Finkbeiner eyes 5-cent tax on each plastic store bag in Toledo...
This article published Wednesday, November 19, 2008 entitled, “Finkbeiner eyes 5-cent tax on each plastic store bag in Toledo, Merchants may tack on extra penny” (By Ignazio Messina, Blade Staff Writer)...
“duh mayor,” bless his greedy liberal (read as, flaming democrat) heart just had yet another larcenous brain fart...
”The mayor is following New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and wants to tax you an extra 5 cents for every plastic bag you take home from a store.”
That would be the aforementioned brain fart...
“In a letter sent yesterday to city council, Mr. Finkbeiner said other cities are "aggressively acting to discourage citizens from using disposable shopping bags."
He said the bags litter the streets, clog sewers, and take up valuable landfill space.”
So why not simply outlaw them, instead of taxing them? Unless...., it's not really about the bags as much as it is about mo money, mo money, mo money...
”Mr. Finkbeiner, in his letter, promised to promote passage of "a green fee" for the bags, but he did not specify an amount. Council President Mark Sobczak said the mayor has discussed copying the New York plan, which would allow merchants to charge an extra penny per bag.”
Ah, there it is Taxation and a bit of Profit for the vendor (perp)...
”District Councilman Lindsay Webb said she would vehemently oppose the plan.”
Well, that's one intelligent vote...
”Councilman Joe McNamara, on the other hand, said it could have a positive impact on the environment.”
While Joe opts for the more politically correct duck and cover...
”Robert Reinbolt, the mayor's chief of staff, said people could simply avoid the extra cost at the checkout line by bringing their own bags.”
Good ole Bobby, always backing “duh mayor...”
”"They don't have to pay if they use cloth or paper. There would be no cost," Mr. Reinbolt said. "We are trying to address the long-term viability of our landfill, and this is one way to go in that direction."
Answer me this then Bobby boy, if plasric bags are bad..., thenwhy does Toledo allow us to put our garbage out in plastic trash bags???
Take all the time you need Bobby boy, I got plenty of time for this answer. . .
12 comments:
HT,
Regardless of the nature of the proposal or its suposed impact on the environment, I find it difficult to follow the lead of Mayor Bloomberg since he tends to ride roughshod over things like laws for property tax rebates and term limits for the office he holds. That our esteemed Mayor is using him as a role model is truly terrifying. Is it possible that having run out of stupidity of his own, that he is now forced to steal some from others?
That being said, this tax is just one more example of Toledo's "front door / back door" taxation. They get us up front with income tax and levies, and sneak up behind us with trash fees, red light cameras, and now a plastic bag bit of nonsense.
"We are trying to address the long-term viability of our landfill, and this is one way to go in that direction."
Um, have the measured the mass of volume of a plastic grocery bag? It is much less than a gram per bag and a tiny fraction of a CC. Yes, they do last for a zillion years, but come on, this is a lame excuse. If that was the real intent then they'd be better off taxing styrofoam peanuts 5 cents each. At least those have some volume to them.
Tim,
But Bloomberg is "duh mayor's" idol/hero...
"duh mayor" just LOVES to ride roughshod over just about anything and anyone; and he hasn't gotten to that pesky term limits thing yet, but stay tuned...
As for your query re: "duh mayor" having run out of his own stupidity, fear not, for in the end it will be Bloomberg taking stupid lessons from our *illustrious* mayor.
For I believe that no one can out do our *beloved* mayor when it comes to stupidity, whether it be native or borrowed/copied/stolen.
L0C0loco,
Consider that “duh mayor” can't wrap his feeble brain around the concept of an empty bag, only full ones, and therein lies the bulk of his problem.
That said, he carps about empty plastic bags, yet he allows us to (you got it...) put our garbage in plastic bags for pickup...
As for taxing styrofoam peanuts, he can't bring himself to do that; professional courtesy, doncha know ;-)
I would never be so bold as to come to the aid of certain people on this blog. Herein lies the question, just how hard is it to take your own bags with you? I do it all the time, only I go one step further and use cloth bags!No medal from the peanut crowd needed. If everyone would help this would not be an issue!
Judy,
I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say in your sentence, but on to the meat of your post.
Here in Thunkitland Mrs. “T” always asks for paper bags at Kroger's because we NEED them. And, yes, we recycle; the paper bags are filled with all sort of boxes, cartons and newspapers/magazines.
So the bags are recycled along with the rest of our recyclable fiber wastes.
I even rinse out and remove the plastic cap parts of our soy milk cartons.
When trash collection day and recycling day coincide our paltry 1/4 -1/3 bag of garbage pales in comparison to our collection of recyclables, especially our recyclable “fiber.”
Still I can soon see several cloth grocery bags in our future, but that's when the used kitty litergoes right into the garbage can sans the trusty Monette's bag ;-)
(Oh, most all of our yard wastes and kitchen wastes go in the garden, so we're doing our part.)
;-)
larcenous brain fart...
I may have to borrow that phrase in the future, making sure to give you proper credit of course.
:-)
Now, nickel me this.
What this country needs is a good 5-cent cigar!
Well, at least, Timothy Higgins could use that! But, we need to be careful of that cigar stuff or the smoking police will come a'running!!
Big Brother is e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e...
Lisa,
Sorry for not addressing this sooner, but of course, by all means, knock yourself out!
You may also use the one I gave JC for the Blade articles also; it involved chihuahuas, as I remember ;-)
(Sorry about the late response, I've been busy lately)
Roland,
A good 5-cent cigar???
If it came in a plastic wrapper. . .
Both the Smoking Police and the Plastic Police (not to mention Tim) might all be looking for your sorry butt :-)
Just another Carty revenue scheme. It never ends does it?
-Sepp,
"It never ends does it?"
No it doesn't. just like the ignorance/unconcern of the average Toledo voter.
Remember, they've put him in the big seat three times now; and he's even more arrogant and defiant with each election. . .
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