Originally posted at American Thinker. Blog
Just when New Zealand seemed like the place to move, with the centre-right government, “considering cutting income tax rates,” and all, and the European Union comes out with a proposal that makes it hard to chose where expatriates should go when fleeing the US.
Americans used to think that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness encompassed the basis for human rights and now the European Union confuses the issue by declaring, “traveling a human right.” That’s right, we can now add traveling to the list directly behind the right to universal health care.
The EU is so dedicated to insuring the right to traveling that they are “launching a scheme to subsidize vacations with taxpayers’ dollars for those too poor to afford their own trips.” Do they fund haircuts in Europe too, because everyone needs a haircut now and again? Call it the right to good grooming.
The Times of London reports Antonio Tajani, the European Union commissioner for enterprise and industry, “proposed a strategy” that if the right to vacation program becomes universal, it could cost EU taxpayers as much as half a billion dollars a year. Mere pittance when measured against subsidizing tours to Madrid.
America too is descending further and further into European style socialism, while Barack and his band of belligerent reformers promote a new bill of rights right here at home. Obama’s “halves and halves not” bill includes homes, free education, health care and support of 50% of the population by the other 50%. What’s to stop vacations from being added to the “rights” list?
The European Union commissioner claims that, “Traveling for tourism today is a right. The way we spend our holidays is a formidable indicator of our quality of life.” Sort of like Obama believing being denied the right to health care affects America’s quality of life.
The EU commissioner for enterprise and industry has yet to decide, “Just who gets to enjoy the travel package.” It is likely EU taxpayers would be forced to foot, “some of the vacation bill for seniors, youths between the ages of 18 and 25, disabled people, and families facing “difficult social, financial or personal” circumstances.” One additional person will be subsidized for each single disabled or elderly traveler because human rights advocates know that free vacations include the right to travel with a friend.
In the EU where income taxes combined with VAT can siphon off upwards of 70% of personal income, what’s an additional tax burden to ensure travel funds for the underprivileged? Especially, if hard earned money is going to the morally righteous cost of cultural appreciation tours for overworked youth, elderly hangers on and the trek-bound disabled.
What’s wrong with paying people to go on vacation? Steal from one group all year long and then provide the indigent with a treat–a subsidized Hawaiian shirt, carry on luggage and a weeklong cheap holiday. That’s change, even Barack Obama and globetrotting Michelle can believe in, right behind energy efficient vehicles, healthy food and the right to affordable housing.
European Union commissioner Mr. Tajani has one specific goal, which is to ensure the “right to be tourists,” remains integral to the proposal. According to Tajani, “right to travel” will be a pilot program until 2013, and then fully launched.
Perfect! Because if the right to gratis holidays has not been passed into law in the US by the 2012 election, insolvent Americans can always move to socialist Europe, which by then will be a familiar home away from home, and in the process, maybe even get a free vacation.
That’s what I’m talking about…
