Caffe' Corretto con Grappa
Add a slug of good whiskey, sambuca or grappa to a cup of Espresso, and there you have it, Caffe’ Corretto. Just what I need after reading about the lunacy Gibson Guitars is going through, courtesy of Mordor the Federal Government. Make that two slugs of whiskey.
Working as I do for a multinational company, I’ve had plenty of training on import and export rules and regulations. I know about the staggering number of alphabet-soup Federal agencies that have overlapping jurisdiction over the import/export process, and who as a rule don’t play well together. I’ve been drilled about the heavy penalties for non-compliance. I’ve read manuals, sat through grueling power point sessions, and taken regular online training.
And yet, stories like these still astound.
This from yesterday’s Reuters headline: Gibson CEO Slams U.S. Raids As “Overreach” .
As some readers might already know, Gibson Guitar is subject of an investigation the Justice Department and has even been raided by federal agents for import/export violations under the Lacey Act. This is not a new story. It’s been going on since 2009.
There’s lots of back and forth, wailing, gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair, support protests in Nashville (Gibson’s HQ), and political speak from self-serving politicians. Meanwhile, the Feds want to confiscate Gibson’s inventory.
The New York Times reports from the left that this story is providing ready fodder for anti-government activists. Logging Law Rocked Hard as Tea Party, Enviros Battle Over Gibson Guitar and Drop That Guitar and Put Up Your Hands
Fox News has a predictable response from the right: Gibson Feds Want Guitar Woodwork Done By Foreign Labor
The amazing thing is that according the various sources, only 1 percent of the exotic hardwood trade is used for in the manufacture of musical instruments, with the 99% balance going for furniture and flooring. One percent! It’s not even up to Pareto Principle standards. All these countless hours spent by federal agents on one percent. Make that a fraction of a percent, since it’s only Gibson that’s been targeted.
WTF?
photo credit by Takumi Yoshida
Are there any non self-serving, non self-congratulatory politicians in either party? I come down on the side that the government is way out of line with its punishment of Gibson. Are they trying to drive more American jobs overseas?
The Biz of Life recently posted..Economic Freedom and Quality of Life
Hi Biz – this is one of those weird cases of government overkill, much like the armed raids on raw milk producers and sellers. Completely out of proportion to the “infraction” in question. If you go through the NY Times “put up your hands” link, buried deep within the article is the incredible observation that the US Government is more concerned about enforcing Indian export rules than the Indian authorities themselves. That’s a little hard to believe, since the Indian government is all about rules and regulations and red tape.
[...] 101 Centavos: Caffe’ Corretto: The Government Hates Guitars [...]
what a great way to WASTE tax money. I don’t get it really, is this how you fight unemployment?
The government in the US needs a major overhaul!
BeatingTheIndex recently posted..Aroway Energy: A Rising Junior Oil Company in Alberta’s Hot Peace River Arch Area
Well, the government agents are fully employed…
I read that article a few weeks ago, and I found it to be pretty dumb… Doesn’t the government have anything better to do?
Robert @ My Multiple Incomes recently posted..Counting on Investment Income
Highly trained professional government agents at work…