访谈录 2009-11-23&11-26 有钱人的杯具

So now, now not only are the rich going to be poorer, they're going to be uglier.

As if socking them with higher Medicare taxes and then taxing them again on their fancy-schmancy, pricey, private health plans weren't enough, this Senate health care bill aims to cash in on their conceit¹.

I kid you not. That's right: It levies² a five percent tax on elective cosmetic³ surgery. Just call it a "bo-tax."

So for the folks who are no doubt aging fast because they're paying all these taxes, no relief in sight if they want to at least look good while they are. Because for every shot under their eyes, another tax shot in their you-know-what!

Ain't that a kick and a half.

You're trying to look good as your wallets being cleaned out good and you're hit with another good old tax for the effort.

The Senate bill estimates this elective cosmetic tax alone could raise 5 billion bucks⁴ — kind of puts new meaning in the term liposuction.

Five billion bucks: That's a lot of eye jobs and a lot of breast jobs. My only question is who's getting the snow job: The boobs paying the taxes or the boobs imposing⁵ them? Talk amongst yourselves.

 

1 conceit   

n.自负，自高自大

参考例句：

• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。
• She seems to be eaten up with her own conceit.她仿佛已经被骄傲冲昏了头脑。

2 levies   

（部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队

参考例句：

• At that time, taxes and levies were as many as the hairs on an ox. 那时，苛捐杂税多如牛毛。
• Variable levies can insulate farmers and consumers from world markets. 差价进口税可以把农民和消费者与世界市场隔离开来。

3 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

4 bucks   

n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• They cost ten bucks. 这些值十元钱。
• They are hunting for bucks. 他们正在猎雄兔。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。