RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax'

RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (Full Version)

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BanthaSamantha -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/8/2011 9:35:31 PM)
I'm as conservative as the next person, but I absolutely fail to understand people whom bash the acts of the Obama Administration simply because they are done by the Obama Administration. The article quoted above horribly mangles what the actual regulation states. Those interested in reading the actual regulation and its commentary can find it here. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-08/html/2011-28798.htm The article tries to imply that this regulation is some unwarranted intrusion into private enterprise, while the truth is far different. Actually reading the regulation will reveal that the Christmas Tree industry approached the government voluntarily and asked them to create this regulation. To quote the reg, "The Proposed program was presented to the Department by an industry wide group of producers and importers who requested that such an industry-funded program be implemented." Secondly, it is worth noting that a similar regulation a couple years ago created over $135m in additional sales while only costing about $4m in fees. It is no wonder that the tree farm industry lobbied for this program. "The industry saw an increase in sales in 2003 through 2007 when the industry conducted a voluntary marketing campaign which was lead by a small group of producers and retailers. This voluntary marketing campaign saw sales rebound by 9 million trees--from 22 million trees sold in 2002 to 31 million trees sold in 2007." Thirdly, it is important to remember that the tree farm industry has the power to end this program if they choose to. To quote the reg, "This program requires that a referendum be conducted 3 years after implementation and every 7 years thereafter to determine if producers and importers support continuation of the program. The industry may also request a referendum if 10 percent of those covered under the program request it." If they don't think the program works anymore, they are free to call a referendum and vote to end it. To summarise, this is a profitable program that was specifically requested by the Christmas tree industry, and can be ended by that same industry if they don't like it anymore.

SternSkipper -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/8/2011 10:30:03 PM)
quote: I'm as conservative as the next person, but I absolutely fail to understand people whom bash the acts of the Obama Administration simply because they are done by the Obama Administration. The article quoted above horribly mangles what the actual regulation states. Those interested in reading the actual regulation and its commentary can find it here. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-08/html/2011-28798.htm Now wait just a second there Madame. The OP is a veritable ORACLE to the conservative vision of the the world. How could have possibly distorted anything? It's almost like you're implying he has this blind attack-dog like methodology to his post(s). I'm just going to presume this is a satirical post. The OP is is a great friend to people (okay well, some people), animals (sheep mostly), and plants... In fact his two best friends on this forum are both vegetables[image]http://www.collarchat.com/image/s3.gif[/image]

tazzygirl -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 4:23:58 AM)
Repeated information.

farglebargle -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 5:17:29 AM)
Got Trees? Sounds like the Christmas Trees Marketing Board got to the legislature. Too bad the legislature will listen to them, but you get a webform or an intern on the phone... We are the 99% our legislators ignore.

BanthaSamantha -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 5:24:50 AM)
Be careful, as this is not legislation. This is actually a regulation passed by the USDA.

erieangel -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 6:26:23 AM)
Oh geez! I don't buy real trees anymore. Haven't since the kids were little. I can't stand trying to clean up all those fallen needles, for one. For another thing, my cats like to eat the real trees, and the one cat is getting to be too old to get sick from eating the Christmas tree. In fact, I think the last live cut tree I had was about 10-12 years ago. It was also the last year my employer sold trees as a community service/fund drive. The money had always gone into the client assistant fund...now it is just us employees funding that pot of money.

rulemylife -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 6:38:47 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Sanity The government is here to help teach the Christmas Tree how to improve its image... (Pun intended) quote: Obama Couldn’t Wait: His New Christmas Tree Tax [image]http://author.blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/Christmas-Tree.jpg[/image] President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees. 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. The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)). And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10). To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees. http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/08/obama-couldnt-wait-his-new-christmas-tree-tax/ I didn't even have to look to know this was another of your bullshit posts. Gee, do you think you can afford a 15 cent tax on something you buy once a year. If you can't I know of some homeless shelters in Boise.

thompsonx -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 6:52:45 AM)
Once again(as usual) sanity operates mouth before engaging brain.

Marc2b -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 7:09:49 AM)
quote: I dont like artificial trees.. they are just too.. artificial.. I'm with you. "Artificial trees are for artificial people." That's my family's motto. Of course, we're kinda biased given that we grew and sold Christmas trees for many years.

mnottertail -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 7:11:33 AM)
I am heartened to see all the norse heathens here celebrating the real meaning of christmas, worshipping the trees......

