The Obama administration (though probably not Obama specifically) has announced a new 15 cent tax on live Christmas trees. The best part of the tax is that the revenue is intended to promote real Christmas tree purchases! When has a tax ever increased commerce for that product?To be fair, 3/4 of the industry is in favor of this new tax, which funds an estimated $2 million ad campaign for real Christmas trees. But this begs the question - how is this the role of government?! If private tree farms want to fund a public relations campaign, they do not need the government to do so. If artificial tree manufacturers decided they need a PR campaign as well, will the federal government organize a tax on their products as well? What about Menorahs for Hanukkah or fireworks for the 4th of July?
I almost forgot, the preferred nomenclature is now "Holiday Tree," not the intolerant Christmas Tree.
