It would seem as if current government has misunderstood the grievance of 18th century British colonists. "No taxation without representation!” they exclaimed, passionately expressing the unfairness of being taxed in the British Parliament without direct representation in the governing body. Progressing 3 centuries, we have seemingly altered that slogan: “No representation without taxation!!”
(Accumulated and quoted from recent reports via The Chicago Tribune, CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post...)
* The IRS is weighing a proposal to deem one-quarter of employees' use of work cell phones as personal use and therefore subject to tax as a fringe benefit.
* Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the tax-writing Finance Committee, has repeatedly advocated changing tax laws to include employer benefits.
* The Center for Science in the Public Interest plans to propose a federal excise tax on soda, certain fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas... Excise taxes are levied on goods and manufacturers typically pass them on to consumers.
* Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty has proposed a slew of new taxes to meet his city's massive deficit. His first target: budget-busting street lights, which Washingtonians will now fund with an extra $51 monthly tax.
* The cigarette excise tax that tobacco companies must pay the federal government rose Wednesday by 61.6 cents per pack, or $6.16 per carton. The tax now comes to about $10.10 per carton, or $1.01 per pack.
* (Considered in Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Ohio...) Instead of taxing users based on how much gas they use, the tax will be based on how many miles you travel. When you pull up to the pump, the GPS navigational system in your car will be accessed by the gas station. The pump will calculate how many miles you have traveled, and where you have traveled, and tax you accordingly. But that's not all: You will be charged extra if you drove during rush hour, or through a congested area.
* A Washington state representative was beaten back in February when he suggested taxing pornographic materials to save programs that serve the poor and disabled. A noble gesture indeed, which would have taxed adult magazines, adult photographs, adult videos, adult phone services and a few things even adults wouldn't want to talk about. The flesh lobby stopped the bill in its tracks, a rare win for anti-tax forces this season. The ACLU opposed the bill, too, arguing that taxing pornography is a tax on free speech.
Ok, the Intramuralist may be going out on a limb here, but has our representation ever thought of spending less instead of taxing more?
Just a thought, of course.
AR
Posts
5 comments:
How much of our taxes go to pay for pensions and more for people who were once government officials? And are they experiencing decreases in pension income due to the economy like others of us who are retired? Seems we could save a bundle by looking into this area with a mind toward justice as their, "representation" has given them unfair advantage.
It feels like the government doesn't think we can make decisions for ourselves. They tax what they declare is bad for us. Soft drinks???? Are you kidding me??? That should be MY decision!!!
Sounds like the rest of the country wants to follow what is happening here in Chicago. We have a tax on fast food as well as bottled water. I don't advocate it in the least.
Z., what's the basis for taxing fast food? Is it keeping anyone from eating there???
The tax on fast food in Chicago doesn't keep anyone from eating there any more than the taxes on cigarettes or liquor keep those products from being consumed. It's just one more way the mayor of Chicago has figured out to make money rather than curbing spending. He also came up with the idea of leasing the city parking meters to an outside company and you can't believe the problems that resulted.
Post a Comment