Replying to a message of Ross Cassell to Ross Sauer:

 RC> I think states that tax the shit out of tobacco to offset health costs
 RC> are fiscally stupid, if the tax forces people to quit or get their
 RC> tobacco elsewhere, then what they budgetted for the health programs
 RC> suffer.

Actually when consumption of tobacco products falls, the revenue generated
from those sales also falls.  I doubt that the amount spent on those health
programs will fall, the shortfall will be made up from general tax revenue.

 RC> If they were to budget the extra revenue to pay on state debt, that
 RC> would be another thing that could have a friendlier side affect on
 RC> the states health care budgets.

 RC> A tax I would favor is one on CD/DVD media, maybe like 2cent per disk
 RC> on CD and 5cent per disk on DVD. Canada and the EU do this, part of
 RC> the generated revenue goes back to the entertainment industry in
 RC> return for that industry not going after the citizens for using such
 RC> media to copy music or movies.

 RC> Sound radical? Not really for a 100 pack spindle, its only and extra
 RC> $2 to $5.

 RC> Where I work, I sell these and trust me the majority of what I sell is
 RC> to bootleggers and where I live the majority of them are blacks..

 RC> Most admit to me thats what they buy them for, one sells each disk,
 RC> which a movie on it, for $5 a pop..

I have no problem with it.  I think a similar proposal was made for blank
audio tape and cassettes, and blank videotapes.  Dunno if it was ever
implemented, if it was I never noticed it.

--- FleetStreet 1.19+