Christmas Tree Tax to Promote Christmas Trees? by AnthonyT

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

Quote:
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.

"Nobody" is saying that? Hell, I'll say it. The President does not have the authority to unilaterally impose new taxes. Congress has to introduce legislation and vote on the issue, do they not?

I'm skeptical of this story; it sounds like fear-mongering by right-wing mouthpieces.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011 7:32 PM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

When I read this I assumed it must be some kind of joke or misrepresentation. I haven't found anything yet to assuage my lingering doubt.

--Anthony

_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011 9:47 PM

PIRATENEWS

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!

Are you enjoying your pot-smoking coke-snorting illegal alien resident of the White House?

Quote:
"Shit's gettin way too complicated for me. There are white folks, and then there are ignorant mutherfuckers like you! You can put lipstick on a pig. Sorry ass mutherfucker's got nuttin on me. I inhaled frequently - that was the point. Pot helped, and booze. A little blow when you could afford it. Junkie, pothead. That's where I'd been headed. You ain't my bitch nigger, git your own damn fries!"
-Barack Hussien Obama Soetoro, Dreams From My Father MP3
http://www.archive.org/details/ObamaInauguralMashup/

He's got the nukes, so he can do whatever he and his jewish masters want.

Quote:
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.

Frakkin jew.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 2:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Hello,

When I read this I assumed it must be some kind of joke or misrepresentation. I haven't found anything yet to assuage my lingering doubt.

Oh, I hear ya, Anthony. I'm hoping it's a misrepresentation as well.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 3:24 AM

... fully loaded, safety off...

This seems like Phony Outrage by the author to me. For one - is everything that comes from DC "Obama's idea?" "Obama's Tax.... Obama's new Hot Dog stand on 4th and Sullivan..." I don't see anywhere that this was his idea:

"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. "

These political bloggers are just scanning the Fed Register every day for something to Knee Jerk to.

And what is the author reacting to? $.15 per tree? Fifteen cents! Which goes to help promote sales - like very cheap advertising during hard economic times, especially for real tree sellers when they need it most. Why, it almost seems thoughtful. Why aren't they saying thank you for the gov's help? If it helps them sell ONE scrawny tree they've turned a healthy profit...

The author concludes: "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?" Did he really just conclude that? Writing like this is what we should be mad about.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 5:00 AM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

We can get to Obama's culpability or lack thereof once we find out how this tax was implemented.

Right now I'm concerned about a 15 cent tax on a product used to promote the product being taxed.

Which strikes me as idiotic.

Not to mention the fact that it is not, in my opinion, in the best interests of this nation to promote the consumption of trees in this manner.

I can't find anything about such a tax to shine it in a positive light.

--Anthony

_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 5:49 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

from:

http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2010-11-08-2010-28038

Quotes, snipped, from the Federal Register, Nov 8, 2010, vol 75, number 215
FR Doc 2010-28038
7 CFR 1214

Quote:

The proponent, the Christmas Tree Checkoff Task Force is an industry wide group of producers and
importers that support this proposed program.

This proposed rule invites comments on the establishment of an industryfunded promotion, research,
and information program for fresh cut Christmas trees. The proposed Christmas Tree Promotion,
Research, and Information Order (Proposed Order), was submitted to the Department of Agriculture
(Department) by the Christmas Tree Checkoff Task Force (Task Force), an industry wide group of
producers and importers that support this proposed program.

The proposed Order is authorized under the 1996 Act which authorizes USDA to establish agricultural
commodity research and promotion orders which may include a combination of promotion, research,
industry information, and consumer information activities funded by mandatory assessments.

A referendum will be conducted, among producers and importers, three years after the collection of
assessments begin to determine if Christmas tree producers and importers favor the continuation
of this program.

