Posted by
Andrews on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 4:21:50 PM
I have started a new tradition here on my blog. Well, actually, I just needed a catchy headline and so I invented an award, but I can pretend it is a new tradition, at least until I forget to award one next year.
Most of readers know I am not Catholic, not even a Christian, but there really is no good Jewish equivalent of the patron of lost causes (though after Oslo, the IDF comes close - even when they win a war, the press makes sure they lose), so poor old Saint Jude gets the nod. And thus, I am proud to award the First Annual Saint Jude Award for the political movement most steadfastly sticking to a clearly lost cause.
And the recipient this year is FairTax.org for their mass emailing entitled "Mr. Obama: Support the FairTax". Short of an email entitled "Ham and Cheese for Yom Kippur" or "Wine Selling Opportunbities in Mecca", I can't think of an appeal less likely to be heard. Obama is already probably terrified at the prospect of a recession, which will inevitably cut off the massive funds he needs for his sweeping social programs. The only chance he has left to enact any of his liberal agenda is an intrusive regulatory program justified by the recession, perhaps coupled with some attempts at wealth redistribution. There is no way he is going to enact a tax plan which takes out of his hands the pwoer to level incomes.
So, there you have it, the single most futile appeal I have seen in the past year. Guess it is time for me to start watching for the new winner, just in case I actually remember to award this prize again.
POSTSCRIPT
Actually, I can think of one way Obama might enact the FairTAx, but not one that would please the FairTax.org folks. He could enact it on top of our income tax, as an added sales tax. But somehow I don't think that was exactly what they had in mind.