Backstabber Report

Tax Man Shuts Down Childrens Pumpkin Stand

(Photo: Kyle Mills / Lewiston Tribune)

There’s no better teaching program for a 6 and 4 year old to learn about the perils of a big government and Big Brother, than letting them try to make a few bucks as little entrepreneurs selling pumpkins in front of their house.

Jacob and Sami-Lou Charais have realized what it means to try and make a few extra dollars and start a business in an over-regulated country.

An Idaho family that has a pumpkin farm thought it might be nice for the kids to sell some of the pumpkins in front of the house. The kids were trying to make some money for their local school to purchase sports equipment. A state tax collector showed up and smashed the business because it lacked proper permits.

You would think that these piranha tax collectors would have taken a cue from one of their brethren who shut down another child’s “business” when A similar event occurred in Portland, OR in August. 7-year-old Julie Murphy’s Lemonade stand was shut down by food inspectors at a local art fair for also lacking proper permits. That county later apologized.

Dan and Kami Charais told the local newspaper, The Lewiston Tribune, that a Tax Commission employee informed them the stand was in violation of laws and had to shut its doors.

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.

We think there is nothing better than for the representatives of the IRS to keep these  young hoodlums in check. The next thing you know they’ll be giving away their finger paint art to Grandma without filing the proper paperwork to the IRS, to help her avoid paying the tax for a transfer of valuable goods.

And our government wonders why people are voting everyone out of office and the Tea Party movement has become a force of millions. People are sick of the stupidity of a government bureaucracy that has bigger problems than renegade children selling pumpkins and lemonade, without reporting a few pennies in taxes due to it.

When we’re all selling apples on the street because of the failing economy and joblessness we’ll be sure to send Uncle Sam his share.

Perhaps this newest generation will be the ones that storm the Bastille one day.