Someone save us from this nightmare of a President.

Quote :

" You really can't make this up Crony Capitalism, Christmas Trees, and the Stupidest Tax of All Time 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."

11/9/2011 1:40:27 PM

please tell me this is a made up email chain.

please tell me nobama isn't this stupid.

11/9/2011 1:41:47 PM

what's this? a non-biased story? YOU DON'T SAY

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/11/09/A-fee-on-thee-oh-Christmas-tree/UPI-99071320850426/?dailybrief

Quote :

"WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Agriculture Department, after debates that pitted one U.S. region against another, approved a new industry-funded Christmas tree promotion plan. The 15-cent per-tree fee on growers will help fund the industry's ad campaign promoting the merits of real Christmas trees over artificial ones, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday. Growers estimate the fee will raise $2 million. "As demographics and buying habits have changed, we have watched the market for real trees shrink drastically, requiring us to spend much more time and money on promotion," said Don Cameron, past president of the California Christmas Tree Association. Similar to programs that promote milk, beef and cotton, the Christmas tree program imposes a fee of 15 cents per tree on U.S. domestic producers and importers. A panel directs the money into ads, other promotions and research. "We have good reason to believe it will be successful for our industry," Betty Malone, an Oregon tree farmer and Christmas Tree Promotion Now president, told the Tribune. "We looked at what other industries have done, and how successful they've been." After three years, growers and importers will vote on whether to continue the program."

those dirty Commie Christmas tree industry insiders

11/9/2011 1:44:24 PM

You forgot the link to the nutcase blog you got this from.

[Edited on November 9, 2011 at 1:45 PM. Reason : to the OP]

11/9/2011 1:45:05 PM

LOL

in yo face, face

11/9/2011 1:48:27 PM

ITT we cannot see the forest for the Christmas trees


also


Fuck a sweatshop made artificial tree -- that shits communist

11/9/2011 1:48:53 PM

and another year i shall not purchase a tree

11/9/2011 1:49:39 PM

WELCOME TO CHIT CHAT

FUCK YOU

11/9/2011 1:50:24 PM

Quote :

"After three years, growers and importers will vote on whether to continue the program. "

I'm guessing the imported trees come from Canada?

And lol at that chain email. THE SKY IS FALLING!!!

11/9/2011 1:51:36 PM

obviously the OP quote was biased but this Christmas tree tax is some stupid shit.

11/9/2011 1:51:47 PM

Drudge Report propaganda ITT. It's a plan that has been in the works before Obama, and it's a program identical to numerous other industries, except it has little to no serious industrial impact and serves only to help the growers of Christmas trees. Spinning it as anything else is overzealous accusation.

And most importantly, the herp derp of this whole thing, this type of program exists for dozens of other products with absolutely identical marketing structures.

Quote :

"Examples of other agricultural commodity Checkoffs include the egg, beef, pork, mushroom, milk, and honey, etc. industries. We’re all familiar with the dairy industry’s ad campaigns; "Milk Does a Body Good" and "Got Milk." "Pork: the Other White Meat," "Beef: It’s What’s for Dinner" and "The Incredible Edible Egg" are recognizable slogans developed and funded by Checkoff programs. These four "big guns" collect between $45 and $91.2 million in assessments annually."

But Christ, really OP? Those damned Christmas tree lobbyists, it's all so corrupt! The truth of the matter is that much of the opposition is coming from the major consume corporations that produce artificial Christmas trees--haha but you wouldn't give a shit about their lobbyists being ignored, because that wouldn't be in spite of the Obama Administration.

[Edited on November 9, 2011 at 1:54 PM. Reason : f]

11/9/2011 1:51:50 PM

wait a second. He posted an article that verified what I said in the OP, and that's in my face?

11/9/2011 1:52:57 PM

Are Christmas trees, in general, Christian images? Honestly don't know. I am aware that anti-christmas groups in the past have gotten decorations and shit taken down, but I can't remember if it was limited to Santa or if it went and took down trees too.

Seems like a government mandate focused in the end on promoting the sale of a religious item for the holidays could get a little awkward.

