A chance to start the day at the breakfast bar inside Country Inn & Suites Cedar Bluff is one of the ways the west Knoxville hotel gets customers to stay the night.
“Complimentary breakfasts are a big draw. A lot of people travel and want their breakfasts included in their rate. That’s what we do,” said Country Inn and Suites Cedar Bluff General Manager Joe Valentino.
Who comes up with this stuff? Seriously!
Though all their hotels offer free breakfast, the meals’ cost get reflected in the room rates. The complimentary breakfasts cost his company more than a thousand dollars a week.
“[It costs] four to five thousand dollars a month for your typical focus-service hotel,” Valentino said.
That price tag may soon increase.
Ok, first off, there is really no such thing as a “free lunch”. Or, in this case, “free” complimentary breakfast. Does it not occur to the bozo who came up with this not so bright idea that the cost of the food is already added into the cost of the room, and therefore, has ALREADY been taxed.
Valentino points out that his company pays sales tax when the food is bought.
The proposed legislation would also tax it when it’s eaten.
Are they going to tax it when it comes out, as well as goes in? Oh, wait a minute. They already do that too! Every time you flush, you are paying tax on the utilities, etc.
According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr, “This proposal prevents erosion of our sales tax base because of judicial decisions and sets Tennessee back in line with the majority of states collecting this revenue.”
You mean Tennessee is suppose to double, and triple tax visitors to the state? Oh yeah, makes LOADS of sense. Will bring right on in, won’t it. Big business when you tax your average family heading to Dollywood, into having them rethink their plans.
Farr says he doesn’t expect the cost will affect consumers, but industry insiders say the opposite.
“It has to be passed on to the consumer. You can’t continue to absorb those costs or you’re out of business,” said Knoxville Tourism Alliance Executive Director Jill Thompson.
Since I’m one of those people who never eats the “free” breakfast, do I get taxed too? Why? I’m not making use of the food. Why should I pay an extra tax?
Thompson argues the added sales tax would soften the state’s competitive edge in the tourism industry, and at the very least, would pose new challenges to companies like Valentino’s which have already taken an economic hit.
The whole country is taking an economic hit. It’s affecting how people travel, and take vacations. They are staying closer to home. Add more taxes, and you might find people, not only staying closer to home, but at home.
“This is not the right time to do it. I don’t think there is a right time to do it. This will definitely impact decisions we make in the future,” Valentino said.
You can NOT tax your way into prosperity! I keep trying to talk the Mr into heading to Gatlinburg for a few days, or maybe a week. Lots to see over that way, and it’s really pretty. If we have to pay an extra tax at the motel, I’m rethinking my harassment about this. He’ll be pleased.
UPDATE: Ooops! Forgot to add important links. Find here.
In December of 1776, Thomas Paine penned these words:
THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God. (source)
These words are just as relevant now, as they were more than 2 centuries ago. We find ourselves in a war for our very survival as a nation, although there are some who do not see it that way. They would be the ones who would see us fall to our knees to tyranny. Others are as oblivious to the dangers as were many during the that time period.
We are watching an administration, and Congress, behaving more and more like King George III, and less like an elected body, meant to represent the People. Perhaps they actually are starting to believe they have been anointed by God, as have a great many monarchs? Do they really have the right to oppress the citizens for their own gain, politically and financially? NO. They do not!
I don’t put much set in polls, but one of the most accurate, unbiased, and reflective of the mood of the citizens, is Rasmussen. I’m not a “poll watcher”, but over the years, I have found that this one can, pretty much, be relied upon to project the mood of the country.
In yesterday’s poll. 10% approve of the job Congress is doing. 10 PERCENT! Wouldn’t you think someone in D.C. would take notice? No, why should they? There are way too many smart people up there, and the rest of us are just too stupid to know what’s best for us. This morning also brings some bad news for the President. Only 1/4 of likely voters approve of his performance. 25%.
Last time I checked, I was long past childhood. I learned not to put my hand on the stove. I know it burns, I don’t need someone I’ve never met, telling me this. I am an adult, making adult choices that concern my life. Both my parents are dead. I’m a grandmother. I think I know right from wrong.
When my daughter was little, I held her hand. I didn’t want her to run out into the street, so when she would head in that direction, I pulled her back by her hand. In order to keep her safe, I would have yanked her arm out of the socket, if need be, to keep her from harm. It appears we need to be the parents now, yanking our nation back from the brink of destruction.
