|
Click on the "Home" star to go to the new version of this site. My bingo games are available as digital downloads for as little as $1.99! Patriotic and American History Downloadable Bingo Games for as little as $1.76 on bingoforpatriots.com It's my site that focuses on American history, First Principles & Patriotism My newest article: What Does Your Child Know About Thomas Jefferson? Subscribe to My Blog or read Past Articles about Patriotism, First Principles, and American history Patriotic American Bingo Games and American History Teaching Tools on this site
  Have an idea for a new bingo game? Email Me. St Patrick's Day Bingo and St. Patrick's Day Concentration Hats Off Games for Red Hatters Math Bingo, Money Bingo, and Accounting Bingo Games: Science and Nature Bingo Games Party Bingo Games for Adults and Children Halloween Bingo Games and Concentration Sets Christmas Bingo, Winter Bingo, and Holiday Games 4 Great Ways to Support Charity and Gift Giving through the Bingo For Charities Program! Like my bingo games! Link to this site! Sell my bingo games in your store Subscribe to My Blog about bingo, health , positive thinking, motivation, and more! Copyright © 1997 - 2012 Susan C. Rempel, Ph.D. All rights reserved. Small business owners: Dawn McCarroll at adwh.com is a fabulous IT resource. She is my IT department! Contact her at: dawn.mccarroll@adwh.com |
Another Article about Patriotism, First Principles, and American History What do Christmas Trees, Elephants,
and Tanning Salons Have in Common? by Susan C. Rempel, Ph. D.
"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by
money, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing
enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular
exceptions." --James Madison
That title sounds like a joke,
doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s not particularly humorous,
unless you believe that the legislation and programs proposed by
elected officials and bureaucrats are a joke.
At a time when members of
the legislative branch seem unable or unwilling to decrease
spending, they are certainly able to propose, and sometimes
pass, bills that seem out of touch with today’s dire economic
circumstances. Bills that cost money to develop, propose, and
become law. The frosting on the cake is an administration that
endlessly seeks to institute regulations and programs unless a
public relations nightmare ensues. Looking for the punch line to
the title of this article? Read on my fellow citizens. Here are
some fine examples of your tax dollars at work. TIn the state of California, it is now possible for a minor to receive an abortion without parental knowledge or consent, but the same minor is prohibited from using the services offered by her local tanning salon. Earlier this year Governor Jerry Brown signed SB746 which prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using an ultraviolet tanning device at a salon. Who is punished for violating the law? The minor child who visits the salon? His or her parents who should be assuring the child’s safety and well being? No, personal responsibility seems absent from this law. As with alcohol and tobacco, it is the business that is punished without so much as a one dollar fine or a consequence (such as writing a term paper about the unintended consequences of his or her actions) to the minor. SB746 states that the tanning facility, however, could potentially be liable for $2500.00 per day for each violation in addition to any other penalty that may be established by law. That’s a fairly hefty fine for one tanning session. Don’t you think? The penalty seems particularly harsh when you compare it to the consequences for selling tobacco and alcohol to a minor in the same state. California Penal Code 308(a) states that the fine for the server, and or the business, who sells tobacco products to a minor is $200.00 for the first offense. I found conflicting answers as to the punishment for selling alcohol to a minor, but the first offence for any server or establishment may be as little as a warning or $500.00. If alcohol or tobacco is sold to a minor, and the minor uses a fake identification card during the sale, there may be no penalty at all.[1]
While there may be other penalties I am not familiar with, the
initial fine for selling tobacco or alcohol to a minor indicates
that exposure to ultraviolet rays is perceived as more of an
immediate danger to a minor’s safety, at least in California. It
also appears that the majority of the California legislature, as
well as the governor, believe that a minor is of sufficient
maturity to choose to terminate a pregnancy but not to tan her
skin by artificial means. I might add that the child’s parents
have been completely removed from both decisions. It is just my
opinion, but I believe it would be a far better use of the
citizens’ tax dollars for the state legislature to spend its
time focusing on the state’s current financial crisis than
other, seemingly esoteric, issues.
I know what you are thinking: “That kind of crazy legislation
just happens in states like California.” Well, you are wrong.
Despite the fiscal crisis on the federal level, it seems that at
least one congressman has devoted his time (subsidized by your
tax dollars) to undermine something that is somewhat of an
American tradition. Do you have fond memories of watching tigers
and elephants at the circus? Well, your children won’t share
those memories if it is up to Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia.
He recently introduced legislation, which if passed, would
prevent exotic or wild animals from performing if they had
traveled in mobile shelters within 15 days before the
performance. That translates to the end of many of the acts that
are traditionally included in a traveling circus. Feld
Entertainment, owner of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey
Circus, stated the prohibition would cost more than 750 jobs at
its company alone. That does not begin to address the number of
jobs that might be lost at local venues as a result of this
proposed law. If you are opposed to this legislation, you can
send a letter to your congressman and senators, as emailed to me
by Feld Entertainment, by
clicking
here.