This is irrelevant on whose administration set this up

[Edited on November 9, 2011 at 1:54 PM. Reason : lkj]

11/9/2011 1:53:42 PM

DEY'RE TAXATIN' OUR CHRISTMUS TREES

HERP DE DERP

11/9/2011 1:53:54 PM

How did it verify

Quote :

"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."

Quote :

"don’t forget, the consumers who are out 15 cents a tree."

???

This is self-imposed by the growers to prop up their industry, just like the pork council, egg council, etc etc etc.

11/9/2011 1:54:51 PM

DEY'RE TAXATIN' OUR CHRISTMUS TREES

HERP DE DERP

11/9/2011 1:55:05 PM

I am a non-believer that's way into christmas trees

so meh

11/9/2011 1:55:38 PM

I think Christmas trees are from the pagan side of christmas.

11/9/2011 1:55:46 PM

Quote :

"Are Christmas trees, in general, Christian images?"

Well if you want to get nitpicky it's a pagan image.

Wonder what the jingle will be for this? Will they have a grand orchestrated piece like "Beef: It's What's For Dinner," or go for more of a jingle like "Incredible Edible Egg."

11/9/2011 1:56:41 PM

^^^^^This whole thing outcry originated from right-wing bloggers, were you expecting sensible analysis?

[Edited on November 9, 2011 at 1:57 PM. Reason : 5]

11/9/2011 1:56:48 PM

OBAWMA HIYMSELF IS GON' REACH IN THE POCKET OF EACH AND EVERY YOUNGIN' TO FUND HIS NAZI COMMUNIST CHRISTMUS TREE MARKETIN' SCAM

[Edited on November 9, 2011 at 1:57 PM. Reason : HERP DE DURP]

11/9/2011 1:57:02 PM

^ hahaha

^^ No, not really

[Edited on November 9, 2011 at 1:58 PM. Reason : a]

11/9/2011 1:57:47 PM

There's nothing religious about a tree it's a pagan symbol misrepresenting the religious holiday

11/9/2011 1:58:42 PM

It's not a tax, it's a fee.

There's a difference in there somewhere.

11/9/2011 1:59:15 PM

life must be pretty good if THIS is what the nut jobs are bitching about these days

OH WAIT

11/9/2011 2:00:14 PM

lol, so christmas trees are now going to be $70.15

11/9/2011 2:01:05 PM

THE GRINCH THAT STOLE CHRISTMAS: OBAMA IS THE ANTICHRIST COME FOR OUR JESUS TREES. WHAT'S NEXT, A BABY JESUS NATIVITY SCENE TAX?

11/9/2011 2:01:11 PM

I love these herp de durp responses.

Just goes to show that you're a fucking idiot with no valid argument

11/9/2011 2:02:01 PM

THIS CHRISTMAS TREE TAX ATTACKS OUR NATION'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLE THAT CHRISTMAS TREES SHOULD BE TAX FREE

11/9/2011 2:03:24 PM

face lookin' like a rabbit eared bitch ITT

11/9/2011 2:04:25 PM

The women at my old job are reading this chain email right now and getting all riled up.

11/9/2011 2:04:40 PM

shockingly, this is the third headline on foxnews.com right now

always fun to see a story climb the ladder

11/9/2011 2:05:20 PM

I wonder if whatever equivalent to the Tea Party was around in the 80s got this riled up when the National Pork Board came into being.

11/9/2011 2:05:34 PM

I think they are purposely putting silly headlines on fox news to see how far they can cross the line and people accept it.

11/9/2011 2:06:36 PM

the Christmas tree lobbyists are who pushed for this tax.

they're paying for discounted advertising. actually, you're paying for it.

(feds tax you 15 cents, that money goes to this retarded marketing campaign that the xmas tree growers wanted, and they know the majority of you will blame obama/gub'ment for it, just like you're doing)

[Edited on November 9, 2011 at 2:09 PM. Reason : .]

