The photograph of Jacob and Sami-Lou Charais was almost iconic.
Like a cross between one of the 1930s photos of an Oklahoma family about to head out to escape the Dust Bowl and a Norman Rockwell magazine cover, the 6- and 4-year-olds were pictured, surrounded by pumpkins, sitting on the steps of their home.
Sami-Lou, the 4-year-old, actually looked like she was resting her head in her hand. Both children looked miserable.
Why?
They’ve been ordered by the Idaho State Tax Commission to stop selling pumpkins, even if they are using the proceeds for school projects.
They don’t have the right permits.
The kids’ parents reported “a tax commission employee informed them the stand was in violation of laws and had to shut its doors.”
They’re not fooling, according to an Associated Press report.
“A tax commission representative told the newspaper that even goods sold at roadside stands are taxable and that the stand did not have a proper permit.”
And the tax commission in Idaho does such a good job that there are no industries or mega-businesses committing violation, so the regulators have time to drive out to drop the weight of the state on a family road-side stand.
Taxpayers have only themselves to blame.
They pay the salaries for these regulators and since they are pretty good salaries, these folks need to do something to earn them, and that includes shutting down mom-and-pop stands over paperwork.
What difference does all this make to us?
Only this.
We continue to be encouraged by many in state and federal government to hire more and more regulators. Every one of them will have a job to do that will affect families like the Charais family.
It’s time for Americans to decide if that is really what we want out of the government we pay for.
After all, the bills still come to us.
— Chuck Smith