Here's just a sampling of how government is not just taking over your lives -- but then forcing you to cough up the dough for it to do so.* "Americans who slap $1 pricetags on their used possessions at garage sales or bazaar events risk being slapped with fines of up to $15 million, thanks to a new government campaign." The Consumer Product Safety Commission has decided to twist standards designed for new products and apply them to used items as well. "In order to comply, stores, flea markets, charities and individuals selling used goods — in person or online — are expected to consult the commission's 24-page Handbook for Resale Stores and Product Resellers (pdf) and its Web site for a breakdown of what they can't sell. Violators caught selling anything on the enormous list face fines of up to $100,000 per infraction and up to $15 million for a related series of infractions." This is, by the way, a Fox News story. (You were expecting 60 Minutes to expose this outrage?)
* In Massachusetts, state taxes are being raised on dog licenses.
* In San Francisco, it's pop that's the newest target. "Calling soda the new tobacco, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will introduce legislation this fall that would charge a fee to retailers that sell sugary beverages. Newsom would need voter approval to tax individual cans of soda and sugary juice, but only needs approval from the Board of Supervisors to levy a fee on retailers...'We know we'll be sued,' he said. 'But I really believe this is important to do.'"
* In many states and counties across the nation, property taxes are going up fast and furious. Examples from, say, Tennessee: Robertson County officials are set to consider a 17% property tax hike to help balance their budget; Maury County commissioners are considering both a 15% property tax hike as well as a $25 increase in the wheel tax; Dickson County lawmakers will be voting on a 21% property tax increase.
* Marcos Island (Florida) citizens are looking at a 20% increase in their tax rates.
* Philadelphia has just increased its sales tax up to 8 cents on the dollar.
The list, of course, goes on and on. And new examples come every day. Nevertheless, one waits in vain for legislators to get wise about how excessive taxation to fund wasteful, unnecessary government programs exacerbates the economic crisis. They don't care about fixing anything. They just demand that you fork over more and more and more of what you've earned...until there's nothing left to fork over.
