Sense and Nonsense

The Way Things Work

Tanning Tax

Remember a few weeks ago when the news broke that the health-insurance reform bill included a "Bo-Tax," a levy on cosmetic surgical procedures?  Well, in the current version of the Senate bill, that proposed tax has been eliminated, thanks to lobbying by the American Medical Association, which objected to the provision. (Goddam doctors might lose some income!) 

 Well, ever devoted to protecting government revenues, the good doctors suggested that a better idea would be to add a 10 percent tax tax on tanning services.  The president of the Indoor Tanning Association noted: "We do have a lobbying presence in Washington, but not to the extent of the medical industry."  Ha.  That's for sure.  

So, if this passes, all my narcissistic students who regularly hie themselves off to tanning salons will be contributing more to the public treasury.  Who says this isn't a wonderful world?

UPDATE:  More on this here. 

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Aetna Sucks

So does Joe Lieberman. See here.  Too bad they have to hurt everybody else with their tawdriness.

Calling Dick a Dick

Jim Fallows takes the high road here, by first praising George Bush's handling of the interregnum period and his post-presidency, then taking his shots at Dick Cheney, whose behavior since leaving office has been reprehensible.  

Sure, sure.  Bush is a fine fellow (by which I mean a lying, no-good piece of shit).  But such praise is too good for Cheney, who is one of the most repulsive humans ever to walk the planet.  

Conservatives: Always On the Right Side of History

 © John Sherffius

Gotta Love the BoTax

What a great idea: make these stupid narcissists pay through their fixed noses and lifted butts. 

And here's a proposal to tax the vanity industry more broadly.  Wonderful.

It's Time for "Best of . . ." Lists

You know the year is nearing an end when listmania sets in.  

Here is Daniel Kurtzman's list of the 30 Funniest Political Videos of the Decade.

Kennedy's Stooge

Temporary U.S. Senator Paul Kirk, flaccid and uninspiring to date in his stewardship of a Massachusetts seat in the Senate, has now sprung to life, revealing why members of the Kennedy family (and other wealthy denizens of the Cape and the Islands) were so keen to see him appointed as Ted Kennedy's interim replacement.  Kirk has embraced cowardice and self-interest by urging President Obama to delay federal approval of the Cape Wind project.  Like Kennedy before him, Kirk has now done the bidding of all his fellow wealthy elitists and NIMBYists.  They're no doubt delighted with him.   I say shame on him.  

As flawed as they may be in other ways, all four Democratic candidates vying for this Senate seat support the Cape Wind project.  They are on the right side of this issue.  

You Can't Make This Stuff Up!

This kind of stuff.