A Tax by Any Other Name

So people in political situations have a hard time raising Taxes. Tax is a dirty word. Airlines have a hard time raising Fares. Fare is a dirty word. Universities are now having a hard time raising Tuitions. Tuition is a dirty word.

So how do our so called leaders plan to come up with the money they say they need to run things? Does it make sense that we are seeing the new great “American Hustle?” In the movie the lead says, “Look at this Rembrandt here. People come from all over the world to see it. It’s a fake. People believe what they want to believe.” Are we getting hustled?

Searching around, our esteemed leaders and business people have all found that what works is to circumvent the verbiage? No new taxes. No new tuitions. No new fares. Hey, hey wait a minute…hey wait for it…. how about fees?

Politicians can raise fees. We’ll just put in more parking meters. We’ll just charge administrative fees. We’ll just fee fee fee all the way home.

Airlines. How can they do it? Oh, I have it. They can charge fees. They can charge headphone fees. They can charge meal fees. They can charge baggage fees. We’ll just fee fee fee all the way home.

And the Universities? Well the governor and legislators are already on record as opposing raising tuition again. Governor Jerry Brown asks how was it that when his mother went through the University of California system she paid $26 a semester? That’s a good question. At the same time, he says we need more money for education. So what have they come up with? Ta Ta…Wait for it… “Success Fees!”

Success fees could go up to $790 next year in the U.C. and C.S.U systems. Success fees are defined as tools to make the institutions successful. No Drano Sherlock!!! What about making the students successful and not having debt so deep they’ll get crushed when they get out of your “Successful Institution?” Fee fee fee all the way home.

Administrative fees, baggage fees, success fees.

”C’mon. We’re not stupid out here are we? Please folks in government call things what they are. They are taxes, pure and simple. Say it and let’s talk. Please don’t let this become the next big “American Hustle.” Make Sense?