260), wool & mohair (7 CFR 1270) and lamb (7 CFR 1280). Whew. As pointed out above, it is just one of many such "fees" to promote various agricultural products. Per the National Christmas Tree Association somewhere between 25,000,000 and 30,000,000 real Christmas trees are sold each year. That gives about $4,500,000 to the Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The thing I looked at was: The Federal government directs that the revenue generated by the 15-cent fee goes to the Board appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the Christmas tree program established by the Secretary of Agriculture. Be REAL interesting to follow that money and find out who is on that Board, how much they are paid, what connections they have to SecAg or any members of the current administration. Face it, $4.5 million isn't a whole lot for a national advertizing campaign.
Noz Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Don't you understand? This will create jobs. This program will need several hundred federal employees to administer the funds. I started to put a smiley emoticon on this then decided it was way too close to the truth to be a joke.
Subdeacon Joe Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Don't you understand? This will create jobs. This program will need several hundred federal employees to administer the funds. I started to put a smiley emoticon on this then decided it was way too close to the truth to be a joke. Not enough money will be generated to pay several hundred federal employees.
Hacker, SASS #55963 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Slim Pickens line on Dusty Balz post of Blazing Saddles really does sum this and other things up right precisely. 2012.
Old Scatterbrain Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Not enough money will be generated to pay several hundred federal employees. Clearly a tax increase is in order.
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 From the Fox News website: "...After three years, an industry-wide referendum will be held to determine whether to renew the program." Bet I know how that will turn out!
Doc Shapiro Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 My best guess is that the Christmas tree growers lobbied for this. There has been a real "growth" in fake trees that is hitting their bottom line. I heard earlier on the radio that the Administration backed off on it altogether. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/obama-administration-to-delay-new-15-cent-christmas-tree-fee/
Subdeacon Joe Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 My best guess is that the Christmas tree growers lobbied for this. There has been a real "growth" in fake trees that is hitting their bottom line. I heard earlier on the radio that the Administration backed off on it altogether. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/obama-administration-to-delay-new-15-cent-christmas-tree-fee/ Hmmm....think maybe someone in the White House saw all the bad press the POTUS was getting and suggested that this be put off, oh, say, until the middle of next November?
DocWard Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Promised BH I wouldn't, however the great Slim Pickens initial reaction pretty much says it all Yep, that sums it up.
Yohanaqua Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Could it be a sneaky tax on Christians?..... Sometimes my paranoia slips out. Just rambling.... ML
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Be careful of what you wish for, Greg. Sometimes, for what ever reason, things come out different than we planned. Yesterday's elections around the country saw most incumbents re-elected and a couple of very good conservative laws over-turned. I'm still betting Obama gets re-elected, but I never wanted to be WRONG so badly in my entire life.
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 My best guess is that the Christmas tree growers lobbied for this. There has been a real "growth" in fake trees that is hitting their bottom line. I heard earlier on the radio that the Administration backed off on it altogether. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/obama-administration-to-delay-new-15-cent-christmas-tree-fee/ Whoever started this just sold me an artificial tree, maybe made in Japan or China, two heavily Christian nations. Right? A real good one could last me the rest of my life and probably won't cost much more than a pair of real trees. I'm sure glad everyone is working so hard to build businesses in this country.
Deadeye Doug Dalton SASS#65449L Posted November 10, 2011 Posted November 10, 2011 I have plenty of words. But politics are prohibido here so I'll stay mum. I only have two words for this. You get two guesses what they are.
Seldom Seen #16162 Posted November 10, 2011 Posted November 10, 2011 I don't see much of a election coming; A Marxist or a Rhino.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.