Raising Sin Taxes
The government needs money and “health advocates” are advocating adding yet another $1 per pack tax on cigarettes. While the billions in tax revenue would be welcome to cash strapped states, I am firmly opposed to “sin taxes” in general.
Legislative power should not be used to punish legal behavior. If you want to make people stop smoking, make it illegal. Don’t try to tax it out of existence. The poorest of our citizens bear the brunt of the additional taxes, and rather than dedicating the money to health programs it goes into the general pool where it is wasted by our politicians.
Remember, next comes raising taxes on beer, then hamburgers and milkshakes, then whatever else our liberal tree-hugging, granola-crunching, “I-know-what’s-best-for-you” surrender monkeys decides we should stop doing (“for our own good”, of course).
Sin taxes. Blech.
Technorati Tags: Sin Taxes and Other Unethical Government Behavior
