Selective Taxation, Who’s Next?

I don’t usually write anything involving politics here, but this is more about Taxing one group unfairly and how I think it will evolve into Taxing anyone that is convienent to pick on at the time.

On Wednesday April 1, 2009 the Tax on Tobacco products is going up. It seems that Cigarette’s are the main target, but Cigars, Pipe Tobacco and Chew are not exempt.

Cigarettes are Taxed at $.39 cents per pack at present. On Wednesday the Tax per pack will go up to $1.01 or on increase of $.62 (that’s 159%).

“So what”, you say, “I don’t smoke and they deserve the increase for the inconvience of second hand smoke anyway.”

Here’s why you should care.

• Cigarette Manufacturers already raised the price to offset any DECREASE in consumption. That means they KNOW that people will quit smoking or at least cut back on purchases.
• The Manufacturers KNOW that will mean a DECREASE in REVENUE. Fewer people buying the product, the lower amount of money that will be earned, the less the Government will make in TAXES.
• The fewer people who purchase Tobacco products, the lower the TAX Revenue, the More they either raise the TAX Again, or find another source.

Where does the Government find New Tax Revenue when People Quit Smoking?

Let’s just pick on the Next Most Likely Patsey. Beer and Liquor.

• They already tried Prohibition, and it didn’t work, so they started Taxing Booze.
• There are States that Actually still own the Liquor Stores (Pa for Example) that the States use to meet their Budgets.
• The States that allow privately owned distributors are Taxed to the Hilt already, but people quit smoking so it has to come from somewhere.
• Ok, so Prohibition actually worked by Over Taxing Consumers, so where does the Government go next?

Gamblers? People think they shouldn’t waste their money that way anyway.

• The Big Gambling Houses in Atlantic City and Las Vegas are already Taxed so high that it a wonder they didn’t go Bankrupt years ago.
• L.V. & A.C. are already showing losses in Local Taxes with the DECREASE in Tourists and Visitors to their Cities.
• There is a Further DECREASE in Gambling by said Gamblers since they can’t afford to waste money that they need to pay for Rent and Food.
• Oh, and there are a Lot of STATES that run Lotteries, are the STATES going to have to Pay Fed TAXES on the revenue from those Gamblers?

Well, they are all the Dupes I can think of, so where does the Government get the REST of the MONEY to pay for the BAIL OUT.

Who’s Next?

YOU, of course.

Gas TAXES, Income TAXES, Small Business TAXES, Property TAXES, Food TAXES, and anything elxe they can think of to TAX.

What’s your take? Please let me know what you think about Selective Taxation.