Fraters Libertas

Give 'Em What They Want

As if having to endure a major disaster wasn't enough, the people of the Gulf Coast now have to put up with politicians deciding what's good for them. No post-Katrina tax breaks for liquor stores:

House Republicans decided Tuesday to stop casinos, massage parlors and liquor stores from cashing in on tax breaks for businesses in Gulf Coast communities ravaged by hurricanes.

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., lead the movement to carve those businesses out of any special tax incentives intended to lure jobs and commerce back to the region.

"Federal tax dollars need to be focused on those who truly need the government's help, like the poor, vulnerable and elderly," Wolf said in a statement on the House floor.

Let's go through the list of those "who truly need the government's help" in the words of Rep. Wolf. and what that need may entail.

1. The Poor--Okay so they may not "need" booze, but it certainly helps make life a little easier to take. They could definitely make use of a liquor store, probably now more than ever.

2. The Vulnerable--Not sure exactly what this means, but I gotta think being "vulnerable" means it's probably hard to secure a little lovin' that we all need from time to time. Lovin' that is available (for a price) at most massage parlors.

3. The Elderly--Anyone who's ever been to a casino knows that after the home and the hospital, casinos are the most commonly frequented destination for seniors. If feeding the one-armed bandit keeps grandpa occupied and engaged, more power to him and his plastic cup full of nickels.

The special tax incentives would not apply to a list of recreational businesses: country clubs, casinos, hot tub facilities, liquor stores, massage parlors, private and commercial golf courses, racetracks and tanning parlors.

In other words, everything that makes life worth living. So what industry is the guvamint goin' to reward?

Small timber operators, however, get help reforesting their lands.

Which, in a matter of fifteen to twenty years will result in more trees for the region. I'm sure that promise of reforestation will do much more to relieve the suffering and loss that Hurricane Katrina survivors have experienced than a drink, "massage", or gamble ever could.