Please don’t send
me emails about my lack of concern for animal rights. Anyone who
knows me can attest to how much I love animals. The Ringling
Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus website states that it is
involved in the conservation of Asian Elephants. You can visit
its website,
www.ElephantCenter.com, to decide for yourself whether or
not their efforts are sincere. However, it is unconscionable
that this, or any other, congressman puts effort into
discussing, designing, and sponsoring such legislation in light
of the current budget disaster in Washington. The average salary
for a congressman or senator is
$174,000. Add to that
the salaries of their staff members, and the cost of a simple
piece of federal legislation from conception to being signed as
law. How many tax dollars has Congressman Moran, and his staff,
spent on this legislation so far? Rather than focusing on how to
increase employment in his district, or proposing legislation
that will decrease spending, Congressman Moran seems to believe
that the best use of his time is spent in shepherding
legislation such as this!
Although the executive branch cannot pass legislation, let’s not
forget about the Obama Administration’s seemingly endless parade
of new regulations and programs that raise the cost of doing
business (which is passed along to the consumer), slow economic
growth, and otherwise negatively impact the citizenry of
America. A notable example last week was the USDA’s publication
in the Federal Register (November 8, 2011) of a program that
would add a 15 cent assessment on each Christmas tree sold in
the United States in order to establish a “national research and
promotion program for Christmas trees.” Although not actually a
tax, this charge would fund a program that was proposed by the
Christmas tree industry to spruce up (so to speak) the image of
cut Christmas trees. My question is: why does the federal
government need to be involved in such a program at all? The
National Christmas Tree Association reportedly worked with the
USDA for two years to develop the program. Why did the
association believe that the program was necesary? Because some
of its members would not voluntarily support the association’s
own promotional program.
The
NCTA could have chosen to increase its yearly membership fee to
cover the missing funds for the program. Yet, they sought out
governmental assistance to force all of the growers, members or
not, to participate. When the USDA becomes involved, the cost is
not just 15 cents per tree. I can only imagine the tax dollars
that were spent on USDA employee salaries, as well as the cost
of each employee’s workspace, work related technology, and other
costs related to this program during those two years. Because of
the public outcry about the “Christmas Tree Tax,” the USDA
announced on November 9th that the program had been
placed on hold. If the tax dollars spent developing the program
would not have been considered frivolous before, they can now be
thought of as wasted completely.[2]
At a time when most consumers are tightening their belts, the
good folks in Washington, as well as the state legislatures, are
focused on issues other than budgetary matters. I am only one
voice, but I have a suggestion for the people who were elected
by us, purportedly represent us, and who supposedly have our
best interests at heart: it’s time to focus on the basics!
Instead of creating new laws and
programs, how about removing or rolling back regulations,
programs, and laws that prevent the private sector from
expanding and creating jobs? Why not work on restructuring our
tax laws so that everyone contributes at a low and reasonable
rate via a flat tax? Isn’t it time to cut spending and live
within the budget that already exists through ideas such as
Connie Mack’s Penny Plan (H.R. 1848)? Please reduce your
spending and get out of our way so we grow the economy. It is
just a suggestion from a citizen, entrepreneur, and mother of
three young Americans…. What do you believe it the worst, most ridiculous, or absolutely offensive law, regulation, or program of 2011? Unfortunately, there are a plethora of examples at the local, state, and federal level. Please email me at susan@uncommoncourtesy.com, and I’ll post some of the more egregious examples in my patriot blog at: http://www.bingoforpatriots.com/patriotic-blog/
[1] http://www.abc.ca.gov/questions/complaints_faq.html#Q. 56. http://www.acgov.org/PublicHealth/organization/divisions/ems/Injury_Prevention/Licensee_materials_english.pdf; http://www.acgov.org/PublicHealth/organization/divisions/ems/Injury_Prevention/Licensee_materials_english.pdf; http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/selling-alcohol-to-minors.html
Follow me on Twitter: SusanRempel Like UnCommon Courtesy, on Facebook Visit www.uncommoncourtesy.com for educational products and a multitude of bingo games for holidays, education, religion, and parties. © Copyright 2011 Susan C. Rempel, Ph.D. All rights reserved.
This article (including the copyright notice) may be reprinted with the following the following attachment: - begin attachment - Bingo Games, Motivational Material and More at www.UnCommonCourtesy.com! A multitude of holiday, religious, educational, and patriotic bingo games and concentration sets available . Bingo games for adults and children to play at home, school, church, corporate meetings, and just about anywhere you can imagine. Read Susan C Rempel, Ph.D.'s blog about Patriotism, First Principles, and American History. Follow Dr. Rempel on Twitter: SusanRempel
- end attachment - Don't see the Bingo Game that you are looking for? Email me, and I'll make it for you!
|