Like our Founding Fathers, we are now facing a serious hardship, but I pray we will have a glorious triumph. At present, we may not be fighting a physical war. A war of bullets and blood. But we are fighting a war, none the less. A war for the very survival of our nation.
“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly…” We were handed our liberty by our fathers and grandfathers, who fought and died to save this nation from the tyranny that overtook Europe. Should we dishonor them by letting it slip through our fingers without a fight?
The number of Tennesseans licensed by the state to go armed increased by nearly 51,000 people last year — to 268,711, according to new state statistics.
That’s an increase of 23 percent over the 218,004 Tennesseans with handgun-carry permits on Jan. 1, 2009. By comparison, the 2008 increase was 14 percent, according to Tennessee Department of Safety figures.
In Shelby County, the number of residents with handgun-carry permits jumped by 5,205 in 2009 to 38,130, up 16 percent. The Shelby County increase in 2008 was 15 percent.
The new data indicate that about 6 percent of Tennessee residents old enough to have a handgun-carry permit — those ages 21 and up — had one at the start of this year.
The permit rate is a little lower among people with Memphis addresses. The 20,716 people in the city with gun permits account for about two out of every 50 Memphis residents 21 and up, or nearly 5 percent.
It seems to me that even more people over the age of 21, not just in Tennessee, but nationwide, should be armed. Why? Well, honestly, if you are a criminal, and you don’t know who is packing, you’re less likely to try to assault the citizen. I also don’t believe it should be necessary to have a permit of any sort to be personally armed. The Founders weren’t kidding when they added the 2nd Amendment:
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Marsha brought along a very large pile of paper, and I do mean a LARGE pile of paper! This wasn’t even the entire bill, just a portion of it. Which bill? Why the budget of course. You thought that pile of health crap bill was big? I’d really hate to see that little bitty woman try to lug the WHOLE budget from meeting to meeting. This “budget” is a $3.8 trillion dollar pile of paper. Shall I repeat that? THREE POINT 8 TRILLION DOLLARS…..$3,800,000,000,000.00! Of OUR money! Why is Washington so dead set on destroying the future of our children and grandchildren? It made no sense to raise the debt limit to $14 trillion when these people can’t figure out how to manage, efficiently, or effectively the funds we have allowed them in the past?
I know it is standard Democratic practice to take the money and liberty of others to line their own pockets. I wasn’t aware that practice extended to web design. However, if you have no problem with the first step, the second would seem to follow easily. What am I talking about? Seems Representative Davis’ campaign couldn’t find a good enough theme for his website or a design firm good enough to build one for him. So he took one from someone else. No word on whether his actions will be called a “technological crisis communication enhancement initiative” or not …
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate a string of livestock shootings. According to reports, Ronnie Johnson of xxxx County Home Road told officers somebody had shot two of his horses during the night of Jan.29.
Johnson said he believed the first horse, a Belgian mare, died from a gun shot wound to the chest and said the second, a spotted Belgian colt, suffered a similar injury to the neck.
(…)
J.P. Crotts of xxxx County Home Road reported his pregnant Black Angus cow shot earlier the same morning. At the scene, officers spoke with Kenny Talley of xx Covery Chapel Road and Eddie Milan of xx Covery Chapel Road who both said they noticed one of Crott’s cattle down as they drove by the previous night.
Then on Jan.31, T.F. Rich of xxx Moore Road also reported two of his donkeys shot after he said a neighbor saw a pckup truck pull up at 3:30am earlier the same day and fire twice.
According to Rich, officer and the owners of the slain animals found .30-06 casings at each of the three shootings.
While Rich says Crotts’ cow suffered a gunshot wound between the eyes, both of his donkey died from shots to the neck.
What kind of garbage goes around, shooting animals, just for the ‘fun of it’???? For many people around here, these animals are their livelihood! I honestly pray they find the scum buckets, and shove them UNDER the jail!
If anyone has any information about these slime balls, I really hope you’ll do the right thing, and contact the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department! 731-925-3377
I finally got around to perusing the local fish wrap from last week, and came across a very interesting, and irritating article. As usual, there is no link on the site for the article, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.
