I don't know how in all these years, we've been able to market and buy Christmas trees without a federal program. We should be failing miserably without one. It isn't enough that Obama has been the GRINCH that in ruining the economy with his tax and spend policies, will make Christmas more blue than ever, he has decided to create a federal program and a tax on Christmas trees. From The Foundry President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a ... Read More

It's interesting to me how tax and spend democrats, like Barney Frank, can align themselves with Occupy Wall Street and yet still accept Wall Street's campaign donations at the same time. Then they have the cheek to act as if they could do better...how true this cartoon is. ... Read More

On July 7, 2011, the U.S. Department of Treasury's inspector general for tax administration issued a startling report entitled “Individuals Who Are Not Authorized to Work in the United States Were Paid $4.2 Billion in Refundable Credits.” No wonder the nation’s finances are in turmoil. According to the Treasury report, foreign nationals not authorized to work in the United States and ineligible for a Social Security Number (SSN) are nevertheless receiving government help from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS currently ... Read More

From Americans for Tax Reform 1. A 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco:  On February 4, 2009, just sixteen days into his Administration, Obama signed into law a 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco, a hike of 61 cents per pack.  The median income of smokers is just over $36,000 per year. 2. Obamacare Individual Mandate Excise Tax (takes effect in Jan 2014): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance must pay ... Read More

To me, words mean things, and I pay careful attention to them. I remember reading in 1984, the use of Doublespeak, and I feel we are victims of such language today. Alarms went off when during Hurricane Irene, the words "Federal Family" were used. Interesting article from RedState and words used today: Ever notice how adept the Democrats are at the use of euphemisms to try to hide their agenda? We’ve seen it a number of times recently: “revenue enhancements” instead of “tax increases” ... Read More

There doesn't seem to be an agreement on why Pepsi will shut down in Baltimore, be it the economy or the city's tax. I do think it's fair to conclude you just shouldn't start taxing everything in a BAD economy. It doesn't help anything. At least, ask the 75 people who lost their jobs. "Pepsi is packing up production after deciding to stop making soda in Baltimore City, and they’re blaming the new city beverage tax. Pepsi will continue to transport ... Read More

From Investors.com Many voters are looking forward to 2011, hoping a new Congress will put the country back on the right track. But unless something's done soon, the new year will also come with a raft of tax hikes — including a return of the death tax — that will be real killers.Through the end of this year, the federal estate tax rate is zero — thanks to the package of broad-based tax cuts that President Bush ... Read More

From the New York Times: When Congress required most Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty, Democrats denied that they were creating a new tax. But in court, the Obama administration and its allies now defend the requirement as an exercise of the government’s “power to lay and collect taxes.”And that power, they say, is even more sweeping than the federal power to regulate interstate commerce. Administration officials say the tax argument is a linchpin ... Read More

When the tax on tanning salons came about, I felt a little indifferent about it. I neither use them nor think they are healthy. However the tanning salon industry isn't too happy: From the Washington Post ....Anxiety over the fate of the Arlington tanning salon has been running high ever since a "tan tax" took effect Thursday. One of the less publicized measures in the new health-care law, the tax imposes a 10 percent surcharge on the use of ultraviolet indoor ... Read More

Obama promised no taxes on middle and lower class, but there is one way the common folk like you and me could feel that promise broken is if Obama allows the Bush administration's Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to expire. Some little reported news on Reueters: In the 2010 budget tabled by President Barack Obama on Monday, the White House wants to let billions of dollars in tax breaks expire by the end of the year -- effectively ... Read More

This came to my email today... To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature, The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke. War on Poverty started ... Read More

"This campaign to equalize test scores among unequal students is utopian and unattainable, and amounts to a scam by the education industry." ~ Pat Buchanan We pour all kinds of money into education, but is it working? Are the young people learning? Pat Buchanan says... In a ranking of 50 states and D.C. by how much each spent per pupil in public schools in 2005, New York ranked first; D.C. third. The state spent $14,100, and New York City just a tad less. And ... Read More

The so called reason for this large tax increase? In all it sounds good, limit pollution and usher in an era of cleaner energy. Critics of the legislation have said it will cost too much to our already weak economy, so they wanted safeguards in place. Even as Democrats have promised that this cap-and-trade legislation won't pinch wallets, behind the scenes they've acknowledged the energy price tsunami that is coming. During the brief few days in which the bill was debated ... Read More

While on the campaign trail, more and more people in Obama's past and present seemed dubious at best. Racist preachers and terrorist co-worker to mention two. Now that he is elected, and especially after promising ethics reform, (barring lobbyist from his administration), he would, usher in a new age of responsibility. Curious then, how he found at least three people for cabinet positions that didn't pay their taxes over years, had illegal aliens in their employ, and a lobbyist for a military contractor who is now ... Read More

"If ALL the nations in the world are in debt, where did the money go?" ~ Steven Wright In July, the Washington Post reported that the Air Force sought to divert a portion of $16.2 million set aside for the global war on terror. They wanted the funds to install first-class amenities called private "comfort capsules" on the military planes that whisk top officers and civilian officials around the world. The upgrades included 37-inch flat-screen monitors, plush leather seats, and full-length mirrors intended to ... Read More

This just came into my inbox from the Washington Post: Democratic and Republican congressional leaders reached a tentative deal Thursday on tax rebates of $300 to $1,200 per family and business tax cuts to jolt the slumping economy. My that was fast. Things must really be bad. The president just made the announcement on this idea a few days ago and just that fast, both democrats AND republicans reached a deal. I won't complain of course, if a check comes my way. Doesn't mean I am not worried ... Read More

The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion" in a casual manner, think about whether you want the "politicians" spending YOUR tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases. A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959. B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive. C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age. D. A billion ... Read More

  I just had to write a check along with sending my tax forms today. I don't think I should have owed anything with the little I make, but heaven knows, Uncle Sam will find a way to waste it somehow, so there will be my contribution.   I didn't pass with flying colors Economics in school, but that wasn't because it was so hard, it was more like Mr. Marcello, however old and sweet, was SO boring and the notes Donna and I passed around to ... Read More