And it came to pass in those days, that there was an economic
crisis and a decree went out from Washington, Sacramento, San
Benito County and the City of Hollister that everything would be
taxed some more.
And to pay these taxes everyone had to labor at several jobs so
they travelled the length and breadth of the land looking for
work.
And it came to pass in those days, that there was an economic crisis and a decree went out from Washington, Sacramento, San Benito County and the City of Hollister that everything would be taxed some more.
And to pay these taxes everyone had to labor at several jobs so they travelled the length and breadth of the land looking for work.
And Joe was foreclosed on and his family was out in the street and so went up to the city of Hollister and stopped to find work and he brought with him Mary, great with child.
At a friendly place he met Angel and inquired as to the tax status of the area and Angel gave him the information.
“We have all the regular excise taxes,” Angel said. “On retail sales we tax dyed diesel fuel, dyed kerosene, compressed natural gas, alcohol fuels, fuels used on inland waterways and the sale of trucks, trailers, semitrailer chassis, bodies, and tractors.”
“We have manufacturer’s excise taxes on gas guzzlers, tires, aviation and vehicle gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, liquid petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied hydrogen, liquefied fuel from coal, biomass, liquefied natural gas, coal mined from under or above ground), certain vaccines, sport fishing equipment, fishing tackle boxes, electric outboard motors, sonar devices, fishing rods and poles, bows and arrows and arrow shafts.”
“As far at facilities and services go, there are excise taxes on telephone and teletypewriter services, transportation of people or property by air, international air travel and certain gambling wagers and occupational taxes. Oh, I left out passenger transportation by water, a use tax on heavy vehicles, tax on domestic and imported petroleum, distilled spirits, wine, beer, tobacco products, firearms and ammunition.”
“Wow,” said Joe, that doesn’t sound too good. Do you mean to say that the manufacturer is paying a tax and the buyer is also paying a tax? You know it’s not what you make, it’s what you get to keep that counts and I have a wife about to give birth to worry about. Is that all of it?
“No,” said Angel, “there are all the taxes and fees from DMV, federal and state income taxes, FICA and Medicare taxes and there is also unemployment insurance tax. We have corporate income taxes and transfer taxes, we have capital gains taxes and inheritance taxes; we have property taxes and franchise fees (actually taxes), licenses fees and much more and we have a whopping sales tax, from the state and the city. ”
“In fact,” said Angel, “more taxes are coming. The state wants to raise the sales tax, the gasoline tax, apply an income tax surcharge and an extraction tax for oil.”
“Golly,” said Joe.
“Hey,” Angel added, “just be happy you don’t live in New York State, they are proposing 88 new taxes including taxes on digital downloads and non-diet sodas.
“I think we’ll have to move on,” said Joe, “we don’t have much money, we’ll just stay the night. Where’s a good motel?”
“Two blocks down,” Angel replied, “but make sure you have enough to pay the Hotel Occupancy Tax.”
“I don’t,” said Joe, “Mary and I will just have to find a farmhouse and ask permission to sleep in the barn with the animals.” They found a friendly farmer, stayed in the barn with the animals and that night Mary gave birth – the rest is history.
It appears that this may be the only case on record where too many taxes did some good.
Marty Richman is a Hollister resident. His column runs Tuesdays. Reach him at [email protected].
