Oregon Bicycle Tax...I Want To Ride My Bicycle...Bicycle...Bicycle!

Advisory: Video contains some (inoffensive) glimpses of (slight) nudity.

This is as good as it gets. This is the kind of story for which I live. This is a story about Full Circle Liberalism, because it's funny when Liberals are TAXED and assessed FEES!

In the past, it was those who engaged in "vices" that were hit hard with taxes. Mostly, users of tobacco and those who enjoy a cocktail took the hit.

Could it be that because so many people quit smoking that Oregon state revenue also dropped and now the time has come to tax the bikers? Full Circle Liberalism...how can you not just love this type of story?

Oregon will tax bicyclists.  The Washington Times:

...the state Legislature’s approval of the first statewide bike tax in the nation has fallen flat with riders.

Democratic Gov. Kate Brown is expected to sign the sweeping $5.3 billion transportation package, which includes a $15 excise tax on the sale of bicycles costing more than $200 with a wheel diameter of at least 26 inches.

Even though the funding has been earmarked for improvements that will benefit cyclists, the tax has managed to irk both anti-tax Republicans and environmentally conscious bikers.

Ahhhhhh, da poor widdle environmentally (un)conscious bikers and the sound of their communal Liberal Whining. (Sniff, sniff..) it's just...so movingly touching.

Dear Whining Oregon Bicyclists, if you can pay over $200 for  a bike, you can afford another $15 for "the state".

Continued from the same linked story above:

BikePortland publisher Jonathan Maus called it “an unprecedented step in the wrong direction.”

“We are taxing the healthiest, most inexpensive, most environmentally friendly, most efficient and most economically sustainable form of transportation ever devised by the human species,” Mr. Maus said.

Wrong, Mr. Maus. The most inexpensive, most environmentally friendly, most efficient and most economical sustainable form of transportation EVER - is WALKING. Besides, what adult makes a statement that will be published, saying, "[INSERT TOPIC] is the best thing EVER"?  Are you in middle school, Mr. Maus?

It might take you a few hours or more to walk the 5 or 25 miles to work, but don't you feel better about not using a bicycle, which takes natural resources, steel, labor, rubber, plastic and a bunch of other stuff. Plus the retail mark-up; 'ho, we can't forget the greedy, money and soul-sucking, bastard corporatists.  They're making a profit...how dare they!

And let's not forget, the bike is not going to drive itself to your local bike shop. No, it will probably get there by being transported in a large semi-truck. And if your precious bike is made in overseas, then it spent some time on a cargo ship. My God, think of the carbon footprint. How dare you own a bicycle, you aristocratic elite bastards!

But it takes natural resources and stuff to make shoes and hiking boots too! Yeah, but still not as much as a bicycle.

More from the same story:

Oregon Republican Party Chairman Bill Currier blasted what he described as Ms. Brown’s “endless obsession with finding new and innovative ways to take money out of the pockets of Oregon taxpayers.”

This Libertarian (that would be me) is MORE than joyous to see a Democrat governor in a deeply imbued Blue state, find "new and innovative ways to take money [from taxpayers]." Especially the taxpayer tri  bicycle riders.

More, from the same story:

The Street Trust, a Portland pro-bike group, praised the overall transportation package while saying that the bike tax “sends the wrong message to those trying to help.”

“Let’s be frank: This bike tax is very disappointing,” said The Street Trust’s Romain Bonilla.

Oh, Romain, that's so sad. Yes, it is so very disappointing, eh Romain?

Liberal Whining...The Best Ever. EVER!

And this nugget, from the same story.

Bikers cheered last year when Portland passed a four-year, 10-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline aimed at improving roads[.]

Yeeeeeeeaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh...typical Liberal refrain; "tax thee but not me."

On a different issue, Gov. Brown has decreed "free abortions for all."  The Washington Times:

“The ability to control our bodies and make informed decisions about health are critical to providing all Oregonians the opportunity to achieve our full potential and live productive, thriving lives,” the Democratic chief executive said in an email. “Attempts to deny access to contraceptives and family planning are an attack on all Oregonians, particularly women of color, low-income and young women.”

Yes, I guess in order to achieve full potential, living productive and BEST EVER  THRIVING lives, a free abortion is an inalienable right. And so is a bicycle. Maybe?
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Spelling/Punctuation correction(s) 8/10/2017