No money for Crump roads, but state can help walkers
There’s no state grant money available to repair Crump’s crumbling roadways, but Tennessee can help with the city’s well-traveled walking trail.
The Crump Board of Mayor and Aldermen applied to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation this month for an $80,000 grant to upgrade and fix a foot path in the city park.
The article goes on to praise the trail, and talk about how many people use it, and how it helps schools on field trips. Not another word about the streets with huge potholes. Nothing about how dangerous said roads have become due to the deteriorating conditions.
Now, I’m all for kids having a park, and all that, but seriously. When I was a young sprout, we took nature field trips too. We walked out the back door of the school, across the playground, the baseball field, and into the woods. We got to chew on sarsaparilla, learned the difference between poison ivy and poison oak, and all sorts of nature related things.
The city park is used for a variety of things, all through the year, which is great. But to be perfectly honest, I’d much rather the mayor and aldermen work on getting the roads fixed!
Starting this weekend and continuing into next week, I will host a series of listening sessions across the 7th District. These will not be traditional town hall meetings, where a Member of Congress stands at the podium and tells you what is going on in Washington. Instead, I want to hear from you.
I want to hear what ideas you have for how we can do things better in Washington. I want to hear what concerns you have about the bills that we are working on. I want to know what you think is working in Washington and what you think isn’t. More than anything, I think of these sessions as idea raisers, where we can work together to turn your good ideas into solutions in DC.
We will start with seven sessions in the western and mid-district over the coming weekend, with more sessions to be announced in Montgomery county and elsewhere soon.
I hope to see you there!
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12
1:15-2:00 PM Somerville
Bank of Fayette County Community Room
106 East Market Street, Somerville
2:30-3:15 PM: Bolivar
Joe’s Restaurant
1410 West Market Street, Bolivar
4:00-5:00 PM: Selmer
U.T. Martin at Selmer
1269 Tennessee Avenue, Selmer
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13
9:00-10:00 AM: Henderson
Henderson City Hall
121 Crook Avenue, Henderson
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Savannah
Sweet Pea’s Family Restaurant
869 Pickwick Street South, Savannah
12:45-1:30 PM: Lexington
Grecian Family Restaurant
741 W Church St, Lexington
2:00-2:45 PM: Parsons U.T. Martin at Parsons
535 Tennessee Ave S, Parsons
The new year could be a huge year for change if we the American People do not forget what happened in 2009 and keep our focus on battling back the march of big government and their control on every aspect of our lives. In 2010, like 1980 we have a chance to change the course of this country that we love back to the principles of the United States Constitution. 2010 will not complete the change, but it is the primary step to getting to the real change in 2012 when we have the opportunity to elect someone in office that loves this country and the American people.
Has anyone stopped to think about why the other countries of the world do not like us is because we are the only country where the people have the real power. And that we should stop trying to copy the world and their system and they should come on over to our Constitutional, Representative form of government where the people have the true power in leading their country to prosperity.
I have been involved in the Tea Party events that happened this past year and I can tell you that despite what is being reported, there is a wide range of people from different backgrounds and cultures that attended these events and it was not just a bunch of “angry white men.” However, we as the American people need to resist creating a third party and begin the process of cleaning the Republican Party of the “Democrat Lites” that have infected it.
The Republican party is broken, it does not and cannot be discarded, it needs to be revitalized. It is revitalized by we the American people who tell the leadership that we will not allow them to put weak candidates up against a Democrat because there is not real different between them.
The candidate must adhere to the common principles of the Constitution as it was written and not how some people want to interpret it today. Our founding fathers were able to create a country that states we have equal protection under the law and over the last number of decades that has erroded to the point where equal protection no longer applies and the people in Washington no longer ask if the legislation they try to pass is constitutional.
We the American people have a chance in the fall of 2010 to clean house! We have a chance to change the course of history from darkness to light again! Are you ready to make history and be the people that future generations will say, “Those are the Americans that saved our country!”
So the last post we started by discussing the governments two largest social programs and we busted the myth that they are well run and successful. Now we continue by reviewing Amtrack and the Unites States Postal Service.
Amtrak is a well run Government Corporation, right?
Amtrak is a federally chartered corporation that was founded by an act of Congress in October 1970 to operate the intercity railways that went away with the introduction of the car and airplane as the primary way for people to get from city to city. A report from 2002 by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy stated it this way:
