More Taxes For You, Comrade!

The Leftist Elite (and some dipstick Repubs) just seem to think that the American taxpayers' backs are unbreakable. First, there's this current monstrosity of STIMULUS -- the Movie! -- now in 3D! Added to that, the Obamanator is resurrecting "health care reform" (read 'socialized medicine that will add even more to the cost of health care itself as well as to our pockets'). Here are two more proposed taxes -- backed by Dems:

1) In Oregon, lawmakers including Rep. Ben Cannon, D-Portland, have proposed a 1900% tax increase (yeah, you read that right -- nineteen hundred!) on beer. It doesn't matter that brewers fear this increase could cripple them. Lawmakers pull out the usual "oh, this will raise millions of dollars for law enforcement, health care, and substance abuse treatment. (Gee, I wonder if it will also include dollars for education. That gets voters every time!) Here's what NBC reported (emphasis added):

Oregon ranks 49th among states in its malt beverage taxation rate, which has not been raised in 32 years.

Brewers say Oregon's low beverage taxation rate is what makes the state such an attractive place for crafting beers.

The state's brewery guild claims it would also amount to the single largest beer tax hike in the nation's history.

Laurelwood Public House & Brewing Co. owner Mike De Kalb said the tax may sound like a good idea in this economic climate, but he believes it would cost jobs and not raise enough new tax revenue to justify the increase.

"We're a family-owned, local Portland business. We don't want to see something cost taxpayers more than the revenue it would bring in," De Kalb said.

De Kalb said Oregon would potentially lose its prominence as a craft-brew destination and that some small breweries could potentially go out of business.

He said Laurelwood could possibly face job cuts as well.

Prior versions of the beer tax bill have exempted small breweries but this one does not, he added.

Job losses ... yeah, that will be great for the economy.

The next story: Democratic Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick is considering having a "Hummer Tax" on gas-guzzling vehicles. If implemented, it would be the country's first such tax. The economy is quite rough right now, and this guy wants to make commuting to your job even costlier. Genius ... shear genius. Here's the FoxNews story (emphasis added):

The plan to charge larger gas guzzling vehicles more has the backing of Democratic Governor Deval Patrick who admits there are some kinks to work out, like how to protect larger families from being unfairly impacted. The Governor is calling for a wide array of new fees and taxes to fund and fix the state's ailing transportation system, which he says has suffered more than a decade of neglect.

Among the most controversial elements in the plan, Patrick is calling for a 19 cent increase in the state's gas tax. He is appealing directly to voters, crisscrossing the state and holding town hall style meetings, listening to the fears and concerns of Commonwealth residents.

"For the average driver what we're talking about is the equivalent of a large cup of coffee per week, but still, for some people that's a lot." Patrick said, admitting the choices are hard. [A cup of coffee?!? At 19 cents per gallon?!? This guy is an idiot!]

As part of the package, Patrick is promising to streamline the state's transportation bureaucracy and put the breaks on government spending.

"I think a gas tax without the reforms is unacceptable. More to the point, I will veto that bill. But, I think reforms without the new revenue doesn't really get us very far."

The administration estimates that up to 19 billion dollars will be needed over the next 20 years to pay down debt and to maintain and update the Massachusetts transportation system.

Here's what a local car dealer reacted:

Tim Lerchenfeldt, general manager of Cadillac Hummer Saab Village, a dealership in Norwwood, argues now is not the time for another fee, when sales are down and the auto industry is struggling.

"It's a penalty for driving an SUV, which currently is not the popular choice. Or you're being penalized for a lifestyle choice, or maybe the fact that you have a large family and you need that size vehicle to put them in and it just doesn't seem fair," said Lerchenfeldt, who adds that a given SUV owner may spend less time on the road and burn less gasoline than a given hybrid car owner.

Under the new proposal, owners of more fuel efficient vehicles would pay less. The ultimate goal of the policy is supposedly to get consumers to buy those instead.

Gee, as if owners of such cars aren't already paying more taxes on gas just due to the difference in gas consumption. I imagine they also pay a bit more on sales tax due to the higher value of the cars. So, let's pile more taxes on them.

Coicidentally, I had been holding on to an article I found a while ago that reported that, due to the economy, certain makes of cars might soon be ready for the dinosaur heap: Saturns, Saabs, and Hummers. MSN MoneyBlog reported last month:

Unless buyers (a few million of us -- or maybe just a couple of really adventurous billionaires) step forward, three of General Motors’ eight brands are now destined to join Oldsmobile in the history books. A fourth will be relegated to “niche” status, says GM. The company, until last year the world’s largest automaker, announced plans Tuesday that would drastically scale back its operations in order to stay alive.

Production of Saturn cars would stop in 2011 if the brand hasn’t been sold, GM said. Execs will decide whether to pull the plug on Hummer at the end of March, though rumors of Chinese interest have emerged (and been discounted) several times. The company says Saab will be an “independent business entity as of Jan. 1, 2010.” Take that to mean “dead” unless a reluctant Swedish government can be convinced to step in. Pontiac will emerge as a “highly focused niche brand” sold through Buick and GMC Truck showrooms.

So, it appears that as car manufacturers beg for federal hand-outs, paid for by the taxpayer, some state governments are proposing special fuel taxes ... paid for by the taxpayer. Oh, and if that taxpayer wishes to drown his troubles in a nice frosty glass of beer, perhaps crying because he's a beer brewer or autoworker who has lost his job, he'll have to pay more for that little indulgence, too. But, he'll have improved roads, more money for law enforcement to arrest him when he goes berserk, and substance abuse counseling for when the taxpayer's beer habit becomes too much. Oh, and the improved health care will also pay for his cirrhosis treatments.

Genius. Shear genius.

Work harder, comrades! Work harder!