On Mon, Jan 07, 2008 at 04:34:24AM -0800, Ralph Shumaker wrote: > Tracy R Reed wrote: > >Ralph Shumaker wrote: > >>Not exactly. Not only would direct tax revenue be lost on the > >>cigarette sales themselves, but then a secondary tax loss indirectly > >>on the manufacture and sale of drugs used to treat symptoms. > > > >It is generally better for the economy not to have to spend the money > >in the first place than to collect the tax on having spent it. > > I think everyone except those benefiting from said tax collections > agrees with you.
Of course. Problem is, those who collect tax money are allowed to vote. So they vote for more free goodies to be paid for by someone else. More people see the gravy train and hop on board. We've reached a point where the "takers" very nearly outnumber the "providers". Take a look at Zimbabwe or Venezuela for examples of what happens at that point. -- *********************************************************************** * John Oliver http://www.john-oliver.net/ * * * *********************************************************************** -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
