Odds and Ends

The Constitution of the United States is much more than just a document about your rights. It is also about restricting the reach of government into your life.

The Constitution is a simple, to the point collection of ideas. I have a pocket Constitution that also contains the Declaration of Independence. It fits nicely in my desk and can be read and understood in a matter of an hour. On the other hand, the tax code of the United States is over 12,000 pages and cannot be understood by anyone. Ask three IRS staffers the same question and you will get three very different answers. It is so complicated that most of President Obama's appointees have had trouble getting it right.

Now Mr. Obama has broken a campaign promise. It took just about two and a half months for the first new tax, an increase on cigarettes, to take effect. He stated no less than a dozen times while campaigning that he would not raise taxes on the poor and middle class. Yet, the demographics on smokers shows a majority are middle class or working poor. Buckle up boys and girls, it is going to be a bumpy ride.