Yeah, I figured when I started seeing this stuff hit my feed that there was a mundane reason for it all.
Yes, there is now a 15 cent (eek!) tax on all fresh-cut Christmas trees. Yes, this is being instituted by the Dept of Agriculture in the Obama Administration.
But what Drudge et al. don't mention is that this actually came from recommendations by a task force of the National Christmas Tree Association, a collection of growers and retailers. Because fresh-cut trees have been lagging in sales compared to artificial trees. The fee will go into research and promotional activities to improve cut Christmas tree sales. The program is very similar to similar promotional programs for dairy products ("Got Milk?"), pork, beef ("It's what's for dinner!"), etc.
Figure the average fresh-cut tree costs, what, $30? This represents a half a percent surcharge. If it can increase sales by at least that much, then it's a win-win for the cut Christmas tree folks.
Now, you might legitimately ask whether it is the role of the government to assist the Christmas tree industry. A fine question. I'll note on the side that that the folks screaming most loudly about this would be utterly silent if we were talking about a program to encourage the sale of oil and gasoline products, or some other industry that already gets substantial government support. Or if it weren't the Obama Administration and a chance to lob accusations of how they're the enemy in the mythical "War on Christmas."
Of course, given that Christmas Trees are a pagan symbol, calling a surtax on them an attack on Christians is even zanier. Unless … of course! This is being done to support Christams Tree sales, which means … the Obama White House is pro-paganism!
Eek! #ddtb
Embedded Link
Artificial War On Christmas Campaign Launches Fake Obama "Christmas Tree Tax" | Media Matters for America
Artificial War On Christmas Campaign Launches Fake Obama "Christmas Tree Tax". November 09, 2011 12:38 am ET by Jeremy Holden. Right-wing media figures are accusing the Obama administration …
That’s a great photo of Obama!
Read the article. One of the comments talked about John Knox promoting Hogmanay over the celebration of that “pagan” Christmas. Guess what? From the Wikipedia:
The roots of Hogmanay perhaps reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic New Year’s celebration of Samhain. In Rome, winter solstice evolved into the ancient celebration of Saturnalia, a great winter festival, where people celebrated completely free of restraint and inhibition. The Vikings celebrated Yule, which later contributed to the Twelve Days of Christmas, or the “Daft Days” as they were sometimes called in Scotland. The winter festival went underground with the Protestant Reformation and ensuing years, but re-emerged near the end of the 17th century.
Yes! Pagan origins take over the world!
Ok, not really.