The insanity of government regulations

[madfranks]

I present the following recently passed law from the Federal Register as evidence that the regulatory environment of the United States is insane. Did the Soviet Union even regulate this far?

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/03/16/2011-6130/regulations-issued-under-the-export-grape-and-plum-act-revision-to-the-minimum-requirements


Regulations Issued Under the Export Grape and Plum Act; Revision to the Minimum Requirements

A Rule by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 03/16/2011

Summary

This rule revises the requirements under the Export Grape and Plum Act. This rule changes the minimum bunch weight requirement for grapes exported to Japan, Europe, and Greenland from one-half pound to one-quarter pound. This rule also updates the list of European countries defined in the regulation and removes the additional 2 percent tolerance for sealed berry cracks on the Exotic grape variety. This action was recommended by the California Grape and Tree Fruit League (League).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Back to Top

This final rule is issued under authority of the Export Grape and Plum Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 591-599), hereinafter referred to as the “Act.” The Act promotes the foreign trade of U.S. grown grapes and plums by authorizing the implementation of regulations with minimum grade, quality, container, container marking, and inspection requirements.

This final rule amends “Regulations Issued Under Authority of the Export Grape and Plum Act” (regulations) (7 CFR part 35). The regulated entities are shippers, exporters, and carriers of table grapes for export.

This final rule has been determined not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have retroactive effect.

Section 35.11 of the regulations establishes minimum size and quality requirements for export shipments of any variety of vinifera species table grapes. Currently, such grapes shipped to Japan, Europe, or Greenland must meet a minimum grade of U.S. Fancy Table as specified in the U.S. Standards for Grades of Table Grapes (U.S. Standards) (7 CFR part 51, §§ 51.880-51.992), with the additional requirement that bunches must each weigh at least one-half pound. Section 35.11 also defines the countries in Europe for which the export regulation applies. Finally, § 35.11 provides an additional 2 percent tolerance for sealed berry cracks on both the Ribier and Exotic varieties, which must otherwise meet the minimum requirements for the U.S. No. 1 Table grade as contained in the U.S. Standards.

This final rule revises § 35.11(a) of the order's administrative rules and regulations by changing the minimum bunch weight requirement for grapes exported to Japan, Europe, and Greenland from one-half pound to one-quarter pound. This final rule further revises § 35.11(a) by updating the list of European countries defined in the regulation. Finally, this rule revises § 35.11(b) by removing the additional 2 percent tolerance for sealed berry cracks on the Exotic grape variety.

The Board of Directors of the League, which represents a substantial portion of the fresh table grape industry, unanimously recommended that the one-half pound bunch size minimum requirement be removed from § 35.11(a) of the regulations. This makes the minimum bunch size requirement one-quarter pound as defined in the U.S. Standards for the U.S. Fancy Table grade.

There has been an increasing retail demand for table grapes packaged in plastic clamshells, particularly for export markets. One of the most popular package sizes is the 500 gram (approximately 1.1 pounds) clamshell. However, shippers find it difficult to fit two larger (minimum one-half pound) grape bunches into the 500 gram clamshell. This change allows shippers to use smaller (minimum one-quarter pound) bunches to fill the smaller clamshell packages. This change offers shippers greater flexibility in packaging and allows them to pack a greater portion of the crop into the clamshell packages that are popular in the marketplace.The assumption is that the market and those acting in it are so impotent that they cannot figure out the best way to package and ship, of all things, grapes without uncle sam holding their hands and showing them how to do it. Check out the link, there are multiple departments and offices and no less than three managers and specialists who's job it was to write this. The people "working" for these departments are examples of un-productive value-less work at it's finest.

[Cebu_4_2]

But they have good paying jobs where 25% of the entire jewedSA has no jobs and 40+% are on food stamps.

[madfranks]

But they have good paying jobs where 25% of the entire jewedSA has no jobs and 40+% are on food stamps.

Yeah no kidding, they all probably make six figures with max benefits and a huge pension for their service.

[osoab]

You got to pad the voter rolls somehow.

[Eyebone]

We noticed this kind of thing in the "Service" years ago, a fifty page document on how to paint a wall.

[mamboni]

Yeah no kidding, they all probably make six figures with max benefits and a huge pension for their service.

I filed my income taxes today. My federal taxes alone were multiple six figures. But I was glad to pay it. Why? Because I live in a country where I can buy a bag of grapes and know that it will contain a minimum number and the cracked ones will be under 2%, thanks to our ever vigilant federal government. Sure millions are out of work. Sure many millions have had their pensions and savings looted while government agencies looked the other way. Sure our industry and infrastructure are collapsing from disinvestment and neglect. But, we have the best darn grapes money can buy. Little things like this make for a high quality of life in America. Without our government working for us, G-d knows how many grapes I would be getting!

[Gaillo]

I filed my income taxes today. My federal taxes alone were multiple six figures. But I was glad to pay it. Why? Because I live in a country where I can buy a bag of grapes and know that it will contain a minimum number and the cracked ones will be under 2%, thanks to our ever vigilant federal government. Sure millions are out of work. Sure many millions have had their pensions and savings looted while government agencies looked the other way. Sure our industry and infrastructure are collapsing from disinvestment and neglect. But, we have the best darn grapes money can buy. Little things like this make for a high quality of life in America. Without our government working for us, G-d knows how many grapes I would be getting!

If that was meant to be taken at face value, with no sarcasm, then FUCK YOU!!!
Knowing you as well as I think I do, however, it's "sarcasm to the max" - in which case it's ALL good! Proud to know you, brother. :)

[mamboni]

If that was meant to be taken at face value, with no sarcasm, then FUCK YOU!!!
Knowing you as well as I think I do, however, it's "sarcasm to the max" - in which case it's ALL good! Proud to know you, brother. :)

LOL LOL

Yes it is sarcasm. When I wrote it, I was going to add a proviso that stated that anyone reading it should feel free to scream FUCK YOU at me and it will not be viewed as a personal attack. LOL

You know something Gaillo, you were always the smart one in the group. You're no Fredo. LOL
I'm one of your biggest fans. Can I get your autograph?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWsKR2xg6HE

[Book]

I filed my income taxes today. My federal taxes alone were multiple six figures.



http://www.medicalclaimsconsultant.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/money-doctor.jpg

::)

[mamboni]

http://www.medicalclaimsconsultant.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/money-doctor.jpg

::)

Book thinks I'm a rich overpaid doctor. So does Obama.

My wife looked at my tax filing and got visably nauseous at the taxes I pay. I sardonically told her that some think I don't pay enough. She became visably angry. Yes, I am doing well. But, I have to put in alot of hours and I make dozens of diagnostic decisions and lose sleep over them daily (BOOK: "Cry me a river." LOL). I like my job but it takes a lot out of me, even after 22 years post residency. I have to stay on call stone cold somber tied to the phone 24 hours a day 7 days a week. On the weekends I am too tired to do anything except sleep and light reading. What is a doctor worth today? I say it's whatever society is willing to pay. When I look at guys cutting down trees wielding dangerous chainsaws or landscaping heaving earth for $15-20 per hour, I feel overpaid and fortunate. When I look at the assholes on Wall Street paying themselves millions for moving paper and then having the temerity to get bailed out when they lose client money gambling, all on my taxpayer dime, I feel like a fool for working the way I do for the pittance I am paid compared to them. It's all relative. My goal is to be able to work and not need the income - I'm almost there (another 20 years on the job - LOL). Then, I can do it purely out of desire and love and not think about anything else.

I told my wife: "People think $250K income is rich." She laughed and I laughed. Living in rural PA, not a particularly high cost area, I can tell you that if you want to stay out of debt, save a little, and live a reasonable but not extravagant lifestyle, then $250K is just about reasonable and sure as hell not rich. First, after income taxes and withholding, you'll bring home maybe $150K. That's about $13K per month. Back out of that mortgage, property taxes, utilities, food, gas, insurances, car payment (four cars: wifey, me and the two kids) and you're probably down to net $5K per month. YMMV. If you have a kid in college then 1/4 to 1/2 of that is gone in tuition and books/R&B. We haven't even talked about the incidentals and unexpected, like leaking roof, home siding repair, landscaping, exterminator for termites, veterinarian bills, transmission repair, oil changes and inspections, etc. If you go out to dinner only three times in the month, that's $500 gone. In the end, if you can save $3-4K per month you're doing OK. Now if you do that for say 20 years, you might have $1 million in cash socked away. Guess what: that's nowhere near enough to retire, not when CD rates are virtually 0% and inflation in the real economy is 10%. So no, I don't think $250K is rich. I earn more than that, and I will tell you that even living modestly and well under my expenses that I can never retire. I am 56 years and will probably die on the job. In my estimation, a family of four needs a minimum of $20 million in cash to retire.

If you listen closely, you can hear BOOK quietly sobbing over my pathetic plight. LOL


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIfu2A0ezq0&feature=related

[Old Herb Lady]

[QUOTE=mamboni;533280]I filed my income taxes today. My federal taxes alone were multiple six figures.[QUOTE]









GREAT ! Keep it up Doc !! Pretty soon we won't be so bored to tears of hearing about 6 figures anymore cuz you'll soon be the 6 MILLION dollar man earning 7 figures ! WhoooHooooooooooooo
Movin' on up !

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm253/clintcatalyst/Get%20GIFfy/DoctorsRecommend.gif

Sick people & their insurance companies pay LOTS of MONEY and I'm glad I get to hear about ALLLL that money ALLLLL the time !!!!!
Sorry the gubbermint rips you off like they rip off us poor people too. :(

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/GothVamp1997/ChocolateMonkeySugarCream83/trust-me-im-a-doctor.jpg



http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc408/marie_psy19/doctor_meds.gif

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd296/nathanslilcountrygirl/e05e7f11659ab298609e97803ca62cdf.jpg :) :) :) :) :)

[mamboni]

[QUOTE=mamboni;533280]I filed my income taxes today. My federal taxes alone were multiple six figures.[QUOTE]








GREAT ! Keep it up Doc !! Pretty soon we won't be so bored to tears of hearing about 6 figures anymore cuz you'll soon be the 6 MILLION dollar man earning 7 figures ! WhoooHooooooooooooo
Movin' on up !



http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd296/nathanslilcountrygirl/e05e7f11659ab298609e97803ca62cdf.jpg :) :) :) :) :)


Thank you for the tea and sympathy.2630;D

[ShortJohnSilver]

I told my wife: "People think $250K income is rich." She laughed and I laughed. Living in rural PA, not a particularly high cost area, I can tell you that if you want to stay out of debt, save a little, and live a reasonable but not extravagant lifestyle, then $250K is just about reasonable and sure as hell not rich. First, after income taxes and withholding, you'll bring home maybe $150K. That's about $13K per month. Back out of that mortgage, property taxes, utilities, food, gas, insurances, car payment (four cars: wifey, me and the two kids) and you're probably down to net $5K per month. YMMV. If you have a kid in college then 1/4 to 1/2 of that is gone in tuition and books/R&B. We haven't even talked about the incidentals and unexpected, like leaking roof, home siding repair, landscaping, exterminator for termites, veterinarian bills, transmission repair, oil changes and inspections, etc. If you go out to dinner only three times in the month, that's $500 gone. In the end, if you can save $3-4K per month you're doing OK. Now if you do that for say 20 years, you might have $1 million in cash socked away. Guess what: that's nowhere near enough to retire, not when CD rates are virtually 0% and inflation in the real economy is 10%. So no, I don't think $250K is rich. I earn more than that, and I will tell you that even living modestly and well under my expenses that I can never retire. I am 56 years and will probably die on the job. In my estimation, a family of four needs a minimum of $20 million in cash to retire.

If you listen closely, you can hear BOOK quietly sobbing over my pathetic plight. LOL


Of course you are paying way more taxes, and, you don't get any deductions because you earn too much.

You can easily raise 2 kids in rural PA for much much less, maybe $80K or even less - because the taxes are so much less and you get the full strength of the deductions. Really the kicker is the cost of the house and the yearly taxes. If you don't make that much, there are plenty of PA Govt programs designed to give you free stuff.

Reality is the tax laws are set up to penalize rich people for having kids and to reward poor people for having kids.

[mamboni]

Of course you are paying way more taxes, and, you don't get any deductions because you earn too much.

You can easily raise 2 kids in rural PA for much much less, maybe $80K or even less - because the taxes are so much less and you get the full strength of the deductions. Really the kicker is the cost of the house and the yearly taxes. If you don't make that much, there are plenty of PA Govt programs designed to give you free stuff.

Reality is the tax laws are set up to penalize rich people for having kids and to reward poor people for having kids.

Yes, you know it! Tell Book.

[chad]

i have several doctors in my family that are very close family members. every word mamboni said is true. the amount of hours + sacrifices i see them making...quite frankly, i would not be able to do it.

[Book]

I can tell you that if you want to stay out of debt, save a little, and live a reasonable but not extravagant lifestyle, then $250K is just about reasonable and sure as hell not rich...

If you go out to dinner only three times in the month, that's $500 (http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?cat=1&ind=26) gone...

In the end, if you can save $3-4K per month you're doing OK...

So no, I don't think $250K is rich. I earn more than that...In my estimation, a family of four needs a minimum of $20 million in cash to retire...

If you listen closely, you can hear BOOK quietly sobbing over my pathetic plight. LOL



http://www.thestreet.com/tsc/v2008/photos/all-pics/financial-info-taxes-etc/crying-rich-man-front-offlead.jpg

:) can't tell if you are bragging or complaining. lemme get you a tissue buddy...lol.

http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?cat=1&ind=26

[mamboni]

http://www.thestreet.com/tsc/v2008/photos/all-pics/financial-info-taxes-etc/crying-rich-man-front-offlead.jpg

:) can't tell if you are bragging or complaining. lemme get you a tissue buddy...lol.

http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?cat=1&ind=26


Right. Your being able to eat is my responsibility?

I don't owe you or anyone else a fucking thing. I have taken a government handout in my life. If you're shameless complaining about your food stamp allotment, tell it to Uncle Sam. You know, would it kill you to say thank you. I am so sick and tired of people like you with this entitlement attitude. No one owes you a damn thing. Enjoy the free ride while you can; because it's all coming to an end real soon. Then if you want to eat, you'll have to do some honest work instead of sitting in front of a computer keyboard wasting bandwidt on tripe and snipe. Asshole.

[Book]

When I look at the assholes on Wall Street paying themselves millions for moving paper and then having the temerity to get bailed out when they lose client money gambling, all on my taxpayer dime, I feel like a fool for working the way I do for the pittance I am paid compared to them. It's all relative.



http://www.letshavefunwithenglish.com/vocabulary/jobs2/images/psychoanalyst.jpg
"I'm estranged from my two loser brothers. They resent me because I'm rich and they are poor."





:) This internet therapy session fee will be one gold eagle. Pay my secretary on your way out buddy...lol.

[mamboni]

http://www.letshavefunwithenglish.com/vocabulary/jobs2/images/psychoanalyst.jpg
"I'm estranged from my two loser brothers. They resent me because I'm rich and they are poor."





:) This internet therapy session fee will be one gold eagle. Pay my secretary on your way out buddy...lol.

Book:

You always make me laugh, even though you're trying to be a prick, buddy.;D

[big country]

wow, yeah if I need 20mil to retire I'll never be able to. I admit to making 65k/yr, my wife is mostly stay at home with our daughter (and another due in June) but makes an additional 7k or so per year doing odd jobs. We "save" $400/mo and that causes a strain on the budget.

shit, I guess I gotta work for the next 4166 years to save 20mill...ugh.

its all relative Dr. My wife and I don't feel "poor" on the money I make. Hell, I'm just happy to be working. Sure more $$ would be nice but there are a lot of people way worse off then us. We are fed, there is some $$ in reserves, a house keeping us warm and dry...the rest is icing. Just gotta put up with more inconveniences when you don't have the money to fix stuff right away.

[Cebu_4_2]

I earned 11630.oo last year. Want to fuck with me? I don't think so. Wonder onto my lawn and see what happens.

[big country]

I earned 11630.oo last year. Want to fuck with me? I don't think so. Wonder onto my lawn and see what happens.

wow man why so violent? Add to the discussion or don't bother...

[big country]

also I wanted to add some more to this discussion. First on topic.

wtf? Why do grapes have to be on the bunch at all? This govt is insane. The markets would determine the best packing practices (and packers) if left to its one devices. People aren't going to pay for a package of grapes that are 50% cracked


second,
I also admit that staying out of debt is hard. We are in debt. We bought our house for 88.5K (1120 sqft, full unfinished basement, 18acres) so we have that debt at $603/mo. Student loans from my education that enables me to earn 65k instead of 30 @$213/mo and our last debt is a car at @$230/mo. We don't have frivolous debt. Our house debt actually saves us 200+ per month on what we were paying in rent. The car debt lets me get to work to earn money so it is "working" for itself.
our basement floods when it rains a lot, I had a contractor tell us they can take care of the issue for $4500..we don't have that, so it waits. We are planning in doing the work, we just to wait for the money to doing.
we live comfortably. My modest house is probably a lot different than yours doc. Its all relative!

[ShortJohnSilver]

second,
I also admit that staying out of debt is hard. We are in debt. We bought our house for 88.5K (1120 sqft, full unfinished basement, 18acres) so we have that debt at $603/mo. Student loans from my education that enables me to earn 65k instead of 30 @$213/mo and our last debt is a car at @$230/mo. We don't have frivolous debt. Our house debt actually saves us 200+ per month on what we were paying in rent. The car debt lets me get to work to earn money so it is "working" for itself.
our basement floods when it rains a lot, I had a contractor tell us they can take care of the issue for $4500..we don't have that, so it waits. We are planning in doing the work, we just to wait for the money to doing.
we live comfortably. My modest house is probably a lot different than yours doc. Its all relative!

Look into what is called a "French drain" - also you might find much easier ways to alleviate this. In one case, a friend had his house have water come through the cinder block walls in his basement, then it turned out the drain was merely blocked - so he dug it up (about 6inches down) and cleaned it out. Remember you don't need to get rid of all the water, just enough of it... if you give it somewhere better to go, it will go there ...

[Serpo]

Its not the berries that are cracked ....its the government(s)

[Glass]

This sounds a lot like the EU regulations on banana's. I recall they specified the dimensions of acceptable bananas. I can't recall the reasons for the regulations, but turns out the EU Regulation banana is straight.