* * * This message was from Rob Perkins to rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.m * * *
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kruegerb76{at}hotmail.com wrote:
>>Have I mentioned lately how much I hate cigarettes?
> 
> 
> I hate cigarettes, too, but what's going on now seems... rather odd to
> me.
> 
> There's another bond issue up for a new tax on cigarettes here.  The
> money will go to a good cause, kids in need.  I think it'll add
> something like 60 cents to the price of a pack of ciggies.

Where I live you can't smoke within 25 feet of any building entrance, 
and noplace indoors. The legislature got around taking any heat for it 
by floating an initiative to the people, which won with something like 
70-ish percent of the vote. I understand a similar law in California was 
very unpopular.

Even so...

> And yes, it's a horrible addiction, yadda, yadda.  But am I the only
> person who finds it a bit... odd that when money is needed the first
> thing people think anymore is "raise taxes on cigarettes"?

...you're not the only person who finds that odd. If it's wrong for 
tobacco companies to exploit addictions to tobacco, I think it's 
certainly also wrong for taxing authorities to do so.

> And while we're talking sin taxes, why not ask for a tax increase on
> alcohol to pay for the poor kids in need?

Go for it! Although, it would be a massively unpopular thing; many more 
people drink than smoke, I think.

Rob
                                                                           
                                             
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