-=> On 04-15-98  12:28, Don Dodson did testify and affirm <=-
-=> to Robert Craft concerning Kill the Golden Goose <=-
 RC> Tobacco really isn't that profitable a black market
 RC> product. The price/volume ratio is too low. A $50 carton
 RC> gives a price/volume ratio of about $.50 per cubic inch.
 RC> That's far less than the value of a cubic inch of crack or
 RC> heroin. 
 
 DD> It's profitable if the 'bacco farmer or supplier of 'bacco
 DD> cures the stuff and sells it to the fellow that shreds the
 DD> stuff, and makes his own fags and sells them cheaper than
 DD> the $50.00 stuff. 
Oh, it'd be profitable for individuals, but it'd not be
"that profitable" for organized crime - not until it was
banned, rather than just taxed. 
 DD> Hell, bootleg whiskey used to be a profitable business,
 DD> until ABC stores opened up. 
But, that was a holdover from Prohibition - a complete ban,
not just excessive taxation.
 DD> There are plenty of 'bacco farmers that would like to stay
 DD> in business with someone who would pay them a better price
 DD> for the flu cured product. There is more to the 'bacco
 DD> business than cigarettes. John Deere gits his cut,
[...snip...]
 DD> grows good and labor is cheap. Those Washington smarts are
 DD> fixin' to kill the Goose that lays the Golden Eggs!
Of course they are. They've never understood Walter
Williams' question: "How many people does it take to make a
pencil?"
 DD> BTW know anyone that would like to drive the tractor
 DD> trailer hauling cases of 'bacco? At $50.00 a carton, with
 DD> 24 cartons to the case, and over a thousand cases to the
 DD> trailer? 
True, but a tractor trailer of cocaine would be at least
two orders of magnitude greater in value. 
 DD> Would make a good hijacking target with over a million
 DD> bucks worth of habit forming nicotine for the organized
 DD> crime boys. 
There are other products with a better price/volume ratio.
... Government can't SOLVE the problem - it IS the problem!!!
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