11/9/2011 2:09:10 PM

lol

11/9/2011 2:09:34 PM

THIS NEW TAX MEANS I'LL HAVE TO SKIP THE POST DINNER CHICLETS NEXT TIME I GO TO EL RODEO

11/9/2011 2:10:38 PM

the lobbyists didn't enact this shit. the government did. the government should know better and not waste the people's money on private company marketing. for any industry.

milk
beef
turkey
condoms
trees


[Edited on November 9, 2011 at 2:11 PM. Reason : .]

11/9/2011 2:11:01 PM

Quote :

"National Pork Board"

11/9/2011 2:12:03 PM

THE GUB'MINT WILL HAVE TO PRY THIS 3/5THS OF A QUARTER FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS

11/9/2011 2:13:18 PM

laugh all you want. youll be the one paying for the next round of bailouts.

11/9/2011 2:13:44 PM

15 cent christmas tree tax = multi million dollar bailout

gotcha

11/9/2011 2:14:29 PM

Quote :

"and another year i shall not purchase a tree"

15 cents spurred that decision?

damn.

did you check your car's ashtray before you made this proclamation?

11/9/2011 2:15:17 PM

ITT, we learn that people don't realize arguments can be based on principle.

^it has nothing to do with this tax. i've never bought a tree because i believe it's stupid to spend $80 or whatever on a dying tree that will last a few weeks. Any extra taxes on top of it don't make me want to purchase a tree to 'help out the tree industry'. Also see the first line in this post.

[Edited on November 9, 2011 at 2:17 PM. Reason : /]

11/9/2011 2:15:19 PM

Quote :

"THIS NEW TAX MEANS I'LL HAVE TO SKIP THE POST DINNER CHICLETS NEXT TIME I GO TO EL RODEO "

No chiclet?!



Good night, sweet prince

11/9/2011 2:15:21 PM

christmas trees aren't a pagan ritual. there's a lot of stuff about christmas (including time of year) that is based in pagan mythology, but christmas trees are not.

11/9/2011 2:19:42 PM

stories like this are propagated by corporate media and blogs so the right wing nutjobs will take their eyes off the ball

and they gobble that shit up

and the uneducated simpletons forward that shit to their racist aunts and their ultra Christian trailer park neighbor

11/9/2011 2:20:51 PM

Quote :

"CHRISTMAS TREE TRADITION HAS ANCIENT ORIGINS King Tut never saw a Christmas tree, but he would have understood the tradition which traces back long before the first Christmas, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture with the Springfield Extension Center. The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrive, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death. The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life. Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits. Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions. Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth. The Christmas tree tradition most likely came to the United States with Hessian troops during the American Revolution, or with German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Ohio, adds Robson. But the custom spread slowly. The Puritans banned Christmas in New England. Even as late as 1851, a Cleveland minister nearly lost his job because he allowed a tree in his church. Schools in Boston stayed open on Christmas Day through 1870, and sometimes expelled students who stayed home. The Christmas tree market was born in 1851 when Catskill farmer Mark Carr hauled two ox sleds of evergreens into New York City and sold them all. By 1900, one in five American families had a Christmas tree, and 20 years later, the custom was nearly universal. Christmas tree farms sprang up during the depression. Nurserymen couldn't sell their evergreens for landscaping, so they cut them for Christmas trees. Cultivated trees were preferred because they have a more symmetrical shape then wild ones. Six species account for about 90 percent of the nation's Christmas tree trade. Scotch pine ranks first, comprising about 40 percent of the market, followed by Douglas fir which accounts for about 35 percent. The other big sellers are noble fir, white pine, balsam fir and white spruce. Premission was granted for Internet use by --- Written by: David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture; Springfield Extension Center"

http://www.christmas-tree.com/where.html

11/9/2011 2:22:40 PM

Quote :

"and the uneducated simpletons such as face forward that shit to their racist aunts and their ultra Christian trailer park neighbor"

FTFY

11/9/2011 2:23:41 PM

I think it's well known to everyone that the whole cotton subsidy is just taking money from hard-working american families and putting it in the pocket of Zooey Deschanel for singing that marxist anthem "The touch, the feel, the fabric of our lives".

11/9/2011 2:44:32 PM