In response to Senator Schumer's article: The EPA has decided that the flatulations and belching of cows (and chickens and hogs to a lesser extent) demands a retribution by their owners, in order to protect the environment! The EPA has long had the ability to levy fines on polluters of water (oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.) for poisoning the water.

But taxing “flat-belch” at a proposed rate of $175 per cow? Washington legislators may believe that by extending the taxing authority to other agencies it can be seen as a heaven-sent solution to a financially-strapped economy, non-agricultural, that is.

Where does it stop?

Consider fish. Fish use oxygen. They are more numerous in the Hudson River since it has been cleansed of industrial dumping and are increasingly competing for air. (When ozone is diminished, we have global warming.) It would seem prudent to tax the fish. But since fish in these waters are considered to be public property, it becomes necessary to tax the public.

Of course, if you eat fish you would be contributing to the control of these finny creatures. If, as a taxpayer, you do not eat your share of fish, you may be able, with an agreement by EPA, to accrue an oxygen credit similar to carbon credits earned by industry.

But, back to the cows: Clearly the country has untapped liquidity which could be harnessed or harvested in order to easily fund entitlements, bailouts and tap-outs.

All that is needed is to extend taxing authority to federal agency heads.

“Change” is coming ... are you ready?

Richard Redmond

Scipio Center