Sounds like a group of Christmas tree growers lobbied for the idea themselves: that it is authorized and legal under the " 1996 Act": and that a referendum will be held after 3 years to determine whether to continue or not.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 6:01 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by pizmobeach:
This seems like Phony Outrage by the author to me. For one - is everything that comes from DC "Obama's idea?" "Obama's Tax.... Obama's new Hot Dog stand on 4th and Sullivan..." I don't see anywhere that this was his idea:

"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. "

These political bloggers are just scanning the Fed Register every day for something to Knee Jerk to.

And what is the author reacting to? $.15 per tree? Fifteen cents! Which goes to help promote sales - like very cheap advertising during hard economic times, especially for real tree sellers when they need it most. Why, it almost seems thoughtful. Why aren't they saying thank you for the gov's help? If it helps them sell ONE scrawny tree they've turned a healthy profit...

The author concludes: "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?" Did he really just conclude that? Writing like this is what we should be mad about.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

Pizmo's main point here is " 15 cents per tree".
I hafta agree with that: we buy a low-end tree every year- they run $ 30 to $ 40. Fifteen cents is 1/2 of 1 per cent on a really cheap tree, and it gets spent on promotion for the industry-- it's a government kickback to them.

This might have been politically tone-deaf on the part of the Dept of Agriculture, but it's hardly a budget buster, and I don't see how it's going to plunge the economy into the double dip depression.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 8:23 AM

What I want to know is, IS THIS A NEW TAX?

Is it a "tax", mandated by the big bad federal gubmint? Or is it a charge that the industry at large talked about amongst themselves and agreed to, which they will then pass along to the consumer, regardless of what their actual profits are?

For one, I don't see any confirmation that there even IS a mandatory $0.15/tree charge being put in place. The original article Anthony posted says there is, but offers no sourcing or cites.

For another, even IF this is a real charge, is it being added to the price of a tree because the government ordered it so? Or is it (more likely, according to the articles Pizmo and others cited) a charge the industry is implementing because they think they can, and it just automatically and obliquely gets blamed on that mean old Obama.

It strikes me as being akin to something PirateNews would write about, blaming Obama because airlines are now charging for checked luggage.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 8:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Hello,

We can get to Obama's culpability or lack thereof once we find out how this tax was implemented.

Right now I'm concerned about a 15 cent tax on a product used to promote the product being taxed.

Which strikes me as idiotic.

Not to mention the fact that it is not, in my opinion, in the best interests of this nation to promote the consumption of trees in this manner.

I can't find anything about such a tax to shine it in a positive light.

Anthony, I send a lot of stuff to Petco every week. They negotiate very good rates, and then they deduct more from those rates. One of the things I have to agree to is a 2% "co-op marketing fee" - in other words, I have to give them a 2% discount off the gross in order to pay for their advertising of my product, which I've actually yet to see them do (advertise my product, I mean).

So in essence, they are "taxing" me 2% per order to promote their - and my, allegedly - products.

That's just one simple example, but nearly every industry large enough to have a spokesman is doing something similar.

Which of course doesn't make it right. But it's not uncommon, either.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 8:38 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...

I agree with others; I think this is a bullshit article, much akin to Raptor and PN blaming Obama for thing in which he was totally uninvolved.

Quote:
a 15 cent tax on a product used to promote the product being taxed

Uhhh, how is that different than a company upping the price of their product and using that money to pay for advertising? I'm not seeing the difference...and unless someone can come up with facts showing it's a legal "tax", implemented by Congress and required by law, I see it the same as others do, as something the Xmas tree people came up with to benefit themselves.

And now I'll bow out of the discussion, because aside from Xmas-tree farms (which I wish could magically be turned into forests where you couldn't cut the trees), I'm very against chopping down trees to stick a bunch of stuff on them and then toss them out with the garbage. JMHO.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 8:51 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Anthony, I send a lot of stuff to Petco every week. They negotiate very good rates, and then they deduct more from those rates. One of the things I have to agree to is a 2% "co-op marketing fee" - in other words, I have to give them a 2% discount off the gross in order to pay for their advertising of my product, which I've actually yet to see them do (advertise my product, I mean).

So in essence, they are "taxing" me 2% per order to promote their - and my, allegedly - products.

Your example is bad, it shows you do not understand the issue.

In order for your example to be valid it would be more like this: You and Petco work all this out, blah blah 2%. Now the Govt comes in and asks for an additional 2% to market your product.

And why is the govt in the business of marketing Christmas trees? Seems like a violation of the seperation of church and state. Will they be getting involved in the sale of burkas or dradles next?

And why do Christmas trees need more marketing? Is there this huge need for marketing of Christmas? Are people missing out? Are they just not noticing Christmas anymore or maybe not realizing that a tree is a necessary componant of the Christmas National Shopping Holiday? Do people drive down the road in winter and see lighted trees in the yards or through the windows of houses and NOT know they too can get one of those? Maybe they drive by the local Methodist Church and see Boy Scouts, lots of trees, and a sign "Christmas Trees for sale" and need the govt to put those clues together for them.

Maybe we need an Occupy Christmas Trees protest.

H

"Hero. I have come to respect you." "I am forced to agree with Hero here."- Chrisisall, 2009.
"I agree with Hero." Niki2, 2011.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 9:02 AM

FREMDFIRMA

The WHO doesn't matter to me.

What matters to me is that it's MY FIFTEEN CENTS.

And the notion of making a decision like that and then asking permission to continue it three YEARS later whether or no - spits in the face of all that is democracy.

It also reveals ours for the sham that it is, and I vaguely suspect that this was the actual intent more than any supposed intent expressed so far, it's just too pat and convenient for anything else.

-Frem

I do not serve the Blind God.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 9:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:
Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Anthony, I send a lot of stuff to Petco every week. They negotiate very good rates, and then they deduct more from those rates. One of the things I have to agree to is a 2% "co-op marketing fee" - in other words, I have to give them a 2% discount off the gross in order to pay for their advertising of my product, which I've actually yet to see them do (advertise my product, I mean).

So in essence, they are "taxing" me 2% per order to promote their - and my, allegedly - products.

Your example is bad, it shows you do not understand the issue.

In order for your example to be valid it would be more like this: You and Petco work all this out, blah blah 2%. Now the Govt comes in and asks for an additional 2% to market your product.

Except, as I noted above, it is yet to be shown that the GOVERNMENT is asking for ANY money. There's an allegation, but no evidence other than the allegation. In other words, there's far more evidence that Herman Cain is a serial harasser than there is of this "tax", and you've been very adamant that Herman Cain has done nothing at all.

Quote:

And why is the govt in the business of marketing Christmas trees? Seems like a violation of the seperation of church and state. Will they be getting involved in the sale of burkas or dradles next?

And why do Christmas trees need more marketing? Is there this huge need for marketing of Christmas? Are people missing out? Are they just not noticing Christmas anymore or maybe not realizing that a tree is a necessary componant of the Christmas National Shopping Holiday? Do people drive down the road in winter and see lighted trees in the yards or through the windows of houses and NOT know they too can get one of those? Maybe they drive by the local Methodist Church and see Boy Scouts, lots of trees, and a sign "Christmas Trees for sale" and need the govt to put those clues together for them.

Maybe we need an Occupy Christmas Trees protest.

Perhaps you haven't heard, but there's a war on Christmas. Just ask your messiah Bill O'Reilly.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservatives." - John Stuart Mill

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 10:11 AM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

From the sound of things, the Dept. of Agriculture is promoting the consumption of Christmas Trees at the behest of Christmas Tree Growers. Anyone who sells more than 500 trees must pay for this promotional expense via a 15 cent charge per tree sold, whether they want in or not. This fee is likely passed to the consumer in higher prices.

