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James Carville, the ragin’ cajun, has laid down the gauntlet for President Obama; if Obama can’t get healthcare reform passed, Carville says it will be his Waterloo.
Waterloo, the battle that ended Napoleon’s reign. Carville, a partisan for sure, but one who is supposedly on President Obama’s side of the issues, has clearly stated what the importance of healthcare really is . . . and it is not about the constituents.
Politicians love to tax sins. Few people smoke these days so if a budget needs to raise some more money, pass another tobacco tax. Or you could go after the booze. It’s an age-old game. Folks don’t get their knickers in a twist when taxes on a sub-set of the population gets hammered as long as it isn’t them paying the way.
Of course, there is a limit as to how much government can tax something before it backfires. Here in New Jersey politicos have raised the tobacco tax so much that the “revenue” it produces has decreased over the years. You would think that a lesson would be learned through such actions.
I tried a tanning bed once when I was in college. I had a membership to a neat gym that had all sorts of facilities. In addition to the tanning bed there were sensory deprivation tanks and a Eucalyptus room. I really liked the Eucalyptus room. Anyhow, lying down in a tube with lights shining on me while I crisp is not my idea of fun or recreation.
Some folks like to tan themselves, however. That’s fine with me. Obviously, in order to tan, someone needs to be in business providing the equipment. That’s good for the economy. It is also a source for the politicos.
Here in New Jersey, we tax tanning salons seven-percent. Yup, to tan oneself indoors, Trenton grabs 7% of the deal. Why? Who cares? Few of us use tanning salons, right? They’re usually those little stores wedged into a strip mall with the “big hairs” running in and out. It doesn’t affect me, why should I care?
Since that tax was instituted, businesses have closed up. Sure, a poor economy contributed too. The tanning salon industry is fading in the Garden State. Soon it will be gone altogether.
Congress and the Obama Administration have targeted tanning salons too. Seeing an opportunity to take profits, it has proposed a 10% tax on the industry. Seriously!
Some will say the tax will discourage tanning use and that is a good thing. If government wants to discourage indoor tanning it can either outlaw it or put a 97% tax on the industry. Both would be far more efficient in reducing use. Just like tobacco taxes, it’s about the money, not the social ill.
So tanning salons have to absorb this tax . . . or pass it off to its customers. Cha-ching!
Customers will pay 17% to the government for the privilege to sit inside under heat lamps. Precious.
Think this will stimulate business here?
An interesting story of a small publisher who almost published a J.D. Salinger book was told in today’s Washington Post. Alas, he made a mistake. No book for you! . . . A telephone call Buddy Holly secretly recorded when he tried to get the rights to That’ll Be the Day from Decca is making the rounds. It’s interesting how different the music business was 50+ years ago . . . While it’s been a rough week for President Obama (no bump from the SOTU), I applaud him for targeting to eliminate the Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit. It would be even better if eliminated the entire earned income tax credit program . . . A long time ago our family visited Haiti. It wasn’t in good shape then either. As I recall, a boy was going to be publicly flogged for an accident. While the earthquake has been devastating, Haiti has long been in great need . . . There was a time when I would have been gearing up to watch the Olympics. Now it is just a blip. How many storylines will be crafted that break up the actual sporting events? Curling and luge are still two events I marvel at . . . the one-inch of snow we were expected to get turned out to be a few inches more. It’s pretty outside . . . There is plenty to rail against the NFL for, but its move of the Pro Bowl to the off Sunday between the championship and the Super Bowl is a good move. I still have no interest in this game, but I suspect it will garner higher ratings . . . Bob Ingle’s piece today tells just one side of agency packing. It’s a bad side. Political appointments only need to earn $7500 to be in the state pension system. Of course, as I have been discussing of late, they do the political dirty work of elected officials without being held accountable . . .
Last evening, President Obama delivered his State of the Union address to Congress. In it he stated:
To make college more affordable, this bill will finally end the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that go to banks for student loans. Instead, let’s take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants. And let’s tell another one million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years –- and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college.
Huh?
Forget that the federal government has absolutely no role in education since the Tenth Amendment states it is a right reserved for the states and the people. Why the hell would we possibly want to forgive student loans because someone chose a public service job?
I am a public servant. I had student loans. Why would the government pick up the tab for my education?
Are there any public service jobs that are not unionized? Just asking . . .
Why should I foot the tuition of one million students?
One government program I have always supported are student loans. Low-interest loans for students who are in need and who demonstrate academic success are a good investment. Invest in those who will become taxpayers and society makes out on the deal.
A loan is demonstrably different than picking up the tab. Holding the student accountable for his debt helps him value his education. When I registered for my second graduate program, I was interviewed by a professor of the department. She looked over my transcripts and asked why there was a discrepancy between my undergraduate transcript and my first program. It was easy to explain: my parents paid for my undergraduate program and I paid for my masters. I valued the education I paid for.
So, why has President Obama suggested the public pay for others?
Welcome to eCache @ RDOwens.net. This blog represents my ramblings about politics, GPS games, New Jersey, education, cooking, and other topics.
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My politics are conservative, but I am an independent. I like reasoned discourse. More