The Foundry:
Obama Couldn’t Wait: His New Christmas Tree Tax
David S. Addington November 8, 2011 at 6:15 pm
President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)). And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10).
To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees.
Acting Administrator Shipman had the temerity to say the 15-cent mandatory Christmas tree fee “is not a tax nor does it yield revenue for the Federal government” (76 CFR 69102). The Federal government mandates that the Christmas tree sellers pay the 15-cents per tree, whether they want to or not. 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. Mr. President, that’s a new 15-cent tax to pay for a Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
Nobody is saying President Obama doesn’t have authority to impose his new Christmas Tree Tax — his Administration cites the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996. Just because the Obama Administration has the legal power to impose its Christmas Tree Tax doesn’t mean it should do so.
The economy is barely growing and nine percent of the American people have no jobs. Is a new tax on Christmas trees the best President Obama can do?
And, by the way, the American Christmas tree has a great image that doesn’t need any help from the government.
5 comments:
Now as an american who happens to be jewish, I am one who was always HAPPY to see mangers set up in public spaces. It celebrates and reminds of us what we aspire to in us which is good. I have never felt differently no has (or does) anyone in my immediate or larger family as long as I remember.
SO considering separation of you know what and you know what .. what on earth does THIS MEAN?
"program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees"
Does it mean Obama is willing to put aside the actual FAITH of religion for $ in killing separation?
Does it mean the xmas tree lobby has failed to donate to Barry? (rim shot please)
Does it mean he will do ANYTHING to increase federal revenue (i.e., power)?
WTF does this mean?
BTW, tax $5 a tree and it won't affect me, except for the diminished Christmas itself. Another shovelful of sh*t on what people value. But so what, right? Barry don't care.
BOILED FROGS
Jizya:
"Famous Shafi’i jurist of Baghdad, al-Mawardi (d. 1058), highlights the most salient aspect of the consensus view of classical Islamic jurisprudence regarding the vanquished non-Muslims “tribute”, i.e., the jizya: the critical connection between jihad and payment of the jizya. He notes that “The enemy makes a payment in return for peace and reconciliation.” Al-Mawardi then distinguishes two cases: (I) Payment is made immediately and is treated like booty, however “it does, however, not prevent a jihad being carried out against them in the future.”. Payment is made yearly and will “constitute an ongoing tribute by which their security is established.” Reconciliation and security last as long as the payment is made. If the payment ceases, then the jihad resumes. A treaty of reconciliation may be renewable, but must not exceed 10 years."
The nature of such “protection”, i.e., a blood ransom, is reinforced in this definition of jizya written by E.W. Lane, based on a careful analysis of the etymology of the term:
"“The tax that is taken from the free non-Muslim subjects of a Muslim government whereby they ratify the compact that assures them protection, as though it were compensation for not being slain” "
Shari'a—based regulations associated with the jizya are being imposed— albeit stealthily - which amounts to a gross violation of the most basic human rights norms (i.e., freedom of conscience, speech, and worship, codified for example, in the US Bill of Rights) accepted by modern, civilized societies worldwide.
LAN ASTASLEM
NO SHARIA
the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program
What???
Those of us who use artificial trees (allergies, cats in the house, etc.) are immune to any such marketing plan for fresh Christmas trees.
And why isn't Obama imposing a similar tax on ANY live trees and live shrubs sold at local nurseries?
AoW - think about it . . .live trees and shrubs are not typically utilized for Christian religious displays. This is an overt jizya grab - a taste of the inevitably increasing sharia penalties for non-believers - courtesy of your sharia overlord.
this is bs. we're not even using a real tree this year (seeing as we'll be visiting YOU for 9-ish days in December!) but it pisses me off. Last I checked, the Christmas tree is one of the first things anyone will think of when it comes to decorating for the holidays... how, exactly, is he improving the image by putting a tax on them? i think it kind of kills it.
how many people do you think are just gonna make a little Charlie Brown tree instead :-)
#1
(p.s... move here and you won't have to buy a tree! there's PLENTY!)
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