10 May 2005Correcting the oversupplyOne of the graffiti at the Old Economists' Home says: "If you want less of something, tax it." Jeff Jarvis offers some suggestions:
[L]et's tax checkered flannel shirts, polyester suits, car alarms that make 20 obnoxious sounds and never turn off, Dr. Phil, mullets, Britney Spears CDs, bare-midriff tops over size 6, Speedos in any size, magnetic ribbons on the backs of cars in any color, Starbucks orders of more than four words, pop-up ads, tofu, PowerPoint, and gum.
A few of those, I contend, are at least somewhat arguable. (A blog tax, you say? Bosh.) Also need to tax spandex pants over size 6. And how about making everyone get weighed once a year and however many pounds they are above the obese line ... tax 'em! Posted by: Robert at 8:16 PM on 10 May 2005I'm for taxing columns in which people suggest taxing checkered flannel shirts. Posted by: McGehee at 8:41 AM on 11 May 2005I am minded of a brief Python man-in-the-street segment, wherein this haughty fellow declaims: "I would tax Raquel Welch." And then adds, closer to sotto voce: "And I've a feeling she'd tax me." As someone with an affinity for checkered flannel shirts, I must weigh in. It may be an acquired taste, but some patterns of said shirts are better than others. I once wore a tasteful such shirt (all mine are tasteful by the way) to a comedy show, sitting at stage side with another flannel clad guy sitting at another table. One out-of-state comedian tagged that ol' boy mercilessly for his attire, while I escaped unscathed. Also, to show the good character that goes along with an appreciation for flannel, that good 'ol boy took the ribbing very well. Posted by: MikeH at 1:45 PM on 11 May 2005 |