If the Department of Agriculture is doing this for trees, then they’re probably doing it for a thousand different agricultural products. I don’t think the government needs to get involved in the promotion of private enterprise. I certainly don’t think individuals should be forced to pay for the promotion of a product. I don’t care how large or small the mandatory fee is. I do not consider this a proper function of government.

I might feel differently if the fee was providing for ecological impact rather than advertising. However, the government should have no role in providing advertising services to an industry. Nor should the government have a role in mandating advertising expenditures for an industry. Maybe X Christmas Tree grower gets on with 5 cents advertising, and Y Christmas Tree grower gets on with 20 cents advertising. That’s their thing, not mine, and not government’s.

--Anthony

_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 10:32 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
And the notion of making a decision like that and then asking permission to continue it three YEARS later whether or no - spits in the face of all that is democracy.

We have a representative democracy; if something like this bothers you let your elected representatives know. That is the way our system works.

...you could also not buy a x-mas tree.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 10:32 AM

... fully loaded, safety off...

Quote:
Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:

This might have been politically tone-deaf on the part of the Dept of Agriculture, but it's hardly a budget buster, and I don't see how it's going to plunge the economy into the double dip depression.

That's the irony - at it's worst it is probably only that, "politically tone-deaf," that the big mistake was not it's intent or substance, but because it could be taken by anti-Obama anyone and spun into "Obama is taxing Christmas."
It might be a real tax, and it might have been configured to be a tax on purpose and with consent of the Tree Growers Association so they could get a further business deduction.

My fault maybe - I get a little saturated with the "outrage of the day" mood in this country.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 10:36 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:
Your example is bad, it shows you do not understand the issue.

In order for your example to be valid it would be more like this: You and Petco work all this out, blah blah 2%. Now the Govt comes in and asks for an additional 2% to market your product.

And why is the govt in the business of marketing Christmas trees? Seems like a violation of the seperation of church and state. Will they be getting involved in the sale of burkas or dradles next?

And why do Christmas trees need more marketing? Is there this huge need for marketing of Christmas? Are people missing out? Are they just not noticing Christmas anymore or maybe not realizing that a tree is a necessary componant of the Christmas National Shopping Holiday? Do people drive down the road in winter and see lighted trees in the yards or through the windows of houses and NOT know they too can get one of those? Maybe they drive by the local Methodist Church and see Boy Scouts, lots of trees, and a sign "Christmas Trees for sale" and need the govt to put those clues together for them.

Maybe we need an Occupy Christmas Trees protest.

The promotion is for the use of real trees instead of fake ones. Since Real trees bind CO2 instead of giving it off during production. Plus real trees are a renewable resource and don't give off pollutants when discarded.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 11:01 AM

... fully loaded, safety off...

What a silly country - we're going to put the Onion out of business - and during these hard economic times!

Spreading like wildfire - no news source can keep their hands of this ready made piece of go se:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/senator-aims-to-repeal-ch
ristmas-tree-tax/

"Calling the new Christmas tree fee a “ludicrous political misstep” by the Obama administration, and likening the president to the Grinch and a Scrooge, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said today he will soon offer an amendment to “repeal the single stupidest tax of all time.”
“The crony capitalists in the Obama Administration have gone too far this time,” DeMint wrote in a blog posted on his Senate website. “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.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-christmas-tree-tax-20
111109,0,6514612.story?track=rss

"Is President Obama 'the Grinch who taxed Christmas' trees?

"The first shots in this year’s War over Christmas have officially been fired.

"“The economy is barely growing and 9% of the American people have no jobs. Is a new tax on Christmas trees the best President Obama can do?,” wrote David Addington of the Heritage Foundation in Washington. “ (In his previous life, Addington was Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff.) " <<<< Interesting Factoid <<<<<

"The government’s done this before. Remember the “Got Milk?” campaign. It’s like that."

"“It’s not a tax,” said a very beleaguered Rick Dungey, a spokesman for the association, whose day was slowly being ruined by a wave of media calls. “It’s a checkoff program.”"

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 11:23 AM

Freedom is Important because People are Important

Hello,

I couldn't care less about Obama's specific connection to this tax/fee/advertising program. (Which is already suffering from bad press, apparently.)

I don't think we should be doing this. Like, at all. I remember the Got, Milk promotions, and I never realized that the Federal Government was ultimately responsible for 'White Gold' and his 'One Gallon Axe.' (I have it on my mp3 player, because it is hilarious, but it's not a good function of government.)

If an industry wants to voluntarily get together and promote their product, I think that's great. But I don't think government should be involved in that process beyond ensuring the truth of the advertisements.

--Anthony

_______________________________________________

"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 11:28 AM

America loves a winner!

Anyone born and raised in the contiguous 48, and Alaska, hell... anywhere living in N.America, would know about Christmas trees.

And those never having HAD a Christmas tree in their youth, clearly would have SOME clue of the tradition in Western culture. Unless, of course, they never did see A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, or even A Charlie Brown Christmas...

Having never been to Hawai'i,( or anywhere in Indonesia) I'm guessing firs and pines are pretty rare there, yes ? And I'm unaware of the history of mulisms or socialists celebrating Christmas with , well, anything at all.

I'm laughing at anyone who is shocked by ANY of this. Really, I am.

Not brought up in the customs of this nation, having never lived on the mainland until he was 17, and so devoutly in love with the big govt, nanny state mindset, how is this NOT expected ?

I'm just surprised we didn't see more of this already. I guess Obama thought he could hold off and install this sort of State control into all facets of our lives in his second term, but it's clear..he can't wait !

( Or not.

)

Credit Team O for putting the kibosh on this silly 'tax', what ever the heck it is.

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 11:35 AM

>_> Actually, I'm going to go a couple steps further.

1) I see no specific tax on Christmas trees mentioned anywhere on the provision. The blogger in Anthony's post seems to have made that up. What might be going on is some portion of Federal budget has been allocated to create this "taskforce."

2) However, just because there's no tax doesn't mean this isn't suspicious, and the official story of Christmas tree grower advertising lobbyists (really?) makes no sense. I suspect pork barrel for a front group, and there might even be embezzlement and money laundering involved.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 11:48 AM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
>_> Actually, I'm going to go a couple steps further.

1) I see no specific tax on Christmas trees mentioned anywhere on the provision. The blogger in Anthony's post seems to have made that up. What might be going on is some portion of Federal budget has been allocated to create this "taskforce."

2) However, just because there's no tax doesn't mean this isn't suspicious, and the official story of Christmas tree grower advertising lobbyists (really?) makes no sense. I suspect pork barrel for a front group, and there might even be embezzlement and money laundering involved.

Fair enough.

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 12:42 PM

CANTTAKESKY

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
1) I see no specific tax on Christmas trees mentioned anywhere on the provision. The blogger in Anthony's post seems to have made that up.

Heritage is on the sensationalist/biased side for sure, not much better than Prison Planet.

But... he didn't make it up.

http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/11/08/2011-28798/christma
s-tree-promotion-research-and-information-order#p-148

This is what the Order does.

1. "The Order will establish a national Christmas Tree Promotion Board (Board) comprised of 11 producers and one importer."

2. "Under the Order, producers and importers of fresh cut Christmas trees will pay an initial assessment of fifteen cents per Christmas tree."

Assessment is a fancy word for "tax." It is an involuntary tax that must be paid by all producers and importers. It doesn't mean it is a tax consumers have to pay, which is what the Heritage article implied.

3. "Producers and importers that produce or import less than 500 Christmas trees annually will be exempt from the assessment."

So the short end of it is, they will establish a committee of Xmas Tree producers/importers, and will TAX all producers/importers producing 500 trees or more a year.

-----
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth. -- Lucy Parsons (1853-1942, labor activist and anarcho-communist)

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 12:45 PM

CANTTAKESKY

Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
If an industry wants to voluntarily get together and promote their product, I think that's great. But I don't think government should be involved in that process beyond ensuring the truth of the advertisements.

Some members of the industry has asked the govt to force ALL members of the industry (except for the tiny ones) to participate in the advertisement campaign.

That is what's going on.

Govt for sale is business as usual.

-----
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth. -- Lucy Parsons (1853-1942, labor activist and anarcho-communist)

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 1:13 PM

Hmm. Okay, I missed that.

Well, it could still be a lobbyist scam. But it could also be someone in that industry trying to get an edge.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 6:14 PM

CANTTAKESKY

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
Well, it could still be a lobbyist scam. But it could also be someone in that industry trying to get an edge.

Yeah. Or it's just an industry going, "hey, if they can advertise milk, we can advertise trees."

I think most people are just incredulous about the subject matter. Do we really need to persuade people to buy Xmas trees? Or boost growing and cutting down trees as good for the environment somehow?

What's next? Easter eggs? Halloween pumpkins? Thanksgiving turkey? Really?

-----
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth. -- Lucy Parsons (1853-1942, labor activist and anarcho-communist)

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 6:22 PM

Careful there. You'll give those industries ideas.

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Thursday, November 10, 2011 3:01 AM

I'm still laughing at the idiots who think that Christmas trees as a tradition started in this country, or that people raised in other countries wouldn't know what such a thing is.

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Thursday, November 10, 2011 3:34 AM

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
I'm still laughing at the idiots who think that Christmas trees as a tradition started in this country, or that people raised in other countries wouldn't know what such a thing is.

Yeah, those folks would be idiots, who ever they are.

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, November 10, 2011 4:36 AM

... fully loaded, safety off...

I'm outraged that no one is outraged by the US having to import trees from Italy. What a sad day for the US, can't even grow enough trees for Christmas, somewhere union elves are crying... what's next? Illegal reindeer? This is truly the end.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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Thursday, November 10, 2011 9:50 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Thought I saw a reference to this yesterday, but I didn't post it because I wasn't sure. Saw another one today, so now I will. Discussion of this planned tax, and the original suggestion from the Christmas Tree Growers' Assoc. began in 2007 . Somebody else was President then. I'm a good conservative, right? Seems I can't remember the guy's name? Shrub? Pear tree? (That one's a good Christmas joke, huh?) Texas Tumble Weed? Anybody wanta help remind me?

EDIT-_ Here's a link:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2011/11/10/obama-christmastr
ee-tax.cnn

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Thursday, November 10, 2011 10:13 AM

America loves a winner!

Talking about something and implementation aren't the same thing. It's as stupid idea, regardless of who thought of it, yes ?

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, November 10, 2011 10:39 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by pizmobeach:
I'm outraged that no one is outraged by the US having to import trees from Italy. What a sad day for the US, can't even grow enough trees for Christmas, somewhere union elves are crying... what's next? Illegal reindeer? This is truly the end.

Ricardi the illegal immigrant reindeer
(alien)
Had a very large back pack
And if you ever saw it
(saw it)
You would even say really big
(like hikers use)
All of the Border Patrol Agents
(reindeer)
Used to laugh and call him names
(like Poncho)
They never let poor Ricardo
(Poncho)
Play in any reindeer games
(like getting in-state tutition or voting or having a driver's license)

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santos came to say
(Ho Ho Ho)
Ricardo with your big backpack
Won't you smuggle my drugs tonight?
Then all the Border Patrol agents arrested him
(arrested)
And they shouted out with glee
(yippee)
"Ricardo the ilegal immigrant reindeer
(alien)
You'll go down in history!"
(like Bin Laddin)

H

"Hero. I have come to respect you." "I am forced to agree with Hero here."- Chrisisall, 2009.
"I agree with Hero." Niki2, 2011.

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Thursday, November 10, 2011 11:10 AM