Marc2b -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 7:18:03 AM)
quote: I am heartened to see all the norse heathens here celebrating the real meaning of christmas, worshipping the trees...... So am I because it meant money in my pocket for many years. Of course it also meant many summers of pruning and spraying... and that was before ya got to the harvesting. If people had any idea of the amount of labor that went into a Christmas tree they'd never bitch about the price again.

tj444 -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 7:25:48 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Marc2b quote: I dont like artificial trees.. they are just too.. artificial.. I'm with you. "Artificial trees are for artificial people." That's my family's motto. Of course, we're kinda biased given that we grew and sold Christmas trees for many years. REAL trees are eco friendly too, some cities pick them up and recycle/chip them, turn them into mulch. You cant do that with artificial trees, those just get tossed into the landfill.. [>:] I LOVE the way real trees smell.. walking into the house with a real Christmas tree.. it just makes me smile.. that and freshly baked cookies for Santa.. [:)]

Marc2b -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 7:38:48 AM)
quote: REAL trees are eco friendly too, some cities pick them up and recycle/chip them, turn them into mulch. You cant do that with artificial trees, those just get tossed into the landfill.. Add to that the fact that many of the trees planted don't get harvested. My family is responsible for several pine covered acres in the Southern Tier Region of New York. [:)]

RacerJim -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 7:45:56 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tazzygirl quote: To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees. Dont want to pay the tax? Buy artificial. Easy solution Rid the country of Soetoro/Soebarkah/Obama. Best solution.

SternSkipper -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 7:54:11 AM)
quote: I am heartened to see all the norse heathens here celebrating the real meaning of christmas, worshipping the trees...... Course ... you're from Mn!

SternSkipper -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 8:00:14 AM)
quote: Repeated information. As long as people still continue to actually debate him thinking he's actually going to listen for anything but attack points and what he perceives as 'compliments', our work remains incomplete.

SternSkipper -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 8:02:07 AM)
quote: Rid the country of Soetoro/Soebarkah/Obama. Best solution. We have a similar list but the names are different and you'd take it personally[:D]

LillyBoPeep -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 8:06:04 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: tj444 quote: ORIGINAL: Marc2b quote: I dont like artificial trees.. they are just too.. artificial.. I'm with you. "Artificial trees are for artificial people." That's my family's motto. Of course, we're kinda biased given that we grew and sold Christmas trees for many years. REAL trees are eco friendly too, some cities pick them up and recycle/chip them, turn them into mulch. You cant do that with artificial trees, those just get tossed into the landfill.. [>:] I LOVE the way real trees smell.. walking into the house with a real Christmas tree.. it just makes me smile.. that and freshly baked cookies for Santa.. [:)] i like the smell of real trees; we never had them though because so many of us are allergic to them. =p

thishereboi -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 8:13:05 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LillyBoPeep quote: ORIGINAL: tj444 quote: ORIGINAL: Marc2b quote: I dont like artificial trees.. they are just too.. artificial.. I'm with you. "Artificial trees are for artificial people." That's my family's motto. Of course, we're kinda biased given that we grew and sold Christmas trees for many years. REAL trees are eco friendly too, some cities pick them up and recycle/chip them, turn them into mulch. You cant do that with artificial trees, those just get tossed into the landfill.. [>:] I LOVE the way real trees smell.. walking into the house with a real Christmas tree.. it just makes me smile.. that and freshly baked cookies for Santa.. [:)] i like the smell of real trees; we never had them though because so many of us are allergic to them. =p I was allergic as a child and spent my first christmas in the er. After that we had fake ones. I have since grown out of it, but never went back to real. Maybe next year if I can scrape together that extra 15 cents[:)]

Iamsemisweet -> RE: Obamas New 'Christma Tree Tax' (11/9/2011 8:18:03 AM)
I love a live tree myself. I am looking forward to it already. The Xmas tree industry is part of the ag industry, so they get all kinds of tax benefits, cheap water, and maybe even subsidies, for all I know. If they can afford and are asking for a fifteen cent tax to promote the industry, what's the problem? And what does it have to do with Obama?

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