Tax on Tag Tough to Take

From the “You can’t make this stuff up file,” nanny state legislators from New York have finally found a way to tax toughness by enacting a punitive tax on camps that have to gall to play ball.

That’s right, Mets and Yanks fans – if you want your kid to grow up on the mean streets playing such hostile and violent games as Wiffle ball, kickball or dodgeball, you’ll have to pay the price to play.

Under new regulations, any summer program that offers two or more state-determined “risky” activities, is deemed a summer camp and thus subject to state regulation. 

About safety, you say?  Apparently not, because it’s fine for camps to play these games as long as they fork over $200 to the state for their “tag tax” and can afford to have medical staff on duty.  Can you say, “Red Rover, Red Rover, let Big Brother come over”?

Among the risky recreations requiring tax due to “significant risk of injury”:  Capture the Flag, Crab Soccer, Dodgeball, Flag Football, Kickball, Red Rover, Steal the Bacon, Tag (all varieties) and yes, that oh-so-dangerous Wiffle Ball.

So, if you escape to New York and want your kids to participate in gladiator-like activities there, make sure to pack a helmet, kneepads, Band-Aids, bubble wrap